Headlines

Colorado Paramedic Sentenced to Prison in Elijah McClain Case

The case of Elijah McClain’s death brought attention to issues of police brutality, use of force, and systemic racism in law enforcement and emergency medical services, prompting calls for justice and reform.

Published

2 months ago

March 2, 2024

Stella Charles Akupue

Colorado Paramedic Sentenced to Prison in Elijah McClain Case

In Colorado, a judge has handed down a five-year prison sentence to a paramedic who was found guilty in the death of Elijah McClain in 2019. McClain, a young Black man, died after police restrained him in a chokehold and paramedics injected him with a powerful sedative.

Peter Cichuniec, the emergency medical worker, was convicted of criminally negligent homicide and second-degree assault in a rare trial involving paramedics. The judge, Mark Warner, sentenced Cichuniec to five years for the assault charge and an additional year for the homicide charge, to be served concurrently. Cichuniec could have faced up to 16 years behind bars for these offences.

Cichuniec’s partner, Jeremy Cooper, was also found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and awaits sentencing in April. This trial was the last of three related to McClain’s death. McClain, who was not accused of any crime, encountered police in Aurora after a 911 call reported him as suspiciously dressed. Police restrained him, including using a chokehold, despite McClain’s pleas that he couldn’t breathe.

Originally, McClain’s cause of death was listed as “undetermined,” but a later autopsy attributed it to complications from ketamine administration during restraint. Charges were initially declined, but after the global protests sparked by George Floyd’s death, the case was reinvestigated.

During the sentencing, Cichuniec expressed regret for McClain’s death but did not accept full responsibility. McClain’s mother, Sheneen McClain, spoke at the hearing, expressing her deep anger and stating that her son’s death was entirely preventable.

The FACTS surrounding the death of Elijah McClain

This case gained national attention due to the circumstances of his death and the subsequent legal proceedings. Elijah McClain was a 23-year-old African American massage therapist who lived in Aurora, Colorado. Described as a gentle and introverted person, he was known for his love of animals and playing the violin to calm shelter animals.

On August 24, 2019, McClain was walking home from a convenience store when someone called 911 to report a suspicious person wearing a ski mask. Aurora Police officers responded to the call and approached McClain. Body camera footage showed that McClain was unarmed and cooperative but appeared startled and confused by the police presence.

Despite McClain not being suspected of any crime, officers used physical force to restrain him. They placed him in a carotid chokehold, a restraint technique that restricts blood flow to the brain, and pinned him to the ground. McClain repeatedly told the officers that he couldn’t breathe and pleaded with them to stop.

Paramedics, including Peter Cichuniec and Jeremy Cooper, arrived at the scene. They administered ketamine, a powerful sedative, to McClain. McClain suffered a cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and was declared brain dead three days later. He was taken off life support on August 30, 2019.

The initial autopsy conducted by the Adams County Coroner’s Office did not determine the cause of McClain’s death. Despite public outcry and calls for justice, local prosecutors initially declined to file charges against the officers or paramedics involved in the incident.

In November 2019, a group of independent forensic pathologists hired by McClain’s family released a report suggesting that McClain’s death was a result of homicide due to the excessive force used by law enforcement and the administration of ketamine. This report prompted renewed attention to the case.

McClain’s death sparked widespread outrage and protests, both locally and nationally. Activists and community members demanded accountability for the officers and paramedics involved and called for reforms in policing and emergency medical response.

Following the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent global protests against police brutality and racial injustice, Colorado Governor Jared Polis ordered a new investigation into McClain’s death. In February 2021, a state grand jury indicted the officers and paramedics involved in the incident on charges including manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide.

The legal proceedings against the officers and paramedics unfolded over several months, culminating in trials for those involved. Peter Cichuniec and Jeremy Cooper, the paramedics, were convicted of criminally negligent homicide and assault in the second degree in a rare trial of paramedics engaged in such a case. They were sentenced to prison terms in March 2024.

Exciting news!

Stay informed and ahead of the game! Follow The Legal Attorney Blog on WhatsApp for real-time updates, breaking news, and exclusive content. Don’t miss a headline – join now!

Join The Legal Attorney Blog Channel