The man who filmed the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery has been arrested, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced Thursday, ABC News reports. William “Roddie” Bryan Jr., 50, has been charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.
Arbery, 25, was fatally shot and killed on February 23 after he was confronted by Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis, while he was jogging outside Brunswick in Georgia. The older McMichael, who is a retired cop, had told officers that they had chased Arbery in a truck after he thought Arbery looked like a suspect who had been connected to a number of burglaries in the Brunswick area. The McMichaels were arrested on May 7 on charges of murder and aggravated assault.
Per an initial police report, Bryan, who was booked into the Glynn County Jail, attempted blocking Arbery, albeit unsuccessful, while the victim was jogging after confronting him.
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In the video, the father and son can be seen catching up with Arbery in a truck while he was jogging. A tussle then ensued between Arbery and Travis, 34, over a shotgun the younger McMichael was holding. Two shots were subsequently fired at Arbery during the scuffle before he fell down on the road. All this happened while Gregory, 64, was standing on the truck’s flatbed with a .357 Magnum.
The attorneys representing Arbery’s parents released a statement after Bryan’s arrest, saying the deceased’s family is “relieved,” ABC News further reports.
“We called for his arrest from the very beginning of this process. His involvement in the murder of Mr. Arbery was obvious to us, to many around the country and after their thorough investigation, it was clear to the GBI as well,” a statement by attorneys, S. Lee Merritt, Benjamin Crump and L. Chris Stewart, read.
“The family of Mr. Arbery is thankful for the diligence of the GBI and the way in which they tirelessly pursued the evidence in this case. We want anyone who participated in the murder of Mr. Arbery to be held accountable.”
In a press conference on Monday, Bryan’s attorney, Kevin Gough, claimed his client has been receiving death threats after the video of the shooting leaked, adding that Bryan has been fearing for his safety since. He also claimed that during the confrontation that led to Arbery’s killing, his client “was not in communication with Gregory or Travis McMichael, or anyone else, during that timeframe.”
“Without his video there would be no case,” Gough said. “Ya’ll [the media] have put a target on his back.”
