Two Men Arrested In Fatal Shooting Of Black Jogger In Georgia

Two men have been arrested in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man whose family says he was jogging on the day he was killed, officials from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced Thursday night. The shooting of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, which took place February 23, ignited racial tensions in Georgia.

Arbery was confronted by Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis, who shot Arbery before he collapsed and died, according to the bureau.

Gregory, 64, and Travis, 34, were both charged with murder and aggravated assault. The men were taken into custody and will be booked into the Glynn County Jail, the bureau said.

The decision comes days after cellphone video emerged that captured the final moments of Arbery's life while he was jogging through the Brunswick neighborhood in February.

According to the only witness in the police report, McMichael told investigators he thought Arbery was a burglary suspect and ordered him to stop. McMichael said Arbery "violently" attacked his son, and the two fought "over the shotgun" before Travis shot him twice. At the time, no charges were filed.

McMichael is a former law enforcement officer who used to work for the local district attorney. Due to conflicts of interest, the case is now on its third prosecutor, who said he will ask a grand jury to bring charges.

Arbery's mother, Wanda Jones, said the cellphone footage of the incident proves her son was not committing a crime. "He was out for his daily jog and he was hunted down like an animal and killed," Jones said. "I'm hoping that all involved, they're indicted and they go to jail."

First published on May 7, 2020 / 8:30 PM

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