Elijah McClain’s family to receive $15 million from the city of Aurora

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Elijah McClain’s family and the City of Aurora have reached a $15M settlement.  The agreement comes after a civil rights lawsuit was filed over McClain’s violent arrest and death, reports ABC News.

Per the report, this will be the highest police settlement in the history of Colorado.

Elijah McClain’s Death in City of Aurora

Aurora police confronted McClain, 23, on Aug. 24, 2019, while he was walking home from a convenience store after a 911 caller reported seeing someone “sketchy” in the area.

The 23-year-old was unarmed and wearing a ski mask at the time. His family says he had anemia, a blood condition that can make people feel cold more easily.

Independent Review

According to an independent review of his death, officers placed McClain in a carotid chokehold that restricts the carotid artery and cuts off blood to the brain.

The independent review found that McClain had pleaded with officers, crying out in pain, apologizing, and attempting to explain himself.

When EMTs arrived, they administered a 500‑milligram shot of ketamine and placed him in an ambulance, where he suffered a heart attack, according to officials. He died on Aug. 30, three days after doctors pronounced him brain‑dead and removed him from life support, officials said.