DENVER, USA — A Colorado paramedic convicted in the death of Elijah McClain, a Black man whose death sparked national calls for justice, has been released from prison after a judge reduced his sentence to four years of probation.
The decision on Friday, September 14, 2024, by Judge Mark Warner came months after Peter Cichuniec, a former paramedic and firefighter, was sentenced to prison for his role in McClain’s 2019 death.
Judge Warner noted that Cichuniec had to make a quick decision as the highest-ranking paramedic on the scene the night McClain was restrained by police officers in a Denver suburb.
Warner also highlighted Cichuniec’s previously unblemished record during his 18-year career and referred to “unusual and extenuating circumstances” in the case, which allowed for the modification of the sentence under Colorado’s sentencing laws.
Cichuniec, along with another paramedic, was convicted of criminally negligent homicide for administering ketamine, a sedative blamed for contributing to McClain’s death.
Cichuniec was also convicted of second-degree assault for administering the drug without McClain’s consent or a valid medical reason.
His colleague received a lesser sentence of 14 months in jail with work release and probation.
The Tragic Death of Elijah McClain
McClain, a 23-year-old massage therapist, was walking home in Aurora, Colorado, in August 2019 when police confronted him after responding to a report of a suspicious person.
Officers forcibly restrained McClain and placed him in a neck hold. His final words, “I can’t breathe,” became a haunting echo a year later when George Floyd’s death under similar circumstances in Minneapolis set off nationwide protests against police brutality.
Cichuniec and his colleague arrived at the scene after police had already restrained McClain.
They injected him with ketamine, which prosecutors argued was administered improperly and without sufficient medical justification.
McClain went into cardiac arrest shortly after and died days later in the hospital.
The case has prompted questions about the use of ketamine to subdue individuals in police custody, and Cichuniec’s prosecution has sent shockwaves through the paramedic community.
His conviction was seen as setting a precedent for accountability in medical decisions made during police encounters.
Mixed Reactions to the Sentence Reduction
Supporters of Cichuniec celebrated the reduction of his sentence, with many expressing relief at his release. “Pete is coming home!” his supporters shouted following the judge’s ruling, according to the Denver Post.
However, others criticized the decision, including Candice Bailey, a police reform advocate from Aurora, who called the sentence reduction “disturbing.”
Bailey, who had pushed for accountability in McClain’s death, said, “When you’re talking about a life being taken and that this individual was found guilty of that… it is absolutely mind-boggling to me.”
Colorado Attorney General Philip Weiser expressed disappointment but acknowledged the court’s decision, stating, “We respect the court’s judgment, even though we disagree with the reduced sentence.”
Meanwhile, the International Association of Fire Fighters, which had previously warned that Cichuniec’s conviction would have a chilling effect on paramedics and first responders, welcomed the judge’s decision.
“Pete Cichuniec did not belong behind bars,” said Edward Kelly, the group’s president. “We will always advocate for the public’s safety and our members’ ability to do their jobs without fear of ill-conceived criminal prosecutions.”
The Aftermath
McClain’s death and the handling of his case have become a flashpoint in the national conversation about police reform, racial justice, and the appropriate use of medical interventions during arrests.
The case has led to increased scrutiny of the use of ketamine by paramedics and sparked legislative efforts in Colorado to limit the circumstances under which the drug can be administered.
McClain’s mother, Sheneen McClain, who had expressed satisfaction with Cichuniec’s original sentence, declined to comment on the reduced sentence.
In March, she had raised her fist in celebration as she left the courtroom following the paramedic’s initial sentencing.
Cichuniec’s release from prison marks the latest chapter in a case that has left a profound impact on both the local community and the national movement for social justice.
