Aurora Police Officer, Nathan Woodyard Found Not Guilty in Elijah McClain Case

Nathan Woodyard, an Aurora, Colorado police officer involved in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, was declared not guilty on Monday, following accusations of criminally negligent homicide and assault in the tragic incident. McClain, an unarmed Black man, passed away while returning home from a local store on August 24, 2019.

In response to the verdict, Woodyard's legal representatives, Megan Downing and Andrew Ho, expressed their respect for the legal process in a statement to ABC News, acknowledging the difficult nature of the case and emphasizing their relief at the outcome for their client. However, Downing did not provide immediate commentary upon request from PEOPLE.

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser conveyed his acceptance of the jury's decision, stating that while it was not the desired verdict, he honored the jury system and appreciated the jurors for fulfilling their civic duties. 

He further reiterated his commitment to seeking accountability and justice for Elijah McClain and his loved ones, particularly expressing solidarity with Sheneen McClain, Elijah's mother, in her unwavering dedication to preserving her son's memory.

The encounter between the police officers and McClain transpired following a 911 call reporting a suspicious individual in the vicinity. Amidst the escalating situation, it was alleged that Woodyard employed a chokehold on McClain, causing him to briefly lose consciousness.

Prior to Woodyard's trial, two other officers, Randy Roedema and Jason Rosenblatt, had also faced a jury on identical charges in connection to McClain's demise. Roedema was found guilty, whereas Rosenblatt was acquitted.

Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law and respected the jury's decision, thanking them for their thoughtful deliberation and service.

During the trial, Woodyard's legal team attempted to shift responsibility onto paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec, who are scheduled for trial later in the month. 

The indictment claimed that Cooper and Cichuniec, who arrived after the officers, administered an amount of ketamine to sedate McClain, which was allegedly appropriate for a person weighing over 200 lbs., despite McClain weighing less than 150 lbs. This led to McClain suffering a cardiac arrest and passing away several days later.

Woodyard himself testified during the trial, stating to FOX 31 that he believed McClain was reaching for a gun and feared for his life, but conceded under prosecution questioning that he would have acted differently in hindsight.

At present, Woodyard remains suspended by the Aurora Police Department, while Rosenblatt was dismissed several months after the incident for allegedly responding with "haha" to a photo of three other Aurora police officers reenacting the chokehold, all of whom were also terminated, as previously reported by PEOPLE.

In 2021, the city of Aurora settled a $15 million civil rights lawsuit stemming from the case.

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