Former paramedic Jeremy Cooper, previously employed in Aurora, Colorado, was sentenced to four years probation, 14 months of work release, and 100 hours of community service on Friday. Cooper, along with another paramedic, Peter Cichuniec, was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the tragic death of Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, in August 2019.
The paramedics were accused of recklessly administering a large dose of ketamine to McClain, who had been subdued by police. A revised autopsy report cited complications of ketamine administration following forcible restraint as the cause of McClain's death.
While Cichuniec received a five-year prison sentence last month, Cooper's sentencing marked the conclusion of the legal proceedings. During the trial, both paramedics claimed they were following protocols for treating individuals in a state of 'excited delirium,' a term not recognized as a medical diagnosis by major associations.
The case garnered significant attention amid nationwide protests against police brutality, following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Governor Jared Polis announced a reexamination of McClain's case in response to public outcry.
In addition to the paramedics, three Aurora police officers faced trial for their involvement in McClain's arrest. One officer was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and assault, while the others were acquitted of all charges.
The pathologist who conducted McClain's autopsy concluded that ketamine administration was the primary factor contributing to his death. The use of ketamine by emergency responders without consent has sparked controversy and investigations in multiple states.
