Sheneen McClain stands at the site where her son Elijah was killed after interactions with Aurora Police officers and paramedics resulted in the 23-year-old being restrained, suffated, and given a sedative on August 24, 2019. Elijah McClain died less than a week after leaving the scene unconscious and unable to breathe on his own.
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Sheneen McClain stands at the site where her son Elijah was killed after interactions with Aurora Police officers and paramedics resulted in the 23-year-old being restrained, suffated, and given a sedative on August 24, 2019. Elijah McClain died less than a week after leaving the scene unconscious and unable to breathe on his own.
AAron Ontiveroz / Denver Posted via Getty Images
City of Aurora, Colo., has agreed to pay $15 million for 23 year old Elijah McClain’s family, a Black man died after being stopped by police, drugged. His family filed a civil rights lawsuit.
City leaders said they were prepared to sign the agreement as soon as the McClains completed a separate process for the division of the settlement.
“The City of Aurora and Elijah McClain’s family reached a settlement in principle over the summer to resolve a lawsuit filed following his tragic death in August 2019,” said Ryan Luby, The city’s deputy communications director said in a statement sent to NPR.
City officials said until details are finalized, the parties cannot comment on the agreement and its terms. A trial is scheduled for Friday.
NPR contacted Mari Newman, an attorney for Elijah McClain’s father, to comment on the settlement, but she declined.
However, the legal representative for Elijah McClain’s mother, Sheneen McClain, told the local TV station. CBS4 Denver that she is grateful to the community and its “incredible support, love and commitment” to ensuring Elijah McClain’s death leads to meaningful reform.
“While nothing will fill that void, Ms. McClain hopes that the necessary reforms to the Aurora Police Department will save other parents from suffering the same pain,” the statement continued.
On August 24, 2019, Elijah McClain was caught by police while walking home with a glass of iced tea he had just bought. One caller told the 911 operator that they had seen someone “slim” in the area.
Then as police confront McClain, who was unarmed, they put him in a closed place, ignoring him as he wept in pain and vomited. McClain went into cardiac arrest after paramedics injected him with ketamine, a powerful sedative, and he died. six days later.
He is not suspected of any crimes.
McClain’s cause of death was listed by the coroner as “undetermined”.
Rashia Veal holds a sign of her cousin, Elijah McClain at a news conference in October 2019 in front of Downtown Aurora. Family, friends, legal counsel, local pastors and community organizers have called for justice for McClain’s officer-related death.
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Rashia Veal holds a sign of her cousin, Elijah McClain at a news conference in October 2019 in front of Downtown Aurora. Family, friends, legal counsel, local pastors and community organizers have called for justice for McClain’s officer-related death.
Andy Cross / Denver Posted via Getty Images
His mother submitted a federal civil rights lawsuit in August 2020 against Aurora, as well as many police officers, paramedics, and the medical director of Aurora Fire Rescue.
The lawsuit alleges that there was no reason for McClain to be given ketamine and that the dose was too large for his body weight.
In September, a state grand jury filed 32 criminal charges against three Aurora policemen and two paramedics. The charges include manslaughter, assault and negligent homicide.
A civil rights investigation prompted by McClain’s death found a pattern policy of racism in Aurora.
