Prosecutors say paramedics ignored Elijah McClain’s distress after stop and killed him with overdose

By COLLEEN SLEVIN and MATTHEW BROWN
Associated Press

BRIGHTON, Colo. (AP) — A Colorado prosecutor says two paramedics ”did nothing” to help an ailing Elijah McClain and instead injected him with a fatal overdose of a powerful sedative during a 2019 police stop. The ketamine injection killed the 23-year-old Black man after he’d been weakened by a police neck hold when officers forcibly restrained him walking home from a convenience store. The paramedics have pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, negligent homicide and several counts each of assault. Opening statements were given Wednesday. Three officers already have gone to trial and two were acquitted.