Elijah McClain, an unarmed Black man, tragically lost his life in 2019 while walking home from a grocery store in Aurora, Colorado. The latest development in his case saw Nathan Woodyard, the third police officer involved, being found not guilty of criminally negligent homicide and assault charges. The verdict was delivered on Monday, disappointing those who had hoped for justice.
Woodyard’s defense team, consisting of lawyers Megan Downing and Andrew Ho, expressed their respect for the trial process and relief regarding the verdict. They emphasized that while they recognized the tragic circumstances, they believed this outcome was just for their client. However, Downing did not respond immediately to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser acknowledged the unexpected nature of the verdict, expressing disappointment but also affirming his respect for the jury system. He stated that although the outcome was not what they had hoped for, they remained undeterred in their pursuit of accountability and justice for Elijah McClain and his loved ones.
The incident unfolded when police officers stopped McClain in response to a 911 call about a suspicious person. As the encounter escalated, it was alleged that officer Woodyard applied a chokehold on McClain, causing him to briefly lose consciousness.
Before Woodyard’s trial, Randy Roedema and Jason Rosenblatt, the other two officers involved, faced a jury on the same charges. Roedema was found guilty while Rosenblatt was acquitted.
Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo respected the jury’s verdict and expressed gratitude for their diligent deliberations and service. He emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and the esteem in which the American judicial process is held.
During Woodyard’s trial, his defense attorneys attempted to shift some of the blame onto paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec, who are scheduled for trial later this month. The allegation is that Cooper and Cichuniec arrived at the scene after the police officers and attempted to sedate McClain by injecting him with ketamine. The indictment claimed that the dosage administered was appropriate for an individual weighing over 200 lbs., despite McClain weighing less than 150 lbs. Tragically, McClain suffered cardiac arrest and passed away several days later.
Woodyard himself took the stand and testified that he believed McClain was reaching for a gun and felt his life was in danger, which led to his actions. However, under cross-examination by the prosecution, Woodyard admitted that, in hindsight, he would have handled the situation differently.
Woodyard is currently suspended from the Aurora Police Department. Rosenblatt was fired months after the incident due to allegedly responding with haha to a text containing a photo of three other Aurora police officers reenacting the chokehold. Those three officers were also terminated.
In 2021, the city of Aurora reached a settlement of $15 million in a civil rights lawsuit related to Elijah McClain’s case.
The tragic death of Elijah McClain once again highlights the urgent need to address systemic racism. To contribute to this cause, it is recommended to consider learning from or donating to organizations dedicated to combating racism.
