Mother of Ahmaud Arbery Files Federal Lawsuit

The mother of Ahmaud Arbery filed a federal lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging the men charged in her son’s death were unofficially working with local law enforcement.

The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia on the one-year anniversary of Arbery’s death.

Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was jogging, was chased and gunned down by a group of white men in Glynn County, Ga.

The three men charged with murder are named as the defendants in the lawsuit: retired Georgia police officer Gregory McMichael, 64, his 34-year-old son, Travis McMichael, their 50-year-old neighbor, and William “Roddie” Bryan.

Former Glynn County Police Chief John Powell, former Glynn County District Attorney Jackie Johnson, Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill and several Glynn County police officers are also named in the suit.

Attorney Lee Merritt, who represents Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said the lawsuit was filed on directions from Cooper-Jones to pursue all avenues of justice on behalf of her son.

Travis and Gregory McMichael were arrested on May 8, about three months after the killing, and charged with murder and aggravated assault. Bryan was arrested May 22 and charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

All three men have pleaded not guilty and have been ordered to stand trial later this year.

Ahmaud’s mom alleges multiple causes of action … including excessive force, conspiracy to violate Ahmaud’s civil rights, conspiracy to obstruct justice, a failure to properly train officers, and several others.

She’s seeking at least a million dollars in damages.