Jeremy Cooper, a former Colorado paramedic, received a sentence of four years probation, 14 months of work release, and 100 hours of community service on Friday afternoon. Cooper, along with another paramedic, was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the tragic death of Elijah McClain.
The Adams County District Judge, Mark Warner, postponed Cooper's sentence until June 7 to allow him time to "make arrangements to continue his employment."
Another former paramedic from Aurora Fire Rescue, Peter Cichuniec, was sentenced to 5 years in prison last month, along with 3 years of probation by the same judge, Adams County District Judge Mark Warner. While emphasizing the importance of public safety in the sentence, Judge Warner also stated that he does not view Cichuniec as a threat to the public.
Elijah McClain was walking home in August 2019 when he was confronted by police officers and subsequently restrained by Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics, including Jeremy Cooper and Cichuniec, who administered ketamine to him. Shortly after, McClain suffered cardiac arrest in the ambulance and passed away three days later.
Two individuals, Cooper and Cichuniec, faced convictions for criminally negligent homicide in December of 2023.
Cichuniec was additionally convicted of second-degree assault-unlawful administration of drugs, a charge that typically results in a 5-to-16-year prison sentence.
Following the death of McClain, three officers from the Aurora Police Department were brought to trial. Last autumn, two of the officers were cleared of charges related to Elijah's death, while a third officer was found guilty.
A jury determined that Randy Roedema was guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault. In contrast, Jason Rosenblatt was acquitted of manslaughter and assault in October 2023. Additionally, a jury found Nathan Woodyard not guilty of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the death of the 23-year-old.
In January, Roedema received a sentence of 14 months in jail along with four years of probation. He has since filed an appeal requesting the court to review nine different aspects of the case.
In 2021, the City of Aurora reached an agreement to pay $15 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by McClain's parents.
