Paramedic that contributed to death of Elijah McClain sentenced to four years of probation

Former Colorado paramedic Jeremy Cooper was sentenced to four years of probation on Friday, for his role in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, dodging a possible three-year prison sentence.

Cooper was partly responsible for injecting McClain with the 500 milligrams of ketamine that contributed to his death-- a dosage larger than the protocol for a person of McClain's size.

Aurora police officers approached McClain on Aug. 24, 2019, and put him in a choke hold. Paramedics had given McClain ketamine to calm him down, but he went into cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital, NBC News reported.

A total of three police officers and two paramedics were indicted by a grand jury in 2021 and Cooper was convicted of criminally negligent homicide in December. His sentence also includes 14 months of work release, and 100 hours of community service. 

Judge Mark Warner said the lesser sentence was because Cooper expressed remorse for his actions, dedicated his life to serving other people, and was not likely to commit a crime in the future. But McClain's mother Sheenan McClain told the court that Cooper will always be judged for his failure to save her son.

"Jeremy Cooper did not check for my son’s pulse. Jeremy Cooper did not conduct a thorough examination to see if my son was breathing normally. Jeremy Cooper did not interact with my son or ask my son how he was doing," Sheenan McClain said. "Jeremy Cooper heard my son talking and was there for my son’s last words. But Jeremy Cooper just stood there ... Nothing Jeremy Cooper can say will bring back my son or remove my son’s blood from his hands."

Cooper also addressed the court, and Elijah McClain, apologizing for not speaking up about the ketamine injection.

"I want you to know that I would give anything to have a different outcome, Elijah. I never meant for anyone to hurt you," Cooper said. "I wanted to take over your care, and I was scared. I believe you needed immediate medical attention. I wanted to calm the situation down. I wanted my presence to be enough and my skills and training to be enough. I am so sorry, collectively, that we all failed you."

Cooper's sentence was the last in the Elijah McClain case, and was the third strongest sentence. Two former officers were acquitted for their roles, but one former cop was sentenced to 14 months in prison. The other paramedic had the strongest punishment and was sentenced to five years in prison.