In 2019, Elijah McClain, a young African-American man, tragically lost his life after being injected with ketamine by two first responders during his arrest. Now, one of the two first responders involved in his death has been sentenced to 14 months of half-term detention. The paramedic will be allowed to work during the day but must return to prison in the evenings and on weekends during his sentence. He was also given a four-year suspended prison sentence.
The case of Elijah McClain’s death has sparked controversy, particularly after the death of George Floyd in May 2020. During the trial, it was revealed that McClain was put in a chokehold and injected with ketamine during his arrest for an alleged crime he did not commit. The prosecution argued that the first responders did not properly assess the victim’s condition before administering the sedative, which ultimately led to his heart attack and death three days later.
While one of the first responders involved in the incident has been sentenced for their role in McClain’s death, another police officer was acquitted and a third was found not guilty. The use of ketamine in arrests is controversial in the US, and investigations have been launched in multiple states to address these concerns. The family of Elijah McClain has called for justice and accountability for those responsible for his death.
