Elijah McClain Death: Colorado Police Officer Guilty of Criminally Negligent Homicide

Jurors delivered a verdict on Thursday, convicting a former Colorado police officer in connection with the 2019 Elijah McClain death, a Black man subjected to a neck hold, pinned to the ground and administered an overdose of the sedative ketamine by paramedics.

Another officer was acquitted of all charges, according to the NY Post.

A 12-person jury found Aurora police officer Randy Roedema was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault, while officer Jason Rosenblatt was acquitted.

Roedema, visibly solemn after the verdict was read, faces a potential prison sentence of up to three years for the more severe homicide charge.

In contrast, Rosenblatt, who was acquitted, embraced his supporters as he exited the courtroom.

Elijah McClain's mother was in the front row during the verdict announcement on Elijah McClain death trial, with Attorney General Phil Weiser offering support.

Sheneen McClain raised her right fist as she left the courtroom, expressing disappointment in the outcome and stating, "This is the divided states of America, and that's what happens."

READ NEXT: Colorado: Former Police Officer Who Detained a Woman in SUV Hit by Train Receives No Jail Time

Elijah McClain Death

Elijah McClain's fatal encounter with the police occurred in August 2019 when he was stopped on his way home from a convenience store, ABC News noted.

A passerby had called 911, describing McClain as "sketchy" due to his ski mask, but noted that no weapon was involved and no immediate danger.

Police body camera footage captured McClain asserting his right to move freely. Despite this, one of the officers deemed him "suspicious" and placed him in a chokehold.

Subsequently, all three officers physically moved McClain to the ground, restraining him.

McClain could be heard in the body camera footage pleading with the officers, expressing difficulty breathing.

"I'm so sorry. I have no gun; I don't do that stuff. I don't do fighting. Why are you taking me," McClain can also be heard saying in body camera footage.

After Emergency Medical Technicians arrived, McClain was administered a 500-milligram dose of ketamine, as per department policy, to subdue him.

Tragically, he suffered a heart attack in the ambulance. A later autopsy revealed his death was attributed to "complications of ketamine administration following forcible restraint."

The Elijah McClain death garnered renewed attention after the murder of George Floyd, underscoring the broader issues of police violence and the treatment of Black individuals by law enforcement, per BBC.

Moreover, several individuals, including a third officer named Nathan Woodyard and paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec, have faced charges during the Elijah McClain death trial.

All three have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to be tried in two separate cases later this year.

Elijah McClain Death Shakes Arrest Procedures in Many States

The case of Elijah McClain's untimely demise has had far-reaching implications, sparking policy debates and reform efforts across the United States.

The pseudoscientific diagnosis of "excited delirium," initially cited in explaining Elijah McClain death, came under scrutiny, The Guardian said.

This term is not recognized by major medical associations. It has been used to justify police violence, especially against Black men. California, in response, became the first state to ban the term.

In the wake of McClain's death, Colorado has imposed restrictions on using ketamine for sedation and introduced police accountability measures, including stricter use-of-force policies, increased disclosure of body-camera footage, and the establishment of a database tracking officer misconduct.

Moreover, the state now exercises oversight over the Aurora police department following an investigation that uncovered patterns of biased policing and excessive use of force.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Minute-To-Minute Breakdown Leading Up To Elijah McClain's Deadly Stop - From NBC News