On 24 August 2019, Elijah McClain, a 23-year-old Black massage therapist and musician, was killed by police in Aurora, Colorado, who put him in a chokehold, then paramedics injected him with ketamine.
Although McClain had committed no crime, was only 5’6” (1.68 m) tall and weighed just 140 lbs (64 kg) several police officers attacked him, grabbed him, pinned him to the ground, and while three officers were on top of him, one of them put him in a chokehold, cutting off his carotid artery bringing blood to his brain. Paramedics then injected him with enough of the sedative ketamine to incapacitate someone far larger, weighing 190 lbs (86 kg).
Meanwhile, McClain vomited several times, and said “I’m sorry” for vomiting, and explained that he couldn’t breathe. He died shortly thereafter.
The district attorney announced that no criminal charges would be filed for the killing. However, after widespread protests, authorities reversed course and indicted three police officers and two paramedics in McClain’s death.
Two of the three officers involved were acquited of having caused Elijah McClain's death, while the third was sentenced to 14 months in prison. The two paramedics were both found guilty of criminally negligent homicide, one of whom was sentenced to five years in prison and three years probation.
Elijah McClain attacked by police - WCH | Stories
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