Colorado paramedic jailed for five years over killing of Elijah McClain

A Colorado paramedic has been sentenced to five years in prison over the death of 23-year-old Elijah McClain.

The sentence, handed down on Friday to Peter Cichunic, followed a rare prosecution of medical responders that has left officials rethinking how they treat people in police custody.

Cichuniec and fellow paramedic Jeremy Cooper were both convicted in December of criminally negligent homicide for administering the sedative ultimately blamed for killing McClain, a young Black massage therapist, in 2019.

The five-year sentence was the minimum the judge could have given Cichuniec under sentencing guidelines.

McClain’s mother, Sheneen McClain, raised her fist in the air as she left the courtroom following the sentencing, as she’s done after previous hearings. In previous testimony Ms McClain said she once dreamed of being a firefighter and considered them heroes “until the day they took my son’s life.”

“You are a local hero no more,” she said as Cichuniec sat with his attorneys at a nearby table. “Next time, think for yourself and do not follow the direction of a crowds of cowards.”