Family of Elijah McClain Reaches Settlement With City of Aurora

More than two years since the murder of Elijah McClain, his family has reached a settlement with the City of Aurora, Colorado.

McClain’s family has been vigorously seeking justice for the young man brutalized by police in August 2019 as he walked home from a convenience store. The 23-year-old was unarmed and posed no threat to authorities. Yet, they still wrestled him to the ground and placed him in a carotid artery chokehold. When Aurora emergency personnel arrived, they unjustly injected the innocent man with 500 milligrams of ketamine, a drug used for starting and managing anesthesia. The dose administered was way over the maximum amount recommended for his weight, causing a heart attack. The mild-mannered violinist was declared brain dead and died six days later.

It is unclear how much the family was awarded. However, attorney Matthew Cron reiterated that “no amount of money can ever compensate” Elijah’s mother, Sheneen McClain, for the unbearable loss that she has suffered.

“Ms. McClain would give anything for Elijah to experience the full, long life that he so richly deserved,” Cron said in his statement to USA Today.

A Colorado grand jury has indicted Aurora Police officers Randy Roedema and Nathan Woodyard, former officer Jason Rosenblatt and Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec in connection with McClains death.