The fatal shooting case of Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year old black man who was shot while jogging, will go to a grand jury in coastal Georgia — according to a district attorney.
A video that was released Tuesday shows disturbing elements of the alleged suspects 64-year old Gregory McMichael, his 34-year old son Travis McMichael, and a third suspect chasing and fatally shooting the victim –neither has been arrested.
The incident took place in a neighborhood outside Brunswick on February 23 when a former police officer and his son chased him down, authorities said.
CNN reports:
According to a Glynn County Police report, Gregory McMichael later told officers that he thought Arbery looked like a person suspected in a series of recent break-ins in the area.
After they chased down Arbery, McMichael told police, Arbery and McMichael’s son Travis struggled over his son’s shotgun. McMichael said two shots were fired before Arbery fell to the street, the report said.
In a letter to police, George Barnhill, one of the district attorneys who has recused himself from the case and who saw the autopsy report, wrote that Arbery sustained three wounds during the struggle for the gun.
Tom Durden, the district attorney for the Atlantic Judicial Circuit, wrote in a news release obtained by CNN on Tuesday that he expects to present the case to the next available grand jury in Glynn County to consider whether charges are merited for those involved in Arbery’s death.
State Attorney General Chris Carr said he was “deeply concerned” by the video and news reports.
Wanda Cooper, Arbery’s mother, told CNN on Sunday that when police notified her of her son’s death, she was told her son was involved in a burglary and that there was a confrontation between her son and the homeowner and a struggle over a gun.
“He was not armed,” Cooper said. She said she never worried about him jogging because she said he wasn’t bothering anyone.
The family’s attorney Lee Merritt has been calling for justice since the murder took place.
Activist Shaun King, and other celebrities has also been rallying for justice.
Viola Davis shared:
LeBron James
Jeezy
Even demonstrators begin protested around the suspects homes.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, courts are currently prohibited from empaneling grand juries so things may not evolve until June. We’ll keep y’all updated with the latest.
