Elijah McClain’s family sues Aurora police, paramedics for wrongful death

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Elijah McClain’s family has filed a federal lawsuit alleging Aurora, Colorado police officers and paramedics involved in his death violated his constitutional rights, reports The Denver Post.

Elijah McClain lawsuit

“Plaintiffs bring this action seeking both accountability for the profound loss of a beautiful soul, and to ensure that Elijah did not die in vain by sending a resounding message that racism and brutality have no place in American law enforcement,” the lawsuit states.

Defendants

The lawsuit names as defendants the city of Aurora, the three Aurora officers who stopped him — Nathan Woodyard, Randy Roedema and Jason Rosenblatt .

It also includes 10 other officers, a paramedic and the doctor who oversees Aurora Fire Rescue’s ketamine program.

“Aurora’s unconstitutional conduct on the night of Aug. 24, 2019, is part of a larger custom, policy, and practice of racism and brutality, as reflected by its conduct both before and after its murder of Elijah McClain, a young Black man,” the lawsuit states.

Incident

Aurora police officers stopped McClain on Aug. 24 after a report of a suspicious person.

The officers decided to detain McClain and violently forced him to the ground and handcuffed him before a paramedic injected McClain with ketamine.

McClain suffered cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital, where he was later declared brain dead. He died on Aug. 30.