https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/paramedics-found-guilty-death-elijah-mcclain-injected-overdose-1058849812 paramedics found guilty in death of Elijah McClain, who they injected with an overdose of ketamineTwo Denver-area paramedics have been convicted in the 2019 killing of Elijah McClain, who they injected with an overdose of the sedative ketamine after police put him in a neck hold
BRIGHTON, Colo. -- Two Denver-area paramedics were convicted Friday for giving a fatal overdose of the sedative ketamine in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain – a jury verdict that experts said could have a chilling effect on first responders around the country.
The case over the 23-year-old Black man’s death was the first among several recent criminal prosecutions against medical first responders to reach trial, potentially setting the bar for prosecutors in future cases.
It also was the last of three trials against police and paramedics charged in the death of McClain, whose case received little attention until protests over the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. An Aurora police officer was convicted of homicide and third degree assault earlier this year while two officers were acquitted.
The jury found Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec guilty of criminally negligent homicide following a weekslong trial in state district court. The jury also found Cichuniec guilty on one of two second-degree assault charges. Cooper was found not guilty on the assault charges. They could face years in prison at sentencing.
