On Aug. 24, 2019, a 23-year-old Black man named Elijah McClain was walking home from the store when he was stopped by police officers in Aurora, Colorado (part of the Denver metropolitan area), after they received a report of a “suspicious person” wearing a ski mask. The encounter escalated, McClain was put in a chokehold, injected with Ketamine, and a few days later he was dead.

Elijah McClain's last words:

I can’t breathe. I have my ID right here. My name is Elijah McClain. That’s my house. I was just going home. I’m an introvert. I’m just different. That’s all. I’m so sorry. I have no gun. I don’t do that stuff. I don’t do any fighting. Why are you attacking me? I don’t even kill flies! I don’t eat meat! But I don’t judge people, I don’t judge people who do eat meat. Forgive me. All I was trying to do was become better. I will do it. I will do anything. Sacrifice my identity, I’ll do it. You all are phenomenal. You are beautiful and I love you. Try to forgive me. I’m a mood Gemini. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Ow, that really hurt. You are all very strong. Teamwork makes the dream work. Oh, I’m sorry I wasn’t trying to do that. I just can’t breathe correctly.

Paramedic Jeremy Cooper administered 500 mg. of ketamine into Elijah McClain while McClain was handcuffed, in and out of consciousness, and on the ground with three police officers on top of him. Injecting him was unnecessary. In addition, the amount of ketamine injected into McClain was dangerously misjudged. McClain was 5'6, weighing 140 lbs. The amount of ketamine appropriate for McClain's size is 320 mg. This grossly negligent decision by Jeremy Cooper to administer improper amounts of ketamine caused Elijah to go into cardiac arrest and later die. 

Furthermore, ketamine is not approved by the FDA and is a violation of human rights.

Jeremy Cooper lacks the necessary skills to hold a paramedic license and has a reckless disregard for human safety. His license should be revoked immediately. 

Please sign this petition to help bring justice for Elijah McClain.