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

Attorneys representing Elijah McClain’s family and the City of Aurora have reached an agreement that the city will pay out $15 million in the civil rights lawsuit 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

McClain, 23, was confronted by City of Aurora police on Aug. 24, 2019, while walking home from a convenience store after a 911 caller told authorities they had seen someone “sketchy” in the area.

McClain 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, he was administered a shot of 500 milligrams of ketamine and placed in an ambulance where he had a heart attack, according to officials.

He died on Aug. 30, three days after doctors pronounced him brain dead and he was removed from life support, officials said.