Paramedic Involved in Elijah McClain’s Death Avoids Prison, Sentenced to 4 Years Probation

Twenty-three year old Elijah McClain was stopped by police while walking home from a convenience store in Aurora, Colorado, on Aug. 24, 2019. Someone had called 911 and said he was wearing a ski mask and looked “sketchy.” When officers arrived, they pulled him to the ground and placed McClain in a carotid hold, which restricts blood flow to the brain to render an individual unconscious. When paramedics arrived, McClain was injected with 500 milligrams of ketamine to sedate him. On the ambulance ride, he suffered a heart attack, and died a few days later.

On Friday, former paramedic Jeremy Cooper avoided prison and was sentenced to four year of probation after being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide for his role in the killing of McClain, per NBC. Cooper faced up to three years in prison following his conviction in December.

Per the outlet, paramedic Peter Cichuniec was sentenced to five years in prison in March after being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and second-degree assault through the unlawful administration of drugs.

Former police officer Randy Roedema was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and assault in the third degree, and sentenced to 14 months in county jail in January.

Two other former officers, Jason Rosenblatt and Nathan Woodyard, were acquitted by a Colorado jury and found not guilty on charges of reckless manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in connection with McClain’s death. Both resigned from the department.