Statement of Attorney General Phil Weiser on the verdict in the third Elijah McClain death trial

Dec. 22, 2023 (BRIGHTON, Colo.) – Attorney General Phil Weiser released the following statement regarding the guilty verdicts in the trial of the paramedics charged with the death of Elijah McClain:

“Since September, we have had three back-to-back trials to present the full story of what happened Aug. 24, 2019, when Aurora officers violently restrained Elijah McClain on the ground and paramedics injected him with a deadly dose of ketamine. These trials occurred after a state grand jury found probable cause to charge the officers and paramedics with the death of Elijah McClain, and the court ruled there was sufficient evidence to support the charges and bring the cases to trial.

“We knew these cases would be difficult to prosecute. We are satisfied with today’s verdicts, and we are confident that bringing these cases to trial was the right thing to do for justice, for Elijah McClain, and for healing in the Aurora community. I am proud of our hardworking trial team that presented a strong case based on the evidence and the law against the paramedics. Indeed, the prosecution teams in the three trials brought to light the events that occurred that dark night. The world — Elijah and especially his mother Sheneen McClain— deserved to have the full story told. And justice demanded it.

“Elijah did nothing wrong that evening, his life mattered, and he should be here today. Accountability does not end with these trials. Too many times, we have seen people die when officers unnecessarily escalate situations that don’t call for the use of force. We must continue our work to improve policing and emergency response and build trust between law enforcement, first responders, and the people they are sworn to protect. We must do all we can to prevent these tragedies.”

###