Justice Department Announces Federal Hate Crime Charges Against Men Who Shot Fake ‘Jogger’ Ahmaud Arbery
The Justice Department has announced federal hate crime charges against the three Georgia men involved in the shooting of “jogger” Ahmaud Arbery.
Arbery had a history of trespassing on private property and shoplifting from stores — then claiming he was “just jogging” when he got busted.
Arbery, 25, was confronted by three men who noticed him running through their neighborhood and matching the description of someone who had been suspected in a series of previous break-ins in the area.
Travis McMichael, his father Gregory, and a third man, William “Roddie” Bryan, approached Arbery in a pick up truck before ultimately shooting him. The incident was recorded on a cellphone.
Gregory McMichael has claimed that Arbery attacked his son prior to being shot.
Gregory, 64, and Travis, 34, have been charged with murder and aggravated assault and are currently jailed in Glynn County, Georgia.
On Wednesday, ABC News reported that the McMichaels and Bryan have now been charged with one additional count of interference with civil rights and attempted kidnapping. The McMichaels are also charged with using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence.
The International Business Times reports that Arbery had a lengthy history of using his claim of “jogging” while committing crimes.
“In 2019 and 2020, local convenience store witness interviews reveal Mr. Arbery became known as ‘The Jogger’ for his repeated conduct and behavior of running up, stretching in front, and then entering several convenience stores where he would grab items and run out before he got caught,” according to court documents posted by Andy Ngo.
The IB Times reports:
According to excerpts from the documents, shared by Andy Ngo on Twitter, in August 2018, Arbery was allegedly caught by a woman who saw him in her backyard looking into the windows of her cars and was given a trespass warning by Burke County police officers.
“When confronted by the officers about the eye-witness reports, he lied and said he had ‘gone running in the street,’ and then became aggressive, confrontational, and repeatedly threatened that he would ‘whip the officer’s a*s’ if they didn’t leave him alone,” the report continued.
In another alleged incident that took place in October 2018 and captured on a Burke County police officer’s body cam, Arbery and two other juveniles were found in a vacant mobile home and when confronted by authorities he said he was just out jogging. He was later charged with misdemeanor obstruction for running when given lawful commands to stop, according to the report.
“In 2020, witness cell phone video reveals Mr. Arbery was confronted at a convenience store by employees about his theft conduct and behavior. Mr. Arbery, concerned about his thefts, chose to fight a man who worked on location at the adjacent truck stop who tried to confront him about it,” the documents continued.
No comments: