Officers and Paramedics Involved in Elijah McClain’s Death Receive Indictment
A Colorado state grand jury has just returned a 32-count indictment against the two paramedics and three officers involved in the death of Elijah McClain. McClain was killed after a police encounter in Aurora, Colorado in August of 2019. Attorney General Phil Weiser announced this Wednesday, September 1, 2021, that those involved in McClain’s death have been charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and other charges.
The three officers involved are Nathan Woodyard, Jason Rosenblatt, and Randy Roedema, and the two Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics are Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec. Each of them are facing multiple charges.
Two of the officers, Roedema and Rosenblatt, additionally face second-degree assault with the intent to cause serious bodily injury, and one count of a crime of violence in connection to the assault charge.
Both paramedics face thee counts of second-degree assault. The first for the intent to cause serious bodily injury, the second for recklessly causing serious bodily injury with a deadly weapon, the ketamine that was injected into McClain, and lastly for using said ketamine for another purpose other than a lawful medical treatment.
Additionally, the paramedics are facing crimes of violence in connection to the assault charges.
Despite the announcement of the indictment, the Aurora Police Association Board of Directors claimed that their officers “did nothing wrong,” and that “… there is no evidence that APD officers caused his death.”
These charges have been anticipated by many around the country, but especially for McClain’s family. According to a statement provided by the attorney of McClain’s father, LaWayne Mosley: “Nothing will bring back my son, but I am thankful that his killers will finally be held accountable.”
There have been multiple independent investigations regarding this case that are still ongoing, and the findings will be released once the investigations have drawn to a close.
More news is expected to follow as further developments in the proceedings occur, and more statements are released.
