Paramedic sentenced to 4 years of probation for Elijah McClain’s death

A Colorado paramedic has been sentenced to four years of probation for his role in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain.

Jeremy Cooper, a former Aurora Fire Rescue paramedic, was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide on Dec. 22. He was the last first responder sentenced for his role in McClain’s death.

On August 24, 2019, McClain, a 23-year-old black man, was on his way home when he was stopped by a police officer who had reported a “suspicious person” in the area.

First responders placed him in a chokehold and administered 500 milligrams of ketamine. The drug, which was used as a local anesthetic, caused McClain to go into cardiac arrest and later died in hospital. His death sparked nationwide protests.

On September 1, 2021, a grand jury returned an indictment against three police officers and two emergency responders.

Paramedic Peter Cichniec was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and sentenced to five years in prison on March 1st.

Earlier this year, police officer Randy Rodema was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 14 months in prison. In prison. In the same trial, police officer Jason Rosenblatt was acquitted of charges of reckless manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and second-degree assault.

Rosenblatt later resigned from the force.

Officer Nathan Woodyard was acquitted of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in 2023, but resigned from the department on January 12 after reaching an unpaid settlement.