Three Georgia men pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges Tuesday in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was …
Three Georgia men pleaded not guilty to federal hate crime charges Tuesday in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was chased and shot while jogging near his home, according to online court documents. Greg McMichael, a 65-year-old former police officer; Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael’s 35-year-old son; and William « Roddie » Bryan appeared in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Benjamin Cheesbro for their first court appearance since they were indicted on the federal charges. They are charged with violating Arbery’s civil rights and attempted kidnapping. The father and son were also charged with using firearms during the commissions of a crime. Members of Arbery’s family thanked their supporters and the federal government outside the courthouse Tuesday. « This is a very emotional day for the family, » family attorney S. Lee Merritt told reporters. « This is the first time that they’ve shared a courtroom with these three murderers. » On Feb.23,2020, the McMichaels armed themselves, got into a truck and chased Arbery while he was running on a public street in the Satilla Shores neighborhood of Brunswick, Georgia, according to court documents. Bryan, their neighbor, joined the chase, used his truck to cut off Arbery and took video on his phone of Travis McMichael shooting Arbery three times at close range with a shotgun. Arbery’s death, along with those of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, who were killed by police, fueled months of racial justice protests around the country. The McMichaels and Bryan, who are all white, were arrested last May — more than two months after the fatal shooting — following a storm of public outcry after video of Arbery’s death was made public.
