AURORA, Colo. — The city of Aurora and its police and fire departments released statements Thursday in reaction to the split verdict in the case of two officers charged in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain.
McClain, 23, was first contacted on Aug. 24, 2019, after a teenage boy called 911 and relayed that he saw McClain wearing a coat and mask and acting "suspicious." Less than a minute after police arrived, McClain was taken to the ground and engaged in a struggle with Roedema, Rosenblatt, and a third officer. During that struggle, McClain was placed in a carotid hold, which can cut off the oxygen supply to the brain.
Later that same night, paramedics injected McClain with the sedative ketamine. His heart stopped, and he later died.
After a trial that lasted nearly three weeks, a jury Thursday convicted Randy Roedema of criminally negligent homicide and third-degree assault. He had faced a more serious charge of reckless manslaughter, but the jury convicted him of criminally negligent homicide instead, a lower-class felony that carries a lesser sentence.
The same jury found Jason Rosenblatt not guilty of both counts he faced, which were reckless manslaughter and second-degree assault.
In a statement after the verdict, Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo said:
I know many have been waiting a long time for the involved parties to have their day in court. As a nation, we must be committed to the rule of law. As such, we hold the American judicial process in high regard. We respect the verdict handed down by the jury and thank the members of the jury for their thoughtful deliberation and service. Due to the additional pending trials, the Aurora Police Department is precluded from further comment at this time.
After the verdict, Aurora Fire Rescue Chief Alex Oughton released a statement saying:
Until all the trials related to the death of Elijah McClain are ruled, Aurora Fire Rescue owes it to all the defendants to withhold our comments about individual case outcomes to ensure that we do not compromise their right to a fair trial. Additionally, the court has precluded the city and our department from commenting on the facts and circumstances of the incident while these proceedings are pending. We respect the rule of law and the outcomes of the cases.
What we will share at this time is our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone impacted by this event. The stress they have suffered over the past four years as they seek healing and closure is unimaginable. We also want Aurora residents to know that we remain focused on our responsibilities to provide exceptional service in protecting the community, loved ones and property during emergency situations.
Aurora Interim City Manager Jason Batchelor released a statement saying:
I know there are deep feelings about Elijah McClain and that today’s verdict will elicit a range of emotions across the community. Irrespective of the outcome of the trial and the remaining two trials, Mr. McClain’s death was tragic and had a profound impact on all of us. I have stood alongside city employees and community members over the last four years in championing meaningful, measured public safety changes while simultaneously supporting our dedicated police officers and firefighters who work tirelessly to keep our community safe. None of that work will change. We will not waver in our commitment to progress. I encourage you to regularly inform yourself on our progress webpage.
Mr. McClain’s death has an enduring impact on our community. I extend my sincerest sympathies to Elijah McClain’s family and friends for the continued heartache of his loss.
I join the city’s executive management team and APD in monitoring public reaction to today’s verdict. We will continue to work together, acknowledging the loss and impacts of this tragedy, to drive the progress we seek.
In 2020, Gov. Jared Polis assigned a special prosecutor, the Colorado Attorney General's Office, to investigate McClain's death. The office released a statement Thursday that says in part:
Given the number of involved actors and complexity of the case, we knew that prosecuting this case would be difficult. It was nonetheless important that this significant case go to trial so that a jury could hear the facts, review the evidence, and make a judgment. I am proud of the hard work of our dedicated team that put everything they had into this prosecution. They presented the strongest case possible to hold accountable those whose actions resulted in the tragic death of Elijah McClain.
Today, the jury returned a guilty verdict against one of the defendants. I’m deeply grateful for our team’s hard work and dedication on this case. We have two more trials to prosecute, and I know the teams handling those cases will bring their best efforts as well.
The trial of Roedema and Rosenblatt was the first of three trials in McClain's death. Jury selection begins Friday in the trial of suspended Aurora officer Nathan Woodyard. The trial for Aurora Fire Rescue lieutenant Peter Cichuniec and paramedic Jeremy Cooper is scheduled to begin in November.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Elijah McClain death