Former Colorado paramedic Jeremy Cooper sentenced to probation, work release after conviction in death of Elijah McClain

Former Colorado paramedic Jeremy Cooper was sentenced to four years probation, 14 months work release and 100 hours of community service on Friday afternoon. Cooper is one of the two paramedics who were found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in the death of Elijah McClain.

Adams County District Judge Mark Warner stayed Cooper's sentence until June 7, which he said will give Cooper time to "make arrangements to continue his employment."

Former Aurora Fire Rescue paramedic Peter Cichuniec was sentenced last month to 5 years in prison last month and 3 years of probation by the same judge, Adams County District Judge Mark Warner. He said the sentence and the example it might send are tied to public safety, but also said he does not believe Cichuniec is a risk to the public.

McClain was walking home in August 2019 when the 23-year-old Black man was confronted by police officers who forcibly restrained him and then the Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics -- Jeremy Cooper and Cichuniec -- injected him with ketamine.  

He went into cardiac arrest in an ambulance a few minutes later and died three days after that.

Cooper speaks directly to Elijah before sentencing

Cooper spoke in court before his sentencing, after several others testified about his character on his behalf about how he was a devoted husband, a devoted firefighter and a paramedic for more than 20 years. 

"What I would like to do now is just talk to Elijah. Elijah, I am a man of faith, I know you are here among us and I know you can hear me. I wish I wasn't standing here, talking up to you, because that would mean that you are here. There's so much I want to say to you, first I want you to know how sorry I am that I couldn't save you. I want you to know how sorry I am that I didn't get to hear your last words. I want you to know that I would give anything to have a different outcome," said Cooper. "I am so sorry, collectively, that we all failed you."

Elijah's mother gives statement in court

During Cooper's statement, Sheneen McClain, Elijah's mother, walked out of the courtroom for a time until she returned to speak at the podium before the judge handed down Cooper's sentence. 

"Jeremy Cooper did what he thought was best. He did nothing. Jeremy Cooper did not check for my son's pulse. Jeremy Cooper did not conduct a thorough examination to see if my son was breathing normally. Jeremy Cooper did not interact with my son or ask my son how he was doing under the weight of a monster. Jeremy Cooper was there for more than several minutes before my son took his last words. Jeremy Cooper heard my son talking and was there for my son's last words. But Jeremy Cooper just stood there like a drug dealer waiting for his sale," said Sheneen McClain. "Nothing Jeremy Cooper can say can bring back my son or remove my son's blood from his hands."

Cooper's wife makes statement before sentencing

"On the tragic night of Elijah McClain's death, knowing Jeremy and knowing his heart, and his integrity, I know he was using his calm, even-keeled demeanor to try to help save Elijah. There was just so much that he didn't have control over," said Cooper's wife Tarrah Cooper before the judge handed down the sentence. "The loss of life is a tragedy, there is no disputing that and Jeremy will carry the loss of Elijah with him forever just as he does all the patients that he was not able to save. Jeremy has relived that eight minutes many times a day for the last nearly five years."

History of court proceedings in death of Elijah McClain 

Cooper and Cichuniec were both convicted in December 2023.

In addition to criminally negligent homicide, Cichuniec was also found guilty of second-degree assault-unlawful administration of drugs, a conviction that typically carries a 5-to-16-year prison sentence. The judge handed down the minimum five-year sentence. 

Three officers from the Aurora Police Department have been tried in connection to McClain's death. Last fall, two of the officers were acquitted in Elijah's death and a third was found guilty. 

A jury found Randy Roedema guilty of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault, while Jason Rosenblatt was found not guilty of manslaughter and assault in October 2023. A jury also found Nathan Woodyard not guilty of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide in the 23-year-old's death.

In January, Roedema was sentenced to 14 months in jail along with four years of probation. He has filed an appeal and is asking the court to review nine different aspects of the case.

The City of Aurora agreed in 2021 to pay $15 million to settle a civil lawsuit brought by McClain's parents.