A former paramedic, Jeremy Cooper, who injected Elijah McClain with a powerful sedative avoided prison and was sentenced to probation after being found guilty of criminally negligent homicide. This sentencing came after a series of trials that resulted in convictions of a police officer and two paramedics in McClain’s death. Criminal charges against paramedics and emergency medical technicians in police custody cases are rare, making these convictions significant. McClain’s mother blamed her son’s death on everyone present that night, not just those convicted, stating that Cooper ignored McClain’s condition before administering an overdose of ketamine.
These convictions were seen as unprecedented, following the nationwide reckoning over racist policing and deaths in police custody sparked by George Floyd’s murder. Experts noted that without this heightened awareness, it was unlikely that charges and convictions would have been pursued in McClain’s case. The acquittals of two officers were not surprising, as juries tend to be reluctant to question the actions of first responders. Cooper expressed regret during the sentencing, saying he wished he could have saved McClain and did not intend for anyone to harm him. Cooper also implied that with more knowledge at the time, he could have helped McClain better.
McClain’s death, along with Floyd’s and others’, brought attention to police custody deaths and prompted departments to reevaluate their treatment of suspects. Many have reexamined protocols and practices in response to the tragedies. The Colorado health department prohibited paramedics from using ketamine on individuals suspected of having excited delirium, a move that was supported by medical experts who argued that the definition of excited delirium was unscientific and rooted in racism. In addition, states have passed legislation to restrict the use of neck restraints and chokeholds in response to the widespread protests.
Sheneen McClain, Elijah’s mother, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the trials, stating that justice had not been served. She believed that the acquitted officers and others present at the scene were complicit in her son’s death and that all involved should be held accountable. The investigations into McClain’s death were initially closed due to inconclusive autopsy results until they were reopened in 2020 by Colorado Governor Jared Polis. The second autopsy determined that McClain died as a result of being injected with ketamine after being forcibly restrained, leading to cardiac arrest and his subsequent death.
The convictions in McClain’s case were reflective of a broader societal shift towards accountability and scrutiny of the actions of first responders. The protests over racial injustice and police violence in 2020 highlighted the need for systemic changes in policing and emergency response. While the convictions in McClain’s case were a step towards justice, there is still work to be done to address systemic racism and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future. It remains to be seen whether the reforms and changes in response protocols will lead to better outcomes for individuals in police custody.
