On a Sunday afternoon, February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Marquez Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was jogging in the Satilla Shores neighborhood just outside of Brunswick, Georgia. His run was interrupted by three white men: a father and son, Gregory and Travis McMichael, and their neighbor, William 'Roddie' Bryan. The McMichaels, armed with a shotgun and a revolver, began pursuing Arbery in their pickup truck, believing he was a burglary suspect.
Bryan later joined the chase in his own truck, recording the unfolding events on his cellphone.
For approximately five minutes, the men pursued the unarmed Arbery, using their vehicles to try and block his path as he attempted to run away. The chase culminated in a confrontation where Travis McMichael exited his truck and pointed his shotgun at Arbery. A struggle ensued over the weapon, and Travis McMichael fatally shot Arbery. An autopsy later revealed that Arbery was shot three times, with two shots hitting his chest.
For more than two months, no arrests were made in connection with Arbery's death. It was only after Bryan's graphic cellphone video of the shooting was leaked online in May 2020, sparking national outrage, that the Georgia Bureau of Investigation took over the case from local police. On May 7, 2020, Gregory and Travis McMichael were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault. William 'Roddie' Bryan Jr. was arrested on May 21, 2020, and charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. A grand jury later indicted all three men on charges including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, and false imprisonment.
In November 2021, the three men stood trial in a Georgia state court. Their defense claimed they were attempting a citizen's arrest and acted in self-defense. On November 24, 2021, a jury found all three men guilty of murder. Travis McMichael was convicted on all counts, including malice murder. Gregory McMichael and William Bryan were convicted of felony murder and other charges. On January 7, 2022, the McMichaels were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Bryan was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after serving 30 years.
Following the state trial, the three men faced a federal hate crimes trial. In February 2022, a federal jury convicted all three of interference with rights, a federal hate crime, and attempted kidnapping, concluding they had targeted Arbery because he was Black. Prosecutors presented evidence of racist text messages and social media posts by Travis McMichael and William Bryan. In August 2022, Travis and Gregory McMichael were both sentenced to life in prison on the federal charges. William Bryan received a 35-year federal sentence.
