Homicide convictions reversed for paramedics who injected Elijah McClain with ketamine
Summary
A Colorado court reversed the homicide convictions of two paramedics involved in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, who died after being restrained by police and given ketamine. The court ordered new trials for paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec due to errors in jury instructions, while upholding Cichuniec’s assault conviction.Key Facts
- Elijah McClain died in 2019 after police restrained him and paramedics injected him with ketamine.
- The case drew attention during the 2020 social justice protests following George Floyd’s death.
- Paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec were convicted in 2023 of criminally negligent homicide; Cichuniec was also convicted of felony assault.
- The appeals court found mistakes in jury instructions on the homicide charges and ordered new trials for those counts.
- The assault conviction against Cichuniec was upheld.
- Cichuniec was released early from prison in 2024 and sentenced to probation.
- Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser plans to appeal the court’s decision to overturn the homicide convictions.
- The International Association of Fire Fighters supports the paramedics, highlighting the difficulty of making quick medical decisions in police custody situations.
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