Aurora police officer Nathan Woodyard has been acquitted of manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide charges in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain. McClain, a 23-year-old Black man, died after an encounter with first responders while walking home at night. Woodyard’s trial spanned several weeks, and the jury reached their verdict on Monday afternoon after deliberating for about a day-and-a-half.
McClain’s death involved three other Aurora police officers and two paramedics, with one officer convicted of homicide and another acquitted in a split verdict last month. The trial for the paramedics is set to begin later this month.
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Woodyard escalated the situation by grabbing McClain without identifying himself or explaining the reason for his approach. They also accused him of disregarding the police department’s de-escalation policy and failing to listen to McClain’s pleas. Woodyard’s defense maintained that he walked away during part of the confrontation, leaving McClain in the care of his fellow officer and the paramedics.
The official autopsy report stated that McClain died from a ketamine overdose administered by the paramedics after being forcibly restrained by the police. Prosecutors, however, presented their own medical expert who claimed that the police restraint led to McClain’s death by causing severe breathing difficulties and acid buildup in his body.
In a separate trial, it was alleged that the police influenced paramedics to administer ketamine to McClain by citing symptoms of excited delirium. Prosecutors argued that Woodyard, upon returning to the scene, failed to intervene in the restraining of McClain and did not help alleviate his breathing difficulties.
Woodyard took the stand and testified that he used a carotid control hold on McClain because he believed McClain posed a threat to his life. He cited McClain’s statement about “taking his power back” and another officer’s claim that McClain had grabbed his gun. The defense emphasized that Woodyard acted out of fear and reacted to what he heard in the moment.
Following the verdict, Elijah McClain’s mother, Sheneen McClain, raised her fist as she left the courthouse. The Aurora Police Department tweeted that they respected the jury’s decision and could not comment further due to the pending trial of the paramedics.
The Colorado Attorney General, Phil Weiser, released a statement expressing his disappointment with the verdict but acknowledging the jury’s decision. He assured the public that the pursuit of justice and accountability would continue in the upcoming trial of the paramedics.
The trial for the two paramedics, Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec, is scheduled for later this month, with jury selection expected on November 27.
