Elijah McClain: Young African-American Man Died in 2019 After Ketamine Injection During Arrest, Sparking Controversy and Criticism of Policing Practices

Elijah McClain, a young African-American man, died in 2019 after being injected with ketamine during his arrest by two first responders. One of the two has been sentenced to 14 months of half-term detention and will be allowed to work during the day but must return to prison in the evenings and on weekends. The paramedic was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter along with his colleague.

The case gained media attention after the death of George Floyd in May 2020, and it was widely criticized for its handling of McClain’s arrest. During the trial, it was revealed that McClain had been put in a chokehold and injected with ketamine, which led to his death three days later due to a heart attack. The police officer involved in the incident was also sentenced to 14 months in prison while the other two were acquitted.

McClain’s family stated that he was out to buy an ice tea when he was stopped by police after an anonymous caller reported him as looking “suspicious” due to wearing ski goggles. However, McClain had anemia and often wore ski gear to stay warm. The use of ketamine in arrests is controversial in the US, and investigations have been launched in multiple states to address these concerns.