Ahmaud Arbery Case Suspects Tried in Court Admist Black Lives Matters Protest

Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael, and William Bryan will appear in court June, 4 2020 over the death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery.

What We Know:

      • Greg and Travis McMichael were charged with felony murder and aggravated assault charges last month after video footage was released showing the two fatally shooting 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery. Two weeks following, William Bryan, who captured the controversial video, was charged as a third suspect with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.
      • Feb 23, 2020, Greg McMichael, a retired investigator with the Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s office, told police that Arbery matched the description of a burglar. And once Greg saw Arbery jogging in his neighborhood, he and Travis proceeded to arm themselves and follow Arbery in their truck. Bryan met with the two in his own truck and followed suit.
      • The lead Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent in the case testified that Arbery tried to escape the three suspects when Bryan blocked Arbery off with his pick up truck. Both, Travis and Greg, got out of their truck and confronted Arbery, telling him to get on the ground. Upon Arbery’s refusal, Travis McMichael then proceeded to fire three shots at Arbery. The two shots to the chest would lead to Arbery’s death. Travis McMichael testified that it was self-defense.
      • Suspect Bryan stateed to investigators that Travis McMichael proceeded to call Arbery racial slurs as he stood over Arbery’s collapsed body.
      • June 4, 2020, The Courts begin hearing in order to conclude whether there is enough evidence to take all three suspects to trial in the midst of the rising protests in regards to the death of George Floyd. Protestors were expected to arrive at the Glynn County Courthouse throughout the hearing. Governor Brian Kemp stated that law enforcement in Brunswick would be on high alert during the proceedings of the trial. Many protestors are not only calling for action in regards to police brutality, but also for the conviction of murder for all three suspects in the Arbery case.

    • At the conclusion of the hearing on Thursday June 4, 2020, the court concluded that there was enough probable evidence for the cases against all three suspects to proceed with trial.

While there has been no updates released to the public as to when trials will start, many feel that Thursday’s hearing is a small step towards justice for Ahmaud Aubery.