>>> DID THAT MAKE ANY SENSE TO
YOU THAT YOUR SON WOULD BE
COMMITTING A BURGLARY?
>> AHMAUD WASN'T BURGLARIZING
ANYTHING.
HE WAS JUST RUNNING.
I HAVE BEEN TOLD LIES.
>> AND NOW THE VERDICT IS IN.
>> I UNDERSTAND YOU REACHED A
VERDICT.
>> THE MURDER OF AHMAUD ARBERY
SHOCKED THE NATION.
>> THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO THIS
STORY THAT YOU NEVER HEARD
BEFORE.
>> GREG McMICHAEL AND TRAVIS
McMICHAEL CHASED THIS YOUNG MAN
IN THE STREET AND HUNTED HIM
DOWN AND SHOT HIM.
>> AS SOON AS HE SAYS THAT, THEY
BEGIN TO TAKE EVERYTHING THAT HE
SAYS AT FACE VALUE.
>> NO, NO, NO, NO.
WHY WOULD HE BE IN CUFFS?
>> THE VIDEO CHANGES EVERYTHING.
>> JUST 36 SECOND OF GRAINY
VIDEO.
>> YOU'RE NOW DEALING WITH THE
WHOLE WORLD WATCHING.
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT ELSE I
COULD DO.
I JUST SHOT A MAN.
>> ANYBODY WHO SAW THAT VIDEO,
THEIR REACTION WAS, GOOD GOD,
THIS IS A LYNCHING.
>> DID YOU THINK THAT YOU WOULD
BE ABLE TO GET JUSTICE AS A
BLACK WOMAN IN A SMALL GEORGIA
TOWN?
>> I PROMISED HIM I WOULD FIND
OUT WHAT HAPPENED.
>>> AHMAUD WOULD GO OUT RUNNING,
JOGGING EVERY DAY.
>> HE JUST LOVED RUNNING PAST
THE OAK TREES AND THE PINE
TREES.
>> HE LIKED IT BECAUSE IT WAS
PEACEFUL.
HE WAS AT HOME WHEN HE RAN.
>> HE JUST LOVED SMELLING THE
SEA SALT AS HE RAN.
>> IF IT WASN'T DRENCHING IN
RAIN, AHMAUD WOULD BE RUNNING.
>> AHMAUD ARBERY WAS
WANDA COOPER‐JONES' AND
MARCUS ARBERY SR.'S THIRD CHILD.
THEY HAD AN OLDER SON,
MARCUS JR., AND THEY ALSO HAD A
DAUGHTER, JASMINE.
>> AHMAUD WAS THE BABY.
I HAD AHMAUD ON MOTHER'S DAY.
I KNEW AHMAUD WOULD BE THE LAST
ONE, SO I CHERISHED AHMAUD.
>> AND HE WAS YOUR MOTHER'S DAY
GIFT.
>> YES.
WE SHARED A VERY SPECIAL BOND.
AHMAUD WAS THE KID THAT WOULD
COME IN AND GIVE ME A KISS ON
THE CHEEK OR JUST COME IN AND
GIVE ME A HUG AROUND THE NECK.
>> AIN'T A DAY PASS BY HE AIN'T
GONNA TELL YOU THAT HE LOVED
YOU.
AND HE DIDN'T JUST TELL YOU
THAT, HE SHOWED THAT.
>> HE WAS A FUNNY GUY, ALWAYS
WANTING TO KEEP PEOPLE LAUGHING.
WE'D ALL BE JOKED OUT, AND HE
GOING TO BE RIGHT IN THE CENTER
OF IT, MAKING US LAUGH.
>> RIGHT OR WRONG, IF YOU HIS
FAMILY, HE GOING TO STICK WITH
YOU, BESIDE YOU.
HE WAS A GREAT KID.
>> WHEN HE KNEW I WAS HAVING A
BAD DAY, HE WOULD COME IN AND
SAY SOMETHING THAT HE THOUGHT
WAS FUNNY TO GET ME TO SMILE.
HIS GOAL WAS TO MAKE ME HAPPY,
AND HE DID THAT.
YOU DON'T TAKE ANY TIME FOR
GRANTED AT THIS POINT.
>> LIFE WAS PRETTY TOUGH FOR
WANDA.
RAISING THREE CHILDREN AND OFTEN
WORKING TWO JOBS.
>> I CONSTANTLY ASKED HER, WAS
BEING A MOM TO THREE AND RAISING
THEM ON YOUR OWN, WAS IT TIRING?
SHE WOULD TELL ME ALL THE TIME,
IT WAS ONE OF THE BEST ROLES SHE
EVER PLAYED.
>> THE FAMILY LIVED IN
BRUNSWICK, A SMALL TOWN IN THE
SOUTHEAST CORNER OF GEORGIA.
>> BRUNSWICK IS AN IDYLLIC TOWN
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE NEAR WATER
AND OFF THE COAST.
>> IT'S VERY TROPICAL.
YOU GOT THREE ISLANDS THAT ARE
NEARBY.
>> THERE'S ONLY A LITTLE MORE
THAN 16,000 PEOPLE IN BRUNSWICK.
SO IT IS A SMALL SOUTHERN TOWN.
♪ ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR ♪
>> AHMAUD WASN'T JUST A CASUAL
RUNNER, HE WAS A NATURAL BORN
ATHLETE.
HE LOVED SPORTS.
BASKETBALL, BOXING.
>> BUT I THINK AHMAUD'S
PARTICULAR LOVE OF FOOTBALL WAS
SOMETHING THAT WAS
EXTRAORDINARY.
>> AHMAUD STARTED PLAYING
FOOTBALL WHEN HE WAS ABOUT 5.
>> IT'S THE SOUTH, SO SPORTS IN
THE SOUTH IS CRAZY.
>> JUST LISTEN TO THIS ENERGY
AT THE FOOTBALL STADIUM WHERE
AHMAUD ONCE PLAYED.
>> YOU GO TO A HIGH SCHOOL GAME
RIGHT NOW, THE WHOLE CITY COME
OUT.
FOOTBALL IS VERY IMPORTANT DOWN
THERE.
>> THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT.
>> AT BRUNSWICK HIGH, AHMAUD WAS
KNOWN AS A HARD HITTER AND A
MIGHTY LINEBACKER.
>> ONCE THEY PUT HIM IN THE
GAME, HIS HEART OVERTOOK IT.
AND IT REALLY SCARED ME 'CAUSE
HE WASN'T THAT BIG.
BUT WHEN I SEEN HIM PLAY I SAY,
WOW, HIS HEART IS BIGGER THAN
HIS SIZE.
>> A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO
HAVE LESS OPPORTUNITY SEE SPORTS
AS A WAY TO ACHIEVE NOT ONLY
MATERIAL SUCCESS, BUT ALSO,
I THINK, TO HAVE A SENSE OF
IDENTITY.
AND THE ADD RATION OF THE PEOPLE
THAT YOU GREW UP WITH.
>> IT'S A PATH TO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT AND PEACE.
IT'S A WAY TO LET YOURSELF BE
FREE.
>> HE WAS ON A MISSION.
HE KNEW WHAT HE WANTED OUT OF
LIFE.
>> HE WANTED TO BUY A PLOT OF
LAND AND BUILD HOUSES WITH HIM
AND HIS BEST FRIEND SO THEY
COULD ALL LIVE CLOSE TOGETHER
AND RAISE THEIR FAMILIES
TOGETHER.
>> AS KIDS, AHMAUD AND HIS OLDER
BROTHER, MARCUS JR., WOULD
FANTASIZE WHAT LIFE WOULD BE
LIKE OUTSIDE OF BRUNSWICK.
>> EVERYDAY, WE DREAMED ABOUT
PLAYING IN THE NFL.
>> THEY WANTED ONE OF THEM TO
SIGN A BIG, HUGE, MULTIMILLION
DOLLAR NFL CONTRACT.
>> ONE OF US HAD TO GO TO THE
NFL.
ONE OF US HAD TO MAKE MAMA RICH.
>> AND THEY WERE GONNA BUY WANDA
A NICE, BIG HOUSE.
>> THIS WASN'T EXACTLY A
FAR‐FETCHED DREAM.
THREE FORMER PLAYERS FROM THE
BRUNSWICK PIRATES ACTUALLY WENT
ON TO PLAY FOR THE NFL,
INCLUDING AHMAUD'S COUSIN
TRACY WALKER, WHO PLAYS FOR THE
DETROIT LIONS.
>> INTERCEPTED BY TRACY WALKER.
>> AND DARIUS SLAY III, WHO
PLAYS FOR THE PHILADELPHIA
EAGLES.
>> INTERCEPTED, DERRIUS SLAY.
SLAY HAS DONE IT AGAIN!
>> WHILE DARIUS AND TRACY WENT
ON TO PLAY COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND
ULTIMATELY THE NFL, IT DIDN'T
HAPPEN FOR AHMAUD.
>> WHEN HE FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL,
HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY COLLEGE
FOOTBALL OFFERS.
>> HE WAS A SMALL LINEBACKER.
AND THE COLLEGES JUST DIDN'T
WANT SOMEONE THAT SIZE PLAYING
THAT POSITION.
>> I TOLD HIM, YOU YOUNG.
YOU STILL GOT A CHANCE TO DO
ANYTHING IN THIS WORLD YOU WANT.
>> AFTER GRADUATION, AHMAUD
MOVED OUT AND WENT TO TECHNICAL
COLLEGE.
HE WAS HOPING TO BECOME AN
ELECTRICIAN.
>> ONCE THE DREAM OF FOOTBALL
FADED, IT WAS HARDER TO FOCUS ON
SCHOOL, SO HE CAME HOME AND HE
STARTED WORKING.
AND I THINK HE WAS REALLY TRYING
TO FIGURE OUT WHAT ELSE HE WAS
GOING TO DO WITH HIS LIFE.
>> SO, HE EVENTUALLY LEFT
COLLEGE AND CAME BACK HOME TO
LIVE WITH YOUR MOM.
WHY DIDN'T HE GO BACK?
>> A CHANGE OF THOUGHT MAYBE.
MAYBE, THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT
TO DO.
AND HE STARTED WORKING AND
MAKING A LIVING FOR HIMSELF.
I GUESS HE GOT USED TO MAKING
MONEY AND TIRED OF BEING A BROKE
COLLEGE STUDENT.
>> WAS HE SORT OF THE MAN OF THE
HOUSE IN SOME WAYS?
>> HE WAS.
AHMAUD HELPED ME IN SO MANY
WAYS, NOT AS FAR AS FINANCIALLY
BUT EMOTIONALLY AS WELL.
AHMAUD DIDN'T REALIZE HOW MUCH
I WAS ACTUALLY DEPENDING ON HIM
AT THAT POINT.
>> I MET HIM AT MY FIRST JOB.
IT WAS AT MCDONALD'S.
HE HAD LIKE THIS SMOOTH SKIN,
THIS NICE SMILE.
WE COMPLEMENTED EACH OTHER.
>> HE LOVED HIS GIRLFRIEND.
HE WAS REALLY SHY WHEN HE FIRST
MET HER.
>> WE LITERALLY JUST CLICKED.
HE PLAYED SPORTS, I PLAYED
SPORTS.
HE'D COME TO MY HOUSE.
WE'RE WORKING OUT TOGETHER.
WE'RE EATING TOGETHER.
WE'RE LOOKING AT MOVIES
TOGETHER.
MY FRIENDS COULD NEVER CATCH ME
AT THAT POINT.
LIKE, THEY KNEW WHEN I WAS WITH
AHMAUD, THERE WAS JUST NO WAY,
SHENICE IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE AT
THAT POINT.
>> LATER INTO THEIR
RELATIONSHIP, HE LOVED HER SO
MUCH HE WOULD RECORD THEIR PHONE
CALLS JUST SO HE COULD LISTEN TO
HER VOICE.
>> WANDA BECAME CONCERNED AFTER
HER SON DROPPED OUT OF COLLEGE
AND CAME BACK HOME.
THERE WERE CHANGES IN HIS
BEHAVIOR.
HE'S NOW AT HOME.
WAS HE STRUGGLING WITH THAT
DECISION AND WHERE HE WAS IN HIS
LIFE?
>> RETURNING HOME AT THAT AGE
AFTER BEING AWAY, I THINK IT DID
TAKE A TOLL ON HIM.
>> WHEN AHMAUD CAME HOME AND
WENT TO A HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL
GAME, HE HAD A FIREARM ON HIM.
HE WAS ARRESTED.
>> AFTER AHMAUD WAS CAUGHT WITH
THAT GUN, HE WAS PUT ON
PROBATION AND LATER ARRESTED A
SECOND TIME FOR SHOPLIFTING.
>> MY BROTHER WAS NO ANGEL, BUT
HE WAS MY ANGEL.
>> HE MADE MISTAKES, LIKE
EVERYONE DOES, AND I THINK WAS
TRYING TO GET HIS LIFE BACK ON
TRACK.
HE WAS NOT SENT TO JAIL.
AHMAUD'S CRIMES WERE NOT VIOLENT
CRIMES.
>> WANDA NOTICED THAT HER
YOUNGEST SON DIDN'T SEEM TO BE
HIMSELF.
>> I WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE
HAD LOST HIS MOTIVATION.
HE WASN'T TALKING AS MUCH.
I JUST HAD CONCERNS AS A MOTHER.
AND MY JOB AS MOM WAS TO STICK
BESIDE HIM.
>> DID YOU LOSE FAITH IN HIM?
>> NO, MA'AM.
AHMAUD WAS THE BABY.
AHMAUD WAS STILL MY SON.
AHMAUD WAS STILL A BROTHER.
NO.
NEVER.
MY CELL PHONE RANG.
WHEN I HEARD GLYNN COUNTY POLICE
DEPARTMENT, I KNEW IT WAS
SOMETHING WRONG.
HOW WRONG IT WAS, I DIDN'T KNOW.
>>> I HAD TRAVELED TO DALLAS
FOR SOME TRAINING, AND WHEN I
LEFT AHMAUD, I WENT TO HIS ROOM.
I TOLD AHMAUD I WAS LEAVING.
I SAID, I'LL BE BACK IN A COUPLE
OF DAYS.
I LEFT AND I SAID, I LOVE YOU.
AND HIS LAST WORDS TO ME WAS,
I LOVE YOU.
>> FOUR DAYS LATER, WHEN SHE'S
ON HER WAY HOME FROM TEXAS,
WANDA GETS A PHONE CALL FROM THE
LOCAL POLICE.
>> HE SAID AHMAUD WAS COMMITTING
A BURGLARY.
HE WAS CONFRONTED, AND IN THAT
CONFRONTATION, THERE WAS A
STRUGGLE OVER THE FIREARM AND
AHMAUD WAS KILLED.
>> DID THAT MAKE ANY SENSE TO
YOU THAT YOUR SON WOULD BE
COMMITTING A BURGLARY?
>> NO MA'AM.
NO SENSE AT ALL.
>> SHE WAS UNWILLING TO ACCEPT
THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE SHE
KNEW THAT WHAT SHE WAS BEING
TOLD WAS NOT THE CHARACTER OF
HER SON.
>> THAT'S NOT HIM.
I KNEW THAT WASN'T HIM.
>> SO, NOBODY WAS SATISFIED WITH
THIS IDEA THAT HE WAS SHOT AND
KILLED DURING A BURGLARY?
>> NO.
MY BROTHER WAS ONE OF
THE TRUST WORTHIEST PEOPLE THAT
I KNOW.
I DIDN'T BELIEVE IT.
I REMEMBER PICKING OUT A CASKET
FOR MY LITTLE BROTHER.
WHAT HE WOULD WEAR, WHAT WOULD
BE IN HIS OBITUARY, THINGS LIKE
THAT.
I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE DOING
AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE.
>> AS A YOUNG MOM, I USED TO SAY
I COULDN'T ‐‐ I DIDN'T IMAGINE
LIFE WITHOUT MY CHILDREN.
AND NOW THAT THAT DAY HAD CAME.
IT WAS ONE OF THE HARDEST DAYS
OF MY LIFE.
I REALLY LIKE THIS WREATH
BECAUSE IT HAS HIS NAME
EMBROIDERED ON IT.
>> YOU SAID SOMETHING TO YOUR
SON AT THE FUNERAL.
>> I PROMISED HIM THAT I WOULD
FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED.
THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT HE HAD
BURGLARIZED SOMETHING, AND I
KNOW THAT HE HADN'T DID THAT.
AND AHMAUD KNEW THE TYPE OF MOM
I WAS.
I WAS GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT
HAPPENED.
HE KNEW THAT.
>> THE DAY THAT WE LAID AHMAUD
TO REST, THOSE WERE HER LAST
WORDS TO HIM ‐‐ WE'RE GOING TO
FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED, WE'RE
GOING TO GET JUSTICE.
>> SHE SAID IT OVER AND OVER
AGAIN.
SHE WAS GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT
HAPPENED.
SHE WAS GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT
HAPPENED.
AND SHE IS.
>> WE LAID HIM TO REST ON THAT
SATURDAY.
AND THAT MONDAY MORNING WHEN I
WOKE UP, I SAID, NOW IT'S TIME,
IT'S TIME TO FIND ANSWERS.
>> AHMAUD DIED IN A QUIET
SUBDIVISION OF BRUNSWICK CALLED
SATILLA SHORES.
ACCORDING TO THE GLYNN COUNTY
POLICE REPORT, 34‐YEAR‐OLD
TRAVIS McMICHAEL AND HIS FATHER
GREGORY HAD SEEN AHMAUD RUNNING
THROUGH THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THEY BEGAN CHASING HIM
IN THEIR WHITE PICK‐UP TRUCK.
>> THEY SAW AHMAUD RUNNING,
THEY GRABBED THE GUNS, AND THEY
RAN BEHIND HIM.
>> THEY ADMITTED TO TARGETING
HER SON BECAUSE HE LOOKED
SUSPICIOUS.
>> WHAT ARE YOU NOW BEGINNING TO
THINK?
>> THAT I'VE BEEN TOLD LIES.
WHAT I WAS TOLD BY THE DETECTIVE
WAS ALL WRONG.
POLICE REPORT WAS TOTALLY
DIFFERENT.
AHMAUD WASN'T BURGLARIZING
ANYTHING.
AHMAUD WAS JUST RUNNING.
>> AND GREG McMICHAEL AND
TRAVIS McMICHAEL CHASED THIS
YOUNG MAN IN THE STREET.
AND HUNTED HIM DOWN.
AND SHOT HIM.
>> IN THE GLYNN COUNTY POLICE
REPORT, WANDA LEARNS MORE
ABOUT THE DETAILS OF THAT DAY.
>> TRAVIS McMICHAEL SHOT AHMAUD
ARBERY THREE TIMES AT CLOSE
RANGE WITH A SHOTGUN.
>> SIX SEVEN.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS, EVERYBODY'S
GOT THEIR WEAPONS UP, CORRECT?
>> EVERYONE'S GOT THEIR WEAPONS.
>> OKAY.
>> WHILE AHMAUD LAY DYING IN THE
STREETS WITH TRAVIS McMICHAEL
LITERALLY COVERED IN
AHMAUD ARBERY'S BLOOD ‐‐
>> BLACK MALE.
MIDDLE OF THE ROADWAY.
LOOKS LIKE ABOUT MID‐20s.
>> LAW ENFORCEMENT BEGAN THEIR
INVESTIGATION.
>> WHEN POLICE ARRIVED ON THE
SCENE INSIDE SATILLA SHORES THAT
DAY, GREG McMICHAEL WAS ALMOST
ANIMATED IN DESCRIBING WHAT HAD
HAPPENED.
>> WE SEE HIM COME ROUND THE
CORNER.
HE'S GOING DOWN HERE.
WE PULL UP BESIDE HIM.
HEY, STOP.
STOP, WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
AND HE JUST KEEPS ON RUNNING.
>> TRAVIS McMICHAEL, WHO HAD
FIRED THE FATAL SHOTS, WAS, YOU
KNOW, MUCH MORE SUBDUED.
HE WAS SITTING ON THE CURB.
>> JUST BREATHE, OKAY?
>> AHMAUD'S BODY WAS LESS THAN
10 FEET AWAY.
>> AND THEN THAT'S MY FATHER.
HE WAS WITH ME WITH THIS WHOLE
THING.
>> GREG McMICHAEL ESTABLISHED
THE NARRATIVE.
HE SAID AHMAUD ATTACKED HIS SON
AND TRAVIS HAD ACTED IN
SELF‐DEFENSE.
AND GREG McMICHAEL TELLS THE
OFFICERS THAT, I WOULD HAVE SHOT
HIM MYSELF IF I HAD TO.
>> IF I COULD HAVE GOT A SHOT AT
THE GUY I WOULD HAVE SHOT HIM
MYSELF.
>> WHEN THE POLICE ARRIVE AFTER
AHMAUD IS SHOT,
GREGORY McMICHAEL TALKS ABOUT
HIS LONG HISTORY OF BEING IN THE
LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY.
>> AND SO I GRAB MY .357 MAGNUM.
IT'S AN OLD GLYNN COUNTY PD
ISSUE, BY THE WAY, WHEN I WAS A
COP.
>> THAT HE'S JUST BASICALLY ONE
OF THEM.
>> I WAS A CHIEF INVESTIGATOR
WITH THE D. A.'S OFFICE FOR 33
YEARS.
>> GREG McMICHAEL WAS FORMERLY A
POLICE OFFICER AND THEN HE WENT
TO WORK FOR THE DISTRICT
ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.
>> AS SOON AS HE SAYS THAT, THEY
DROP THEIR GUARD AND BEGIN TO
GIVE HIM PROFESSIONAL COURTESY.
THEY DON'T LOOK AT HIM AS
SOMEONE WHO'S PERPETRATED
POSSIBLY A CRIME.
THEY BEGIN TO LOOK AT HIM AS A
COLLEAGUE.
AND THEY BEGIN TO TAKE
EVERYTHING THAT HE SAYS AT FACE
VALUE.
>> YEAH, IT WAS ALL ‐‐ IT WAS
JUST A DAMN MELEE.
>> THEY ACCEPTED EVERYTHING HE
HAD TO SAY AS GOSPEL.
>> WHAT ARE THEY DOING WITH MY
SON OVER THERE?
>> I DON'T KNOW, SIR.
>> AFTER THE SHOOTING OCCURS,
GREGORY McMICHAEL CALLS HIS
FORMER BOSS, JACKIE JOHNSON.
>> JACKIE JOHNSON WAS THE LONG
TIME DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOWN IN
BRUNSWICK.
>> JACKIE, THIS IS GREG.
CAN YOU CALL ME AS SOON AS YOU
POSSIBLY CAN?
UM, MY SON AND I HAVE BEEN
INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING, AND I
NEED SOME ADVICE RIGHT AWAY.
COULD YOU PLEASE CALL ME AS SOON
AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN?
THANK YOU.
BYE.
>> GREG McMICHAEL CALLS HIS
FORMER BOSS, DISTRICT ATTORNEY
JACKIE JOHNSON, SAYING, I'VE
BEEN INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING.
I NEED SOME ADVICE.
PLEASE CALL ME.
WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE IF THEY
EVER ACTUALLY CONNECTED AND
TALKED.
THERE'S NOTHING IN THE RECORDS
THAT THEY ACTUALLY TALKED IN
PERSON.
>> JACKIE JOHNSON TOLD LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS THAT DAY
THAT THEY SHOULD NOT ARREST
TRAVIS McMICHAEL.
FOR THE MURDER OF AHMAUD ARBERY.
>> SO, THE PROCESS WAS
INFLUENCED BY PERSONS THAT HAD
RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE
McMICHAELS.
>> THE McMICHAELS ARE BROUGHT
DOWN TO THE POLICE STATION,
INTERVIEWED, AND RELEASED.
>> THERE WERE NO ARRESTS.
IT WAS AS IF THERE HAD BEEN A
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT.
AND AFTER QUESTIONING,
GREG McMICHAEL AND
TRAVIS McMICHAEL WENT HOME.
>> IT'S A STORY ABOUT POWER
REALLY IN A SMALL GEORGIA TOWN.
IT'S WHO YOU KNEW AND WHO YOU
DIDN'T KNOW.
>> DID YOU THINK THAT YOU WOULD
BE ABLE TO GET JUSTICE AS A
BLACK WOMAN IN A SMALL GEORGIA
TOWN?
>> I KNEW THE ODDS OF GETTING
JUSTICE FOR AHMAUD WAS NOT ON MY
SIDE.
I KNEW THAT AHMAUD WAS KILLED ON
A SUNNY SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND NO
ONE WENT TO JAIL.
>>> I WENT TO BRUNSWICK.
I VISITED WHERE AHMAUD FELL.
I WOULD GO THERE AND SIT THERE
JUST TO HAVE THAT CONNECTION ON
WHERE HE TOOK HIS LAST BREATH.
I THOUGHT AHMAUD WAS JUST
RUNNING IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT HE HAD
VENTURED OUT INTO A NEIGHBORHOOD
ACROSS THE HIGHWAY.
>> THERE'S A HIGHWAY THAT CUTS
THROUGH BRUNSWICK THAT TAKES
VACATIONERS OFF TO PRETTY
BEACHES.
>> INTERSTATE 17 WORKS AS A KIND
OF DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN
BRUNSWICK AND SATILLA SHORES.
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE ON THE
SATILLA SHORES SIDE ARE MORE
AFFLUENT.
THEY HAVE BETTER SCHOOLS, BETTER
HOUSING.
THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE ON AHMAUD'S
SIDE OF INTERSTATE 17 ARE, FOR
THE MOST PART, IMPOVERISHED.
AND SO YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT IT
FEELS LIKE TO BE SEPARATED FROM
ANOTHER WAY OF LIFE AND NOT BY A
LOT OF DISTANCE.
AND I THINK THAT HAD SOMETHING
TO DO WITH WHY AHMAUD WOULD RUN
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF INTERSTATE
17, BE ABLE TO SEE ANOTHER WAY
OF LIFE, IMAGINE IT FOR HIMSELF.
>> WANDA LIVED IN A NEIGHBORHOOD
WITH MIXED NATIONALITIES.
AND SHE SAID THAT HE WAS SAFE
UNTIL HE CROSSED THE ROAD INTO
THE WHITE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WAS THERE A RACIAL DIVIDE?
WAS HE RUNNING IN THE WHITE
SECTION OF TOWN?
>> HE WAS.
IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN, I WOULD
HAVE ASKED HIM TO STOP, BECAUSE
I KNEW IT WASN'T SAFE.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF
GLYNN COUNTY SINCE I WAS LIKE
18, SO I KNOW THAT THAT STUFF IS
THERE.
>> WHEN YOU SAY THAT STUFF,
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> THE PREJUDICE AND THE RACISM.
>> IN ORDER TO GET TO
SATILLA SHORES FROM HIS
NEIGHBORHOOD, AHMAUD HAD TO RUN
BY RESIDENCES THAT HAD
CONFEDERATE FLAGS FLYING OUT
FRONT.
>> I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT, OH
BOY, RACIAL PROFILING DOES
HAPPEN HERE.
AND I'VE EXPERIENCED IT MYSELF.
AND I'M A PASTOR.
IT'S UNFORTUNATE, BUT IT DOES
HAPPEN.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE CLASSIFIED
THIS CASE AS AHMAUD ARBERY WAS
GUILTY OF ONE THING, RUNNING
WHILE BLACK.
>> THIS IS A STORY ABOUT POWER,
REALLY.
IN A SMALL GEORGIA TOWN, IT'S
WHO YOU KNEW AND WHO YOU DIDN'T
KNOW, AND AHMAUD ARBERY'S MOTHER
HAD NO CONNECTIONS, DIDN'T KNOW
ANYBODY.
>> I KNEW THAT I HAD TO DO
SOMETHING, BECAUSE I WAS BEING
IGNORED.
DAYS AND WEEKS HAD PASSED, AND
THESE PEOPLE WERE STILL FREE.
>> TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH YOUR SON
BEING MURDERED, AND THEN
NOBODY'S ARRESTED ‐‐ NO JUSTICE.
>> THEY ABSOLUTELY
UNDERESTIMATED
WANDA COOPER‐JONES.
>> SHE WAS DOGGED IN HER PURSUIT
OF THE TRUTH IN THIS CASE.
>> THEY THOUGHT THAT ONE SINGLE
BLACK WOMAN WAS NOT GOING TO BE
AS DISRUPTIVE AS SHE ULTIMATELY
PROVED TO BE.
>> THERE WAS CLEARLY SOME
CONFLICTS RIGHT AWAY.
>> JACKIE JOHNSON IMMEDIATELY
RECOGNIZED SHE HAD A PROBLEM,
BECAUSE GREG McMICHAEL HAD
WORKED FOR HER.
>> GLYNN COUNTY DISTRICT
ATTORNEY JACKIE JOHNSON
RECUSED HERSELF AFTER THE
SHOOTING HAPPENED.
A DISTRICT ATTORNEY FROM A
NEIGHBORING AREA,
GEORGE BARNHILL, PICKS UP THE
CASE.
>> GEORGE BARNHILL IS ANOTHER
LONGTIME DISTRICT ATTORNEY IN
SOUTH GEORGIA.
>> BASICALLY I WAS HOPING THAT
THE DA WOULD CALL ME AND TELL ME
THAT HE HAD INDICTMENTS FOR
ARREST.
SO, THAT WAS MY PRAYER.
>> AT THE SAME TIME, THE COUNTRY
WAS FINDING OUT ABOUT THIS COVID
OUTBREAK.
AND SO YOU HAD A LOCAL TRAGEDY
TAKING PLACE, BUT THEN YOU HAD
A NATIONAL, GLOBAL TRAGEDY THAT
WAS TAKING PLACE.
AND I THINK IT WAS PUSHED ASIDE.
>> SO SHE STARTS DIGGING INTO
THIS HERSELF, JUST BY GOOGLING.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE A LAWYER.
SHE DIDN'T HAVE INVESTIGATORS.
SHE WENT OUT, SHE GOOGLED.
>> SO, I TURNED INTO AN
INVESTIGATOR.
>> WANDA SAYS SHE FOUND A
CONNECTION BETWEEN
GREG McMICHAEL AND
GEORGE BARNHILL ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> I WENT TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND
FOUND GREGORY McMICHAEL AND HIS
FRIEND NAMED GEORGE BARNHILL.
>> THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY.
>> YES.
SO THEN WHEN I WENT TO
MR. BARNHILL'S PAGE, I SAW HE
HAD A SON.
>> SHE FINDS OUT THAT
GEORGE BARNHILL'S SON WORKS FOR
THE D. A. IN GLYNN COUNTY, WHERE
GREG McMICHAEL HAD WORKED ALL
THOSE YEARS.
>> THE NEW D. A. HAD PERSONAL
CONNECTIONS AND TIES WITH BOTH
JACKIE JOHNSON AND THE
McMICHAELS THEMSELVES.
>> SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE DIDN'T
THINK IT WAS RIGHT FOR THE CASE
TO GO TO HIM.
AND SHE WAS ON THE PHONE CALLING
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.
SHE WAS CALLING ANYBODY WHO
WOULD LISTEN.
>> EVERY MORNING, I WAKE UP AND
MAKE A PHONE CALL, AND NO ONE
WOULD RETURN MY PHONE CALLS.
>> I COULDN'T IMAGINE WHAT SHE
FELT LIKE AS A MOTHER AND HAVING
DOOR AFTER DOOR SLAMMED IN YOUR
FACE.
BUT SHE KEPT ON PURSUING.
SHE KEPT ON DIGGING.
>> WANDA'S TIRELESS EFFORTS
EVENTUALLY YIELDED RESULTS.
>> GEORGE BARNHILL WILL RECUSE
HIMSELF FROM THE CASE BECAUSE
OF WANDA COOPER‐JONES BEATING
THE DRUM THAT, YOU KNOW,
SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT HERE.
>> SO THAT WAS LIKE A SMALL
VICTORY.
>> IN RECUSING HIMSELF, D. A.
BARNHILL DENIED ANY ALLEGATIONS
OF BIAS.
>> BUT HE MADE SURE BEFORE HE
LEFT TO WRITE A LETTER TO THE
GLYNN COUNTY POLICE SAYING,
THIS IS SELF‐DEFENSE.
NO CRIMINAL CHARGES WARRANTED.
NOTHING TO SEE HERE, IS
BASICALLY THE TENOR OF THE
LETTER.
>> SO HE CREATED THE FOUNDATION
OF THE ARGUMENT THAT THEY DID
NOTHING WRONG.
>> IN HIS LETTER, D. A. BARNHILL
WRITES, IT'S OUR CONCLUSION
THAT THERE'S INSUFFICIENT
PROBABLE CAUSE TO ISSUE ARREST
WARRANTS AT THIS TIME.
>> IT'S SHOCKING FOR A
PROSECUTOR TO MAKE THAT
STATEMENT.
>> REALLY WHAT WANDA HAD SAID,
THAT THIS WAS BEING SWEPT UNDER
THE RUG, IT WAS LAID BARE IN
THAT LETTER.
>> IT WAS THE "GET OUT OF JAIL
FREE" CARD FOR THE McMICHAELS.
>> THE CASE IS THEN HANDED OVER
TO ANOTHER DISTRICT ATTORNEY,
TOM DURDEN.
>> TOM DURDEN, THE THIRD D. A. IN
CHARGE IN THE CASE, WAS
CONSIDERING CONVENING A GRAND
JURY.
BUT BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE
COURTS IN GEORGIA WERE CLOSED.
HOW FRUSTRATING WAS IT FOR THE
FAMILY?
>> IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IS
GOING ON WITH THEIR LIFE.
BUT WE'RE STILL STUCK HERE AND
WE'RE SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF
OUR LUNGS AND NOBODY'S LISTENING
TO WHAT HAPPENED.
>> IT HAD BEEN TWO MONTHS SINCE
HER SON'S DEATH, AND OUT OF THE
BLUE, A "NEW YORK TIMES"
REPORTER REACHES OUT TO WANDA
ABOUT TELLING AHMAUD'S STORY.
>> I TOLD HIM WHAT I WAS UP
AGAINST, AND HE SAID, I CAN
HELP.
AND MS. ROBERTS, NO ONE HAD EVER
TOLD ME THAT.
>> IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE
CASE GOT ATTENTION IN THE
NATIONAL MEDIA.
>> HER PURSUIT OF JUSTICE PROVED
THERE WAS MORE TO THE STORY.
>> WHAT CAME A FEW WEEKS LATER
WOULD SHOCK THE NATION.
JUST 36 SECONDS OF GRAINY VIDEO.
SUDDENLY THE WORLD KNOWS THE
NAME AHMAUD ARBERY.
>> THAT WAS REALLY WHERE THE
CASE TOOK A BIG TURN.
>> IT WAS SICKENING.
I CAN'T SAY THIS ANY MORE CLEAR.
IT WAS LIKE HE WAS TREATED LIKE
AN ANIMAL, GUNNED DOWN.
>>> THIS MORNING THE RACE TO
FIND A POTENTIAL COVID‐19
VACCINE ‐‐
>> THE TOTAL CASES IN THE U. S.
AROUND 1.2 MILLION.
>>> THE PANDEMIC WAS FULL‐BLOWN,
AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
SHUTDOWNS.
>> DOZENS OF PLANTS CLOSED
ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THOUSANDS OF WORKERS SICK.
>> AND COURTS WERE CLOSED, SO
ALL OF THAT MADE IT DIFFICULT
FOR THIS CASE TO BREAK THROUGH.
AND THAT IS, OF COURSE, UNTIL
THE VIDEO CAME OUT.
THE VIDEO CHANGED EVERYTHING.
>> IT WAS THE FIRST WEEK OF MAY
IN 2020, AND WGIG, A BRUNSWICK
RADIO STATION, POSTS ON ITS
TWITTER ACCOUNT A VIDEO OF
AHMAUD ARBERY BEING CHASED
THROUGH THE STREETS OF
SATILLA SHORES.
>> IT WAS LIKE A DREAM, A
NIGHTMARE.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS
HAPPENING IN OUR CITY.
>> JUST 36 SECONDS OF GRAINY
VIDEO SHOWING THE LAST MOMENTS
OF AHMAUD ARBERY'S LIFE.
>> I STILL REMEMBER THAT DAY.
OUR LAWYER CALLED AND TOLD US TO
GIVE A BREAK OF SOCIAL MEDIA
TODAY.
>> HE DIDN'T WANT YOU TO SEE
THIS.
>> HE DIDN'T WANT US TO SEE THE
VIDEO.
>> MY DAUGHTER, SHE HAD CALLED
ME CRYING.
IT TORE HER APART.
IT TORE MY WHOLE FAMILY APART.
I NEVER SEEN NOTHING LIKE THAT
BEFORE.
WHEN I SEEN MY KID RUNNING FOR
HIS POOR, DEAR LIFE AND I WASN'T
THERE TO HELP HIM, THAT THING
REALLY TORE ME DOWN.
>> DID YOU WATCH THE VIDEO?
>> I SAW THE LAST COUPLE OF
SECONDS.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
I CAN SEE AHMAUD, AND
HE HAD TURNED TO RUN AWAY.
AND WHAT I CARRY IS SEEING HIM
AS HE'S FALLING.
AND IT BREAKS MY HEART.
>> THE McMICHAELS PERPETRATED
ALL OF THIS.
THEY CHASED THE YOUNG MAN.
THEY PUT HIM IN A SITUATION
WHERE HE FEARED FOR HIS LIFE,
AND AS A RESULT OF FEARING FOR
HIS LIFE, HE TRIED TO DEFEND HIS
LIFE AND THEY SHOT HIM DEAD.
>> ANYONE WHO SAW THAT VIDEO,
THEIR REACTION WAS GOOD GOD,
THIS IS A LYNCHING.
>> A 25‐YEAR‐OLD UNARMED BLACK
MAN WHO WAS CHASED BY TWO WHITE
MEN AND FATALLY SHOT.
>> NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE.
THE COMMUNITY IS DEMANDING
ANSWERS.
>> NO JUSTICE!
>> NO PEACE!
>> NO JUSTICE!
>> NO PEACE!
>> IT WAS A STRESSFUL TIME, AND
IT COULD OF WENT A LOT OF WAYS.
I SAW THE CITY REALLY COME
TOGETHER LIKE I NEVER SEEN
BEFORE.
OF COURSE, THERE WAS A CRISIS,
BUT NEVERTHELESS, WE CAME
TOGETHER.
>> EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT
JUSTICE, BUT IT REALLY IS JUST
US.
WE'RE TIRED OF IT.
>> I THINK MOST OF OUR CITIZENS
OF THE WHITE COMMUNITY WERE
UNAWARE THAT THIS LEVEL OF
INJUSTICE WAS STILL BEING
CARRIED OUT.
>> RUN WITH MAUD!
RUN WITH MAUD!
>> AND THEIR SUPPORT TO GET
JUSTICE WAS REFRESHING.
>> ONCE THE CELL PHONE VIDEO
BECAME PUBLIC, IT WAS JUST A
MATTER OF A DAY OR TWO BEFORE
GEORGIA'S GOVERNOR, BRIAN KEMP,
ASKED THE GEORGIA BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATION TO TAKE OVER THE
CASE.
WITHIN 36 HOURS, GBI AGENTS WERE
AT THE McMICHAELS' HOUSE,
PUTTING HANDCUFFS ON GREG AND
TRAVIS McMICHAEL.
>> FATHER AND SON CAUGHT ON
CAMERA IN THAT FATAL INCIDENT
HAVE NOW BEEN ARRESTED AND
CHARGED WITH MURDER.
>> MY OLDER SON, MARCUS, CALLED,
AND HE SAID, MAMA, THEY GOT
THEM.
THEY GOT THE McMICHAELS.
>> 74 DAYS AFTER HE WAS SHOT AND
KILLED, THE McMICHAELS ARE
ARRESTED.
WHAT DID THAT FEEL LIKE FOR YOU
AFTER WORKING SO HARD?
>> IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
I KNEW THAT GOD HEARD MY
PRAYERS.
>> THE MURDERERS OF
AHMAUD ARBERY WAS ARRESTED.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ]
WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL THEY ARE
CONVICTED AND BEHIND BARS.
>> THE GEORGIA ATTORNEY GENERAL
REPLACED THE THIRD D. A. AT HIS
OWN REQUEST.
>> A NEW PROSECUTOR HAS BEEN
ASSIGNED TO THE CASE OF
AHMAUD ARBERY.
>> IT WAS EARLY MAY.
I WAS APPOINTED AS THE SPECIAL
PROSECUTOR IN THE CASE OF AHMAUD
ARBERY'S MURDER, BEING THE
FOURTH PROSECUTOR TO BE
INVOLVED.
AND THAT FAMILY IS REELING, AND
YOU FEEL THE EMOTION OF WHAT YOU
ARE TASKED WITH DOING.
>> NO JUSTICE!
>> NO PEACE.
>> HANDS UP.
>> DON'T SHOOT!
>> BLACK LIVES MATTER!
>> YOU'RE NOW DEALING WITH THE
WHOLE WORLD WATCHING.
LE.
>> AFTER THE VIDEO WAS RELEASED,
THERE WAS THIS EXAMINATION AS TO
HOW DID ALL THESE MONTHS PASS BY
AND THERE WAS NO PROGRESS IN THE
INVESTIGATION INTO THIS CASE?
>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT
LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS HAD THE
VIDEO OF THE SHOOTING FROM DAY
ONE.
>> IT WAS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT
THAT VIDEO COULD BE SEEN AND
POLICE NOT ACTING ON IT,
THE PEOPLE WHO WERE MAKING THE
DECISION OF WHETHER OR NOT TO
PROSECUTE THE McMICHAELS
WERE NOT ACTING ON IT.
>> IT WAS JUST HARD FOR ME TO
BELIEVE THAT WE HAD ELECTED AND
PAID OFFICIALS THAT HAD THE
KNOWLEDGE OF THIS VIDEO AND
STILL FOUND A WAY NOT TO DO
THEIR JOBS.
>> IT IS AN AMAZING THING THAT
WE COULD ALL AS HUMAN BEINGS
LOOK AT THE SAME VIDEO AND SEE
SOMETHING SO DIFFERENT.
>> THE SOLE REASON IT BECAME
PUBLIC IS BECAUSE THE McMICHAELS
AND THEIR SUPPORTERS THOUGHT IT
WOULD PROVE THEIR CASE, THAT IT
WOULD PROVE THIS WAS
SELF‐DEFENSE.
>> THE McMICHAELS WANTED THE
VIDEO RELEASED.
>> THEY SAW IT AS EXONERATION.
>> THEY FELT THAT IT HELPED
THEIR CASE.
>> WHEN YOU SEE THE VIDEO, YOU
CONSIDER IT A VIDEO OF A MURDER
PERHAPS.
WHEN SOME PEOPLE SEE THE VIDEO,
THEY SEE IT AS TWO MEN TRYING TO
EFFECTUATE AN ARREST AND THE
ARRESTEE RESISTING ARREST,
TRYING TO THEN KILL THE
ARRESTORS AND SELF‐DEFENSE
AT HAND.
>> GREG McMICHAEL THOUGHT IT
CLEARED HIM.
HE THOUGHT IT TOLD HIS STORY.
I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S NOT
HOW THE REST OF THE COUNTRY SAW
IT.
>> NOW EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW,
WHO SHOT THAT VIDEO?
>> ONE OF THE NEIGHBORS SAW A
PICKUP TRUCK WITH A MAN IN IT.
SO I KNOW IT WAS A THIRD PARTY.
I JUST DIDN'T KNOW WHAT PARTY
PLAYED.
>> A LOT OF TIMES THESE VIDEOS
ARE SHOT BY WITNESSES OR SOMEONE
WHO'S NOT INVOLVED.
THIS CASE WAS NOT THAT.
IT WAS SHOT BY ONE OF THE
EVENTUAL DEFENDANTS.
>>> CELEBRATE THE ARREST.
JUSTICE STILL IS NOT DONE.
>>> THREE DAYS AFTER THE RELEASE
OF THAT VIDEO OF
TRAVIS McMICHEAL KILLING
AHMAUD ARBERY WAS RELEASED,
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GATHERED
PEACEFULLY IN BRUNSWICK TO HONOR
AHMAUD ON WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
HIS 26th BIRTHDAY.
>> I HAVE A BLACK SON, TOO.
AND I'M AFRAID FOR HIM EVERY DAY
WALKING OUT IN THE STREETS.
>> I ATTENDED A LOT OF RALLIES
IN THE SOUTH GEORGIA AREA.
EVERY COUNTY THAT WE VISITED,
MOMS WOULD COME TO ME SAYING,
I LOST MY CHILD.
THE POLICE KILLED MY CHILD.
>> WANDA COOPER‐JONES WAS
CONVINCED THAT SOMEBODY ELSE
MIGHT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN HER
SON'S DEATH.
>> SHE HAD NO PROBLEM SAYING,
WELL, LOOK, TWO ARRESTS ARE
NICE, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
EVERYONE INVOLVE IN THE MY SON'S
MURDER PAY FOR IT.
>> AM A WEEK AFTER THIS VIDEO
CAME OUT, A MAN NAMED WILLIAM
"RODDIE" BRYAN SPEAKS WITH ABC
NEWS.
>> I NEVER EXPERIENCED ANYTHING
LIKE THAT BEFORE.
WHOEVER THE YOUNG MAN WAS, I DO
NOT KNOW.
I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT ELSE TO
SAY OTHER THAN IT WAS
UNSETTLING.
>> BRYAN'S ATTORNEY, MR. GOUGH,
BEGAN TO OFFER UP HIS CLIENT AS
A WITNESS TO THIS TERRIBLE
INCIDENT.
>> MY CLIENT WAS TRYING TO TAKE
A VIDEO OF WHAT WAS GOING ON.
I DON'T THINK THERE WAS ANY
QUESTION THAT RODDIE WAS ONE OF
THE GOOD GUYS.
>> HIS LAWYER KIND OF GOES ON
THE OFFENSIVE AND SAYS, RODDIE'S
A VICTIM HERE IN SOME WAYS.
HE JUST SHOT A VIDEO.
HE'S JUST A BYSTANDER.
>> RODDIE BRYAN SEES A YOUNG MAN
RUNNING DOWN THE STREET THAT HE
DOESN'T KNOW, OKAY?
AND HE'S NOT RUNNING TO
ANYTHING.
HE'S RUNNING FROM SOMETHING,
OKAY?
AND THEN, A WHITE PICKUP TRUCK
THAT HE RECOGNIZES FROM THE
NEIGHBORHOOD COMES BY.
AND HE GOES IN HIS HOUSE, HE
GETS HIS KEYS, HE HAS HIS CELL
PHONE, AND HE GETS IN HIS TRUCK.
SOMEWHERE AFTER HE PULLS OUT, HE
STARTS RECORDING.
>> I PRAY FOR THE FAMILY.
I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS.
I'M NOT PROUD THAT I SHOT THE
VIDEO.
BUT MAYBE IT HELPS IN THE END.
>> HE APOLOGIZED FOR THE PAIN
THAT WANDA WAS EXPERIENCING.
IT WAS REALLY ONE OF THE MORE
MYSTIFYING ASPECTS OF THE CASE.
>> TWO WEEKS AFTER BRYANT SPOKE
TO ABC NEWS, HE WAS INTERVIEWED
BY THE GBI, THE GEORGIA BUREAU
OF INVESTIGATION.
>> THE MAN WHO CAPTURED THAT
VIDEO NOW ARRESTED.
WILLIAM "RODDIE" BRYAN HAS BEEN
ARRESTED BY GEORGIA AUTHORITIES
ON CHARGES INCLUDING FELONY
MURDER.
>> WE HAD RODDIE BRYAN ARRESTED
BECAUSE WE BELIEVED THAT HE WAS
JUST AS CULPABLE AS THE
McMICHAELS IN THE MURDER OF
AHMAUD ARBERY.
NOW THIS WAS DURING COVID,
SO WE WERE ABLE TO FOLLOW CDC
GUIDELINES TO EMPANEL A GRAND
JURY, AFTER WHICH ALL THREE OF
THE CURRENT DEFENDANTS WERE
INDICTED.
>> THE MURDER OF AHMAUD ARBERY,
SHOCKED THE CONSCIENCE OF THE
NATION.
AND THEN GEORGE FLOYD WAS
KILLED.
>> NO JUSTICE!
>> NO PEACE!
>> I CAN'T BREATHE!
>> IT'S REALLY THE FIRST GLOBAL
ANTI‐RACIST MOVEMENT THAT WE'D
EVER SEEN.
THE PROTESTS WERE
MULTIGENERATIONAL.
THEY WERE MULTIRACIAL.
BUT TO DO SO IN THE MIDDLE OF A
PANDEMIC, MILLIONS AND MILLIONS
OF MASKED PEOPLE ALL OVER THE
PLANET.
THE BACK‐TO‐BACK MURDERS OF
BREONNA TAYLOR, AHMAUD ARBERY,
GEORGE FLOYD REALLY PUT ON
DISPLAY THE EXTENT TO WHICH
BLACK LIVES DO NOT HAVE VALUE.
>> GREG CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT
AHMAUD ARBERY TO GET HURT OR
KILLED.
>> IS GREG McMICHAEL A RACIST?
>> WHAT'S YOUR DEFINITION OF
RACIST?
>> THERE WAS A PERSPECTIVE IN
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY WERE
BEING MENACED BY SOMEBODY.
>> AND NOW THERE'S A SECOND
VIDEO THAT MIGHT SHOW THAT AND
CHANGE EVERYTHING.
>> THERE'S SOMEBODY BACK OVER
THERE ON THE PROPERTY.
AGAIN TONIGHT.
IT'S A BLACK MALE.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S UP TO NO GOOD.
>>> A LOT OF PEOPLE CANNOT
UNDERSTAND HOW DID A MAN LOSE
HIS LIFE WHEN THERE WAS NO
EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS CRIME
BEING COMMITTED.
>> THAT'S THE WRONG QUESTION.
IT'S INACCURATE.
>> WHAT'S THE RIGHT QUESTION?
WHAT DID THE JURY BELIEVE?
>> I UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE REACHED
A VERDICT AS TO EACH DEFENDANT.
>> IF YOU SEE A WHITE MAN
RUNNING, YOU THINK, WELL,
THERE'S A JOGGER.
IF YOU SEE A BLACK MAN RUNNING,
I THINK YOU CALL INTO QUESTION
WHY HE'S RUNNING.
>> HE WAS JUST WANDERING AROUND
UNDER THE CARPORT.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S UP TO NO GOOD.
>> IF HE DIDN'T HAVE HIS BELIEF
HE WAS ACTUALLY COMMITTING
BURGLARIES, ALL YOU BELIEVE IS
THAT IS A BLACK MAN RUNNING.
>> WE PULLED UP BESIDE.
HE JUST KEEPS ON RUNNING.
>> HE WAS TREATED LIKE AN
ANIMAL.
GUNNED DOWN.
>> THIS IS NOT RACIST MOTIVES.
THIS IS SOME PEOPLE IN A
NEIGHBORHOOD TRYING TO DO THE
BEST THEY COULD TO STOP CRIME IN
A NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WHEN YOU HEAR THEM SAY RACE
HAS NO BEARING ON THIS CASE,
WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?
>> IT'S THREE MEN CHASING A
BLACK YOUNG MAN.
HE'S UNARMED, THEY HAVE WEAPONS,
THEY HAVE A TRUCK.
WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?
>>> THE THREE MEN ACCUSED OF
KILLING AHMAUD ARBERY WERE IN
CUSTODY.
>> AT THIS POINT WE CALL RICHARD
DIAL FROM THE GEORGIA BUREAU OF
INVESTIGATIONS TO THE STAND.
>> GBI INVESTIGATOR RICHARD DIAL
TESTIFIES AT A JUNE 4th
PRELIMINARY HEARING, LAYING OUT
WITH VIDEO AND OTHER EVIDENCE
WHAT REALLY MAY HAVE HAPPENED ON
FEBRUARY 23, 2020.
AHMAUD SET OUT FROM HIS HOME
THAT SUNNY SUNDAY, AND ABOUT TWO
MILES LATER CROSSED OVER INTO
THE SATILLA SHORES NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE STREET
LAYOUT OF SATILLA SHORES, IT'S A
BUNCH OF WINDING STREETS LIKE
MOST SUBDIVISIONS ARE.
>> THE FIRST TIME WE SEE
AHMAUD ARBERY IN SATILLA SHORES
IS FROM A PORCH CAMERA.
>> THE TIMING ON THAT PORCH
CAMERA IS OFF BY ABOUT AN HOUR
AND FIVE MINUTES.
AT 1:04 P. M. HE ENTERS A HOME
THAT IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
>> AHMAUD ARBERY STOPS AND WALKS
IN THIS HOUSE.
SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS HIM
JUST WALKING AROUND, LOOKING.
>> THAT CONSTRUCTION SITE SORT
OF BECAME GROUND ZERO OF ALL
THIS.
>> AT 1:08 P. M. A NEIGHBOR IS
CAPTURED ON THAT INCORRECTLY
TIMED PORCH CAMERA, CALLING
POLICE CONCERNED OVER REPORTED
BREAK‐INS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THERE'S A GUY IN A HOUSE
RIGHT NOW, A HOUSE UNDER
CONSTRUCTION.
>> AND YOU SAID SOMEONE IS
BREAKING INTO IT RIGHT NOW?
>> NO, IT'S ALL OPEN.
IT'S UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
>> FOUR MINUTES AFTER HE ENTERS,
AHMAUD ARBERY EXITS THE HOUSE
AND CONTINUES RUNNING.
>> AND HE'S RUNNING RIGHT NOW.
THERE HE GOES RIGHT NOW.
>> OKAY, I JUST NEED TO KNOW
WHAT HE WAS DOING WRONG.
>> HE'S BEEN CAUGHT ON THE
CAMERA A BUNCH BEFORE AT NIGHT,
IT'S KIND OF AN ONGOING THING
OUT HERE.
>> A DIFFERENT HOME CAMERA PICKS
UP AN IMAGE OF AHMAUD AS HE
HEADS DEEPER INTO SATILLA
SHORES.
>> MR. GREG MCMICHAEL WAS IN HIS
FRONT YARD WORKING ON SOME
CUSHIONS FOR HIS BOAT WHEN HE
SEES MR. ARBERY RUNNING DOWN THE
STREET.
ON POLICE BODY CAMERA, YOU CAN
HEAR GREG MCMICHAEL KIND OF
EXCITEDLY DESCRIBING HOW ARBERY
IS RUNNING BY.
>> HE COMES HAULING ASS DOWN THE
STREET.
I MEAN, HE AIN'T JOGGING.
HE'S HOOKED UP.
I RUN IN THE HOUSE, I SAID
TRAVIS, THE SAME GUY THAT BROKE
IN THE HOUSE DOWN THERE.
I SAID, COME ON, LET'S GO.
SO TRAVIS RUNS AND GETS HIS
SHOTGUN.
I GRAB MY .357 MAGNUM.
>> AT 1:10 P. M., THE PORCH
CAMERA PICKS UP GREG AND
TRAVIS McMICHAEL IN THEIR TRUCK,
AND THEY'RE DRIVING, FOLLOWING
AHMAUD ARBERY AND THAT'S WHEN
THE CHASE STARTS.
>> AHMAUD THEN CROSSES OVER TO
BURFORD ROAD, WITH THE
MCMICHAELS FOLLOWING HIM IN
THEIR TRUCK.
>> WE SEE HIM COME AROUND THE
CORNER.
HE'S GOING DOWN HERE.
WE PULL UP BESIDE HIM, HEY,
STOP, STOP.
WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
AND HE JUST KEEPS ON RUNNING.
>> WILLIAM "RODDIE" BRYAN HAS
THIS NIGHT OWL CAMERA AND ON
THAT CAMERA WE SEE AHMAUD ARBERY
RUNNING BY WITH THE MCMICHAELS
FOLLOWING IN THEIR TRUCK.
>> RODDIE BRYAN TELLS
INVESTIGATORS HE'S WORKING ON
HIS PORCH WHEN HE SEES WHAT'S
HAPPENING, SO PICKS UP HIS KEYS
AND JOINS THE CHASE.
>> I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY.
I WAS GONNA TRY TO BLOCK HIM.
>> FOR THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES,
AHMAUD IS TRAPPED IN SATILLA
SHORES.
NO MATTER WHICH WAY HE RUNS,
DOWN BURFORD OR UP HOLMES, THERE
IS A TRUCK BLOCKING HIM.
RODDIE BRYAN PICKS UP HIS CELL
PHONE AND BEGINS RECORDING WHAT
YOU SEE HERE.
>> I TRIED TO BLOCK HIM AGAIN.
THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
THEN HE WENT AROUND ME SO I
TURNED AROUND, COME BACK.
HE STARTED COMING BACK TOWARDS
ME.
>> RODDIE DROPS HIS PHONE.
YOU CAN HEAR HIS TRUCK
MANEUVERING AROUND.
>> ONE TIME WHEN I CORNERED HIM
UP OVER HERE, HE WAS TRYING TO
GET IN MY TRUCK.
>> YOU CAN SEE SOME PALM PRINTS,
APPEAR TO BE SWIPES, ON THE REAR
>> WHEN TRAVIS LOOKS BACK, SEES
MR. ARBERY TRYING TO GET INTO
THE TRUCK.
>> HE TRIED TO GET IN MY DOOR.
>> SO TRAVIS IS VERY MUCH ON
GUARD.
>> RODDIE'S VIDEO SHOWS AHMAUD
ARBERY RUNNING ALONG HOLMES
ROAD, AND AS HE MEETS UP WITH
THE McMICHAELS, HE'S BOXED IN.
GREG McMICHAEL TALKS TO A 911
OPERATOR.
>> I'M OUT HERE AT SATILLA
SHORES, THERE IS A BLACK MALE
RUNNING DOWN THE STREET.
>> AND SO YOU SAW THE SON TRAVIS
GET OUT OF THE TRUCK WITH A
REMINGTON SHOT GUN.
>> TRAVIS GETS OUT WITH THE DAMN
SHOTGUN.
>> AHMAUD, YOU CAN TELL, DOESN'T
KNOW WHAT TO DO.
HE WANTS TO RUN AROUND.
HE GOES TO THE LEFT.
HE SEES TRAVIS.
HE GOES TO THE RIGHT AND THEN
DOES GO AROUND THE PASSENGER
SIDE OF THE TRUCK.
>> STOP RIGHT THERE!
DAMN IT.
STOP!
>> WE DON'T KNOW WHY
AHMAUD ARBERY WENT TO THE RIGHT
AND THEN CROSSED AND TURNED IN
FRONT OF TRAVIS McMICHAEL'S
TRUCK.
>> THE GUY TURNS AND COMES AT
HIM.
>> IN THE SECONDS THAT THAT
CONFRONTATION HAPPENS IS
OBSCURED BY THE PICKUP TRUCK.
WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT WENT
DOWN.
>> TRAVIS McMICHAEL AND
AHMAUD ARBERY WERE STRUGGLING
OVER THAT SHOTGUN, AND THEN THE
SHOTS GO OFF.
HE SHOOTS HIM THREE TIMES.
YOU SEE HIM IMMEDIATELY
COLLAPSE, AND IT'S OVER.
>> A VERY SHORT TIME AFTER THE
SHOOTING OCCURS, LAW ENFORCEMENT
IS ON THE SCENE.
AND THEY GET OUT OF THEIR
VEHICLE, BODY CAMERAS ARE ON.
>> HE HAD NO CHOICE, MAN.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT THE
McMICHAELS WALKING AROUND AND
YOU'VE GOT AHMAUD ON THE GROUND.
>> NOBODY INITIALLY FOCUSES ON
AHMAUD.
HE'S THE KID THAT'S DYING AND
PROBABLY MAY WELL NOT BE DEAD
YET.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS, EVERYBODY'S
GOT THEIR WEAPONS UP, CORRECT?
>> EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR WEAPONS
UP.
>> ONCE YOU FEEL LIKE A SCENE IS
SAFE, THEN YOU IMMEDIATELY START
RENDERING CARE TO THE PERSON
THAT'S SHOT.
THERE IS EVENTUALLY THAT, BY
ANOTHER OFFICER THAT ARRIVES ON
THE SCENE.
>> HE'S STILL BREATHING.
>> YEAH, I KNOW.
I'M GONNA TRY AND DO SOMETHING
FOR HIM.
>> I THINK AT THAT POINT IT'S
WAY TOO LATE.
>> JUST STAY OVER THERE FOR ME,
SIR.
JUST STAY OVER THERE.
>> YEAH, THERE'S NOTHING I CAN
DO FOR THIS GENTLEMAN.
HE STOPPED BREATHING A COUPLE
MINUTES AGO.
I HAD PRESSURE ON HIM, BUT THERE
WAS NOTHING I COULD DO.
>> YOU CAN TELL TRAVIS IS IN
TOTAL DISTRESS.
HE'S WALKING AROUND.
HE'S SORT OF VERBALLY AGONIZING.
>> I TOLD HIM TO STOP, STOP,
STOP, TILL HE HIT ME.
I HAD NOTHING TO DO.
THERE WAS JUST NOTHING ELSE I
COULD DO.
JUST DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.
I MEAN, I JUST SHOT A MAN.
>> RODDIE BRYAN TRIES TO HELP
POLICE.
HE ADMITS HE HAS THE RECORDING
OF THE SHOOTING.
>> NOBODY GOT THIS ON VIDEO?
YOU JUST WITNESSED IT CORRECT?
>> YEAH, I GOT IT.
>> YOU GOT IT ON VIDEO?
>> I AIN'T LOOKED AT IT YET.
I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING TO GET
AWAY.
>> WILLIAM "RODDIE" BRYAN TELLS
OFFICERS THAT ULTIMATELY HE WAS
TAKING THAT VIDEO TO IDENTIFY
AHMAUD ARBERY TO POLICE.
>> BECAUSE AT THIS POINT I COULD
SEE HIS FACE WITH MY CAMERA.
I MEAN, IF THE GUY WOULD HAVE
STOPPED THIS WOULD HAVE NEVER
HAPPENED.
SHOULD WE HAVE BEEN CHASING HIM?
I DON'T KNOW.
>> WITHIN ON HOUR OF THE
SHOOTING, RODDIE IS BACK WORKING
ON HIS PORCH.
>> FEBRUARY 23rd, EVERYBODY WENT
HOME EXCEPT AHMAUD ARBERY.
>> TRAVIS AND GREG McMICHAEL
HAVE BEEN STEREOTYPED AS
SOUTHERN REDNECKS OUT TO KILL
BLACK PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S A
SPORT.
>> GREG SEES IT AS A TRAGEDY.
>> A TRAGEDY THAT HE AND HIS SON
SET IN MOTION.
>> WELL, ONE MIGHT SAY A TRAGEDY
THAT AHMAUD ARBERY SET IN
MOTION.
>>> IF YOU WANT TO UNDERSTAND
HOW THE EVENTS OF FEBRUARY 23rd
UNFOLDED, YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT
THE BACKGROUND OF THE DEFENDANTS
AS WELL AS THEIR LIVES IN THE
SATILLA SHORES NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THE NEIGHBORHOOD THAT
AHMAUD ARBERY WAS KILLED IN IS A
MIDDLE CLASS NEIGHBORHOOD.
T'S PREDOMINANTLY WHITE.
>> LIKE A LOT OF THE
NEIGHBORHOODS, IT'S AN
INTERESTING COMBINATION.
YOU'VE GOT SOME MARSH FRONT
PROPERTY WHERE YOU HAVE SOME
VERY NICE HOMES.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THE INTERIOR
HOMES ON INTERIOR LOTS, WHICH
TEND TO BE SMALLER AND LESS
SPECIAL.
>> GREG MCMICHAEL HAD A HOME
THERE.
GREG McMICHAEL WAS IN LAW
ENFORCEMENT MANY YEARS.
HE WAS A COP FIRST, AND THEN
WENT TO WORK FOR THE GLYNN
COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE.
HE WAS AN INVESTIGATOR WITH
THEM, HAD JUST RETIRED A YEAR
PREVIOUSLY.
>> TELL ME ABOUT HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS SON,
TRAVIS.
>> THEY'RE CLOSE.
THEY BOTH LIKE THE WATER.
OF COURSE, TRAVIS WAS IN THE
COAST GUARD, HAVING GROWN UP ON
THE WATER LIKE GREG DID.
>> TRAVIS GREW UP IN BRUNSWICK.
HE WENT TO BRUNSWICK HIGH
SCHOOL, GRADUATED IN 2004.
>> I LIVE RIGHT THERE.
>> TRAVIS MCMICHAEL WAS 34 YEARS
OLD.
HE HAD MOVED BACK IN WITH HIS
PARENTS, AND THAT'S WHERE HE
WAS IN SATILLA SHORES.
>> HOW YOU DOING, SIR?
WILLIAM "RODDIE" BRYAN LIVED
IN SATILLA SHORES, NEARBY THE
McMICHAEL.
HE WORKED IN A HARDWARE STORE.
>> RODDIE BRYAN IS A SALT OF THE
EARTH KIND OF GUY.
HE'S THE KIND OF PERSON THAT
EVERYONE WHO MEETS, LIKES.
>> NOBODY GOT THIS ON VIDEO, YOU
JUST WITNESSED IT CORRECT?
>> YEAH, I GOT IT.
>> RODDIE BRYAN, I MEAN, HE
SUPPLIED, THE NEXT BEST THING
FOR THE PROSECUTION THAN A
CONFESSION.
>> AT WHAT POINT DID YOU START
VIDEOING?
>> WELL, I THOUGHT HE WAS GOING
TO GET AWAY, SO THAT WAS THE
REASON.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT I GOT 'CAUSE
HALF THE TIME I WAS TRYING TO
DRIVE.
>> HOW WELL DID HE KNOW THE
McMICHAELS?
DID HE HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH
THAT FAMILY?
>> HE DIDN'T HAVE A RELATIONSHIP
WITH THAT FAMILY.
>> THERE WAS A PERSPECTIVE IN
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD THAT THEY WERE
BEING MENACED BY SOMEBODY.
>> IT REALLY WAS A NEIGHBORHOOD
ON EDGE ON FEBRUARY 23rd
OF 2020.
>> WHY ON EDGE?
>> BECAUSE THE VOLUME OF THEFT
HAD BECOME A REAL ISSUE.
>> IN THE MONTHS FROM ABOUT
OCTOBER 2019 UP TO FEBRUARY
OF 2020, THERE HAD BEEN A REAL
UPTICK IN PROPERTY CRIMES IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> DID TRAVIS EVER REPORT A
CRIME?
>> YES.
ON JANUARY 1, 2020 WHEN HIS GUN
WAS STOLEN OUT OF HIS CAR, HE
FILED A REPORT WITH THE POLICE.
POLICE RESPONDED AND THEY MADE A
REPORT.
>> DESPITE THE DEFENSE CLAIMS
THAT THERE WAS A SPIKE IN CRIME
IN THE SATILLA SHORES
NEIGHBORHOOD, THE PROSECUTION
ARGUES THAT IN REALITY THERE WAS
ONLY ONE OTHER BURGLARY CALL
BETWEEN JANUARY 2019 AND
FEBRUARY 23, 2020.
AND IT WAS UNFOUNDED.
>> LARRY ENGLISH WAS THE
HOMEOWNER.
HE HAD A HOME UNDER CONSTRUCTION
IN SATILLA SHORES.
>> LARRY ENGLISH HAD REPORTED TO
A NEIGHBOR THAT ABOUT
$2,500 WORTH OF ELECTRONICS
EQUIPMENT HAD BEEN TAKEN FROM A
BOAT THAT WAS PARKED AT THE
HOUSE.
AND THAT'S WHEN HE DECIDED TO
GET MORE CAMERAS THERE.
>> LATER, HE'D COME TO REALIZE
THAT HE DIDN'T KNOW FOR SURE
WHERE THAT STUFF HAD GONE
MISSING, BUT TO THE RESIDENTS
THERE IN SATILLA SHORES, AND
SPECIFICALLY THE McMICHAELS,
THEY THOUGHT THAT STUFF HAD
DISAPPEARED FROM THAT
CONSTRUCTION SITE.
>> LARRY ENGLISH HAD VIDEO
FOOTAGE SHOWING PEOPLE GOING IN
AND OUT, LIKE ANY CONSTRUCTION
SITE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
PEOPLE WOULD SORT OF JUST WANDER
AND LOOK TO SEE WHAT IS HOUSE
IS.
>> THERE WERE NO SIGNS UP THAT
SAYS NO TRESPASSING, THERE WERE
NO DOORS ON THE HOUSE AT THE
MOMENT.
WE SAW WHITE COUPLES THERE
SORT OF GO ON A DATE THERE AND
HANG OUT ON A PROPERTY.
WE SAW CHILDREN COMING TO PLAY
ON, IN THIS AREA OF INTEREST.
>> WE ALSO SAW FROM
LARRY ENGLISH'S VIDEOS A BLACK
MAN ON HIS PROPERTY ON THREE
DIFFERENT OCCASIONS.
AT THE TIME NO ONE KNEW WHO THAT
MAN WAS.
IT WAS LATER CONFIRMED THAT THE
MAN WAS AHMAUD ARBERY.
>> AHMAUD HAD BEEN IN THAT HOUSE
A COUPLE TIMES.
NOT REALLY PICKING UP ANYTHING,
NOT REALLY LOOKING LIKE HE
INTENDED TO DO ANYTHING, ALMOST
IN THE SENSE OF BEING CURIOUS.
>> OVER THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO
THE SHOOTING, LARRY ENGLISH HAD
CALLED POLICE SEVERAL TIMES WHEN
HIS SECURITY CAMERAS WOULD ALERT
THAT SOMEBODY WAS ON HIS
PROPERTY.
>> THERE'S SOMEBODY BACK OVER
THERE ON THE PROPERTY AGAIN
TONIGHT.
IT'S A BLACK MALE NOT WEARING A
SHIRT, GOT TATTOOS ON HIS ARMS
AND A PAIR OF LIGHT COLORED
SHORTS.
LOOKS LIKE HE'S UP TO NO GOOD.
SOMEBODY IS ON THE PROPERTY AT
220 SATILLA DRIVE IN BRUNSWICK.
WHITE MALE AND WHITE FEMALE.
>> BY THE TIME THE POLICE GET
THERE, THOSE PEOPLE WOULD BE
GONE.
>> GLYNN COUNTY POLICE.
ANYBODY IN HERE?
>> SO ONE OFFICER TELLS
MR. ENGLISH THAT IF THIS HAPPENS
AGAIN, HE SHOULD CONTACT HIS
NEIGHBOR, GREG McMICHAEL.
>> DID THE FAMILIES KNOW EACH
OTHER?
>> NO.
GREG MCMICHAEL HAD NOT TALKED
DIRECTLY WITH LARRY ENGLISH, BUT
HE TALKED TO OTHER NEIGHBORS
ABOUT LARRY ENGLISH AND THE
PROBLEMS HE WAS HAVING WITH
INTRUDERS IN HIS HOME.
>> 911, WHAT'S THE ADDRESS OF
YOUR EMERGENCY?
>> UH, SATILLA DRIVE.
230 SATILLA DRIVE.
>> WHAT'S GOING ON?
>> I JUST CAUGHT A GUY RUNNING
INTO A HOUSE BEING BUILT TWO
HOUSES DOWN FROM ME.
>> ON FEBRUARY 11th, JUST
12 DAYS PRIOR, TRAVIS HAD LEFT
THE HOUSE TO GO PUT GAS IN HIS
CAR, AND AS HE DROVE PAST THE
ENGLISH HOUSE, HE SAW A FIGURE
IN THE YARD.
AND HE RECOGNIZED THE GUY.
HE THOUGHT, THAT'S THE GUY WE'VE
SEEN BEFORE ON THE VIDEO.
>> WHAT DID HE LOOK LIKE?
>> IT'S A BLACK MALE, RED SHIRT,
WHITE SHORTS.
WHEN I TURNED AROUND AND SAW HIM
AND BACKED UP, HE REACHED INTO
HIS POCKET, SO I DONT KNOW IF
HE'S ARMED OR NOT.
BUT HE LOOKED LIKE HE WAS ACTING
LIKE HE WAS.
>> DO YOU THINK HE WAS THERE TO
BURGLARIZE THAT HOME?
>> OF COURSE NOT.
NO.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE CANNOT
UNDERSTAND HOW DID A MAN LOSE
HIS LIFE WHEN THERE WAS NO
EVIDENCE OF A SERIOUS CRIME
BEING COMMITTED.
>> THAT'S THE WRONG QUESTION.
IT'S INACCURATE.
IT'S NOT CO ‐‐
>> WHAT'S THE RIGHT QUESTION?
>> WHY DID AHMAUD ARBERY DECIDE
TO ATTACK TRAVIS HOLDING A
SHOTGUN?
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT LED TO THE
LOSS OF AHMAUD ARBERY'S LIFE.
>> SO A GUY JUST ON A TRUCK
JUMPS OUT AND POINTS A SHOTGUN
AT YOU.
AND AHMAUD ARBERY IS SUPPOSED TO
JUST STOP?
>> THE AHMAUD ARBERY CASE IS NOT
ABOUT BLACK/WHITE.
IT'S ABOUT DOES A CITIZEN HAVE A
RIGHT TO PROTECT THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD AND THEN ULTIMATELY
HIMSELF?
>> WHEN YOU HEAR THAT THEY SAY
THAT RACE HAS NO BEARING ON THIS
CASE, WHAT IS YOUR REACTION?
>> THERE'S THREE MAN CHASING A
BLACK YOUNG MAN.
HE'S UNARMED, THEY HAVE WEAPONS,
THEY HAVE A TRUCK.
WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?
>>> MY BOY WAS SHOT THREE TIMES.
TWO TIMES IN THE CHEST AND ONE
IN THE ARM.
AND YOU TELL ME THAT AIN'T HATE?
THIS IS RACIAL HATE CRIME.
IT'S HATE.
>> I AM A LIGHT!
LET'S TAKE OUR LIGHT AND LET'S
LIGHT UP THE STREETS OUT HERE.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THIS
CASE BRINGS TO LIGHT IS THE
EXTENT TO WHICH RACE AND RACISM
MANIFESTS ITSELF ON PEOPLE'S
BODIES.
THE AHMAUD ARBERY CASE IS REALLY
A HORRIBLE DEMONSTRATION OF
THAT.
THE EXTENT TO WHICH THIS BLACK
MAN WAS RUNNING THROUGH A
NEIGHBORHOOD, PEOPLE SAW HIM,
AND THEY RESPONDED TO HIM AS IF
HE WAS A THREAT.
>> IF YOU SEE A WHITE MAN
RUNNING YOU THINK, WELL, THERE'S
A JOGGER.
YOU HAVE THE ULTIMATE FREEDOM OF
MOVEMENT.
IF YOU SEE A BLACK MAN RUNNING,
I THINK YOU CALL INTO QUESTION
WHY HE'S RUNNING.
>> YOU CAN'T IGNORE RACE.
I MEAN, IF AHMAUD ARBERY WAS
WHITE, I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY
HE'D BE ALIVE.
>> WHAT DO WE WANT?
>> JUSTICE!
>> WHEN DO WE WANT IT?
>> NOW!
>> THIS WHOLE COMMUNITY IN
GLYNN COUNTY WAS ALREADY AFLAME
WITH ANGER, WITH CONCERN THAT
THIS WAS A HATE CRIME THAT HAD
HAPPENED IN THEIR OWN BACKYARD.
PEOPLE SAW THE VANITY PLATE ON
TRAVIS McMICHAEL'S TRUCK THAT
ALSO HAS A CONFEDERATE EMBLEM
ON IT.
SO EVERYBODY STARTED HAVING A
STORY ABOUT THE ALLEGED RACISM
OF THE McMICHAELS.
>> IS GREG McMICHAEL A RACIST?
>> WELL, WHAT'S YOUR DEFINITION
OF RACIST?
>> IS HE SOMEBODY WHO IS
RACIALLY INTOLERANT?
>> NO.
IF IT MEANS, I HAVE A BELIEF AS
A WHITE PERSON, GREG McMICHAEL,
THAT BLACK PEOPLE ARE INFERIOR
TO WHITE PEOPLE, NO.
HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THAT.
>> TRAVIS AND GREG McMICHAEL
HAD BEEN STEREOTYPED AS SOUTHERN
REDNECKS OUT TO KILL BLACK
PEOPLE BECAUSE IT'S A SPORT,
AND THAT'S ‐‐ THERE'S NOTHING IN
THEIR BACKGROUND TO SUGGEST
THAT.
>> THERE'S A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING
OF THE POWER STRUCTURE IN THE
SOUTH.
WHITENESS IS ON TOP.
BLACKNESS IS SUBSERVIENT.
AND AHMAUD ARBERY BECAME AN
UNFORTUNATE CHAPTER IN THAT LONG
HISTORY OF SOUTHERN CULTURE.
>> WHAT WE HAVE IS A STRING
CONNECTING THE PAST AND PRESENT,
AND THAT STRING IS CITIZEN'S
ARREST.
>> THE CITIZEN'S ARREST LAW IN
GEORGIA ALLOWS A PRIVATE CITIZEN
TO, IF THEY OBSERVE A CRIME
BEING COMMITTED, ALLOWS THEM TO
DETAIN THAT PERSON UNTIL THE
POLICE ARRIVE.
>> THE HISTORY OF THE CITIZEN'S
ARREST STATUTE IN GEORGIA DATES
BACK TO THE CIVIL WAR ERA.
>> THEY PASSED THIS LAW TO
CONTROL ENSLAVED AFRICANS WHO
ARE TRYING TO FLEE.
IT EMPOWERS ANY WHITE PERSON
TO BASICALLY STOP ANY BLACK
PERSON AND ARREST THEM.
IN THE AFTERMATH OF SLAVERY,
1865, BLACK PEOPLE WERE IN THIS
SORT OF STRANGE POSITION.
NEWLY FREED IN THE SOUTH,
AND THEN, BY THE 1880s, THAT
HOPE TURNED INTO TERROR.
SEGREGATION, LYNCHING, THE KLAN,
ALL OF THOSE THINGS WERE ROOTED
IN A SET OF RACIST PRACTICES
THAT WERE ABOUT ORGANIZING WHERE
BLACK PEOPLE COULD AND COULD NOT
GO.
>> THE CITIZEN'S ARREST LAWS
ESSENTIALLY BECOME COVER FOR THE
LYNCHING OF THOUSANDS OF AFRICAN
AMERICANS IN GEORGIA AND IN THE
AMERICAN SOUTH.
>> IN MAY OF 2021, THE STATE OF
GEORGIA AMENDED ITS CITIZEN'S
ARREST LAW, DRAMATICALLY
LIMITING ITS USE.
>> I THINK THE STATE OF GEORGIA
IS MOVING IN THE RIGHT
DIRECTION.
UNFORTUNATELY, I HAD TO LOSE MY
SON TO GET SIGNIFICANT CHANGE.
BUT AGAIN I'M STILL THANKFUL.
>> WANDA, SHE DOESN'T WANT JUST
JUSTICE, BUT SHE WANTS CHANGE.
THE DEMAND FOR A HATE CRIMES LAW
GREW LOUDER AFTER THE KILLING OF
AHMAUD ARBERY IN SOUTH GEORGIA.
>> IT WAS SUFFICIENT TO MOVE THE
GEORGIA LEGISLATURE, ONE OF THE
MOST CONSERVATIVE LEGISLATURES
IN THE COUNTRY, TO ENACT A HATE
CRIME LAW.
>> AHMAUD ARBERY'S LIFE
MATTERED.
NOT ONLY DID IT MATTER TO THOSE
WHO KNEW HIM AND LOVED HIM, IT
ALSO MATTERED TO STATE LAW IN
GEORGIA.
AND NOTHING CAN CHANGE THAT.
>> GREG AND TRAVIS McMICHAEL DID
NOT SET OUT TO KILL ANYBODY.
THEY SET OUT TO DETAIN
AHMAUD ARBERY UNTIL POLICE COULD
ARRIVE.
>> WE SEE HIM COMIE AROUND THE
CORNER.
HE'S GOING DOWN HERE.
WE PULL UP BESIDE HIM.
HEY, STOP, STOP.
WE WANT TO TALK TO YOU.
AND HE JUST KEEPS ON RUNNING.
>> AND ARBERY IS SUPPOSED TO
KNOW THAT THESE ARE CITIZENS WHO
ARE MAKING A CITIZENS' ARREST?
HE'S SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT?
>> WHAT AHMAUD ARBERY KNOWS IS,
I'VE NOW BEEN CAUGHT, AFTER
HAVING BEEN IN THAT HOME.
>> DID POLICE FIND ANYTHING ON
HIS BODY THAT HAD BEEN STOLEN?
>> NO.
>> WAS THERE ANYTHING FROM THE
HOME THAT HE SEEMED TO BE
CARRYING AT SOME POINT?
>> NO.
>> I TOLD HIM TO STOP, STOP,
STOP, UNTIL HE HIT ME.
I HAD NOTHING TO DO.
I COULDN'T ‐‐ JUST NOTHING ELSE
I COULD DO.
>> GREG CERTAINLY DIDN'T WANT
AHMAUD ARBERY TO GET HURT OR
KILLED.
THAT WAS NOT HIS HOPE OR
INTENTION.
AND SO YEAH, THAT'S A TRAGEDY.
HE SEES IT AS A TRAGEDY.
>> A TRAGEDY THAT HE AND HIS SON
SET IN MOTION.
>> WELL, ONE MIGHT SAY A TRAGEDY
THAT AHMAUD ARBERY SET IN
MOTION.
>> AHMAUD ARBERY SET IN MOTION
BY BEING IN A HOME THAT WASN'T
HIS.
ON THE 5th DAY OF THE TRIAL,
KEVIN GOUGH DROPS A BOMBSHELL OF
A COMMENT.
>> AND IF THEIR PASTOR'S
AL SHARPTON RIGHT NOW, THAT'S
FINE.
BUT THEN THAT'S IT.
WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE BLACK
PASTORS COMING IN HERE.
>> IF A BUNCH OF FOLKS CAME IN
HERE DRESSED LIKE
COLONEL SANDERS WITH WHITE MASKS
SITTING IN THE BACK ‐‐
>>> TONIGHT, JURY SELECTION IS
ABOUT TO GET UNDERWAY IN THE
MURDER TRIAL OF THREE WHITE
GEORGIA MEN FOR THE FATAL
SHOOTING OF AHMAUD ARBERY.
>> THIS JURY SELECTION WAS
UNLIKE ANYTHING THAT SOUTHEAST
GEORGIA HAD SEEN.
1,000 PEOPLE WERE SUMMONED IN
ORDER TO PICK A POOL TO WHITTLE
IT DOWN TO A JURY PANEL OF 12.
>> WE COME HERE TODAY FOCUSED ON
GETTING JUSTICE, BECAUSE YOU
CANNOT LYNCH A BLACK MAN IN
AMERICA IN 2021 AND THINK IT
WOULD BE HANDLED THE SAME WAY
THAT WE HANDLED MATTERS BACK
IN THE 1950s.
>> NO ONE KNEW WHAT THE FINAL
MAKEUP OF THAT JURY, PLUS THE
ALTERNATES, WERE UNTIL THE
SPECIAL PROSECUTOR,
LINDA DUNIKOSKI, STOOD UP.
AND IT WAS A BOMBSHELL.
>> AFRICAN AMERICAN JURORS MADE
UP ONE QUARTER OF THE JURY
PANEL.
BUT THE ACTUAL JURY THAT WAS
SELECTED HAS ONLY ONE
AFRICAN‐AMERICAN MALE ON IT.
>> OF THE 12 AFRICAN AMERICANS
IN THE POOL, THE DEFENSE HAD
STRUCK 11 OF THE 12.
>> TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THIS
LOOKED LIKE THE EPITOME OF
DISCRIMINATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN
YOU CONSIDER THAT NEARLY 27% OF
GLYNN COUNTY IS BLACK.
>> THIS COURT HAS FOUND THAT
THERE APPEARS TO BE INTENTIONAL
DISCRIMINATION IN THE PANEL.
QUITE A FEW AFRICAN AMERICAN
JURORS WERE EXCUSED THROUGH
PREEMPTORY STRIKES EXERCISED BY
THE DEFENSE, BUT THAT DOESN'T
MEAN THE COURT HAS THE AUTHORITY
TO RESEAT.
>> IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC
OPINION, IT JUST DIDN'T SIT WELL
WITH MANY OF THE LEADERS IN THE
COMMUNITY THAT THIS JURY WOULD
NOT ACCURATELY REFLECT THE
COMMUNITY WHERE AHMAUD ARBERY
WAS KILLED.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TURN NOW TO
THE VERY DIFFICULT START TO THE
TRIAL IN THE AHMAUD ARBERY CASE
TODAY, THE EMOTIONAL SCENE
INSIDE THAT COURTROOM IN
GEORGIA.
>> WHY ARE WE HERE?
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF
ASSUMPTIONS AND DRIVEWAY
DECISIONS.
>> THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR,
LINDA DONIKOSKI, GOT UP AND
TALKED FOR NEARLY AN
HOUR AND A HALF, LAYING OUT
SLOWLY AND PIECE BY PIECE WHAT
SHE THOUGHT THIS JURY SHOULD
KNOW.
>> GREG McMICHAEL IS IN FRONT OF
230 SATILLA DRIVE, HE'S ALL
ALONE, AND HE SEES MR. ARBERY
RUNNING REALLY, REALLY FAST DOWN
THE STREET.
HE ACTUALLY USES THE WORDS,
"HAULING ASS."
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS
DRIVEWAY DECISION NUMBER 1.
AND WHAT DOES HE DECIDE TO DO?
HE RUNS INSIDE TO GET HIS GUN.
HE'S ASSUMED THE WORST AND HAS
ABSOLUTELY NO IMMEDIATE
KNOWLEDGE OF ANY CRIME
WHATSOEVER.
>> THAT REALLY SET THE TONE FOR
THIS ENTIRE CASE, THAT THIS JURY
NEEDED TO FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT
THE DEFENDANTS DIDN'T HAVE ANY
CONCRETE EVIDENCE WHEN THEY
DECIDED TO GO CHASE AND
ULTIMATELY KILL AHMAUD ARBERY.
TRAVIS McMICHAEL MADE THE
DECISION, A KNOWING INTELLIGENT
DECISION, TO PICK UP A REMINGTON
12‐GAUGE SHOTGUN AND GO WITH HIS
FATHER AND GET IN HIS PICKUP
TRUCK TO GO AFTER MR. ARBERY.
DRIVEWAY DECISION NUMBER 2.
AND THEN MR. BRYAN MAKES HIS
DRIVEWAY DECISION, AND HE JOINS
THE McMICHAELS IN CHASING DOWN
MR. ARBERY.
GREG McMICHAEL SAID IT
PERFECTLY ‐‐ MR. ARBERY WAS
TRAPPED LIKE A RAT.
THAT'S WHAT HE TOLD THE POLICE.
TRAPPED LIKE A RAT.
>> THE DEFENSE, THROUGH THEIR
OPENING STATEMENTS, MADE IT VERY
CLEAR THAT THEY BELIEVE THE
McMICHAELS WERE DEFENDING THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THIS CASE IS ABOUT DUTY
AND RESPONSIBILITY.
IT'S ABOUT TRAVIS McMICHAEL'S
DUTY AND RESPONSIBILITY TO
HIMSELF.
TO HIS FAMILY AND TO HIS
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THEY CONTINUOUSLY USED THE
ARGUMENTS OF CITIZENS ARREST AND
SELF‐DEFENSE, HIGHLIGHTING THE
VIDEO DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE
STORY.
>> TRAVIS HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO
FIRE HIS WEAPON IN SELF‐DEFENSE.
HE'S ON TRAVIS AND TRAVIS HAS TO
FIRE.
BECAUSE AT THAT POINT IT'S HIS
LIFE OR AHMAUD ARBERY'S LUF.
>> AS THE STATE WENT ON
PRESENTING ITS CASE, THEY PLAYED
FOR THE JURY THAT VIDEO RECORDED
BY RODDIE BRYAN.
>> MR. ARBERY RAN AWAY FROM
THESE THREE DEFENDANTS IN THEIR
PICKUP TRUCKS FOR FIVE MINUTES.
>> MARCUS ARBERY, AHMAUD'S
FATHER, WALKED OUT OF COURT.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO SEE IT.
WANDA COOPER‐JONES SAT IN THE
BACK CORNER OF THAT COURTROOM,
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, SAW THE
COMPLETE VIDEO OF HER SON BEING
SHOT.
>> I AVOIDED THE VIDEO FOR THE
LAST 18 MONTHS.
I THOUGHT IT WAS TIME TO GET
FAMILIAR WITH WHAT HAPPENED TO
AHMAUD.
I'M GLAD I WAS ABLE TO STAY
STRONG AND STAY IN THERE.
>> AT THIS TIME, THE STATE CALLS
OFFICER JEFFERY BRANDENBERRY.
>> THE PROSECUTION CALLS TO THE
WITNESS STAND THE GLYNN COUNTY
POLICE OFFICERS WHO ARRIVED ON
THE SCENE AFTER AHMAUD HAD BEEN
SHOT.
>> DID GREG McMICHAEL EVER
INDICATE TO YOU AT THAT TIME
THAT HE THOUGHT AHMAUD ARBERY,
THE GUY, HAD COMMITTED A CRIME
THAT DAY?
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> WHILE SPEAKING WITH YOU, DID
GREG McMICHAEL EVER USE THE
WORD "BURGLARY"?
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> DID HE EVER USE THE WORD
"TRESPASS"?
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> DID HE EVER TELL YOU WHILE
YOU'RE TALKING TO HIM THAT HE
WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A
CITIZEN'S ARREST?
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> DID HE EVER EVEN USE THE
WORD "ARREST"?
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> DID YOU EVER EVEN USE THE
WORD "DETAIN"?
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> THE DEFENSE IS GOING TO HAVE
TO PROVE THAT THEY SUSPECTED
AHMAUD WAS COMMITTING A FELONY
IN ORDER FOR THE McMICHAELS TO
CLAIM THEY WERE TRYING TO MAKE A
CITIZEN'S ARREST.
>> ONE MATTER THAT I WANTED TO
ADDRESS.
>> ON THE FIFTH DAY OF THE
TRIAL, WITHOUT THE JURY PRESENT,
KEVIN GOUGH MAKES A BOMBSHELL
OF A COMMENT.
>> THE RIGHT REVEREND
AL SHARPTON MANAGED TO FIND HIS
WAY INTO THE BACK OF THE
COURTROOM.
IF WE'RE GOING TO BRING HIGH
PROFILE MEMBERS OF THE
AFRICAN‐AMERICAN COMMUNITY INTO
THE COURTROOM TO SIT WITH THE
FAMILY DURING THE TRIAL IN THE
PRESENCE OF THE JURY, I BELIEVE
THAT'S INTIMIDATING AND IT'S AN
ATTEMPT TO PRESSURE.
AND IF THEIR PASTOR'S
AL SHARPTON RIGHT NOW, THAT'S
FINE.
BUT THEN THAT'S IT.
WE DON'T WANT ANY MORE BLACK
PASTORS COMING IN HERE.
IF A BUNCH OF FOLKS CAME IN HERE
DRESSED LIKE COLONEL SANDERS
WITH WHITE MASKS SITTING IN THE
BACK, THAT WOULD BE ‐‐
>> THAT STATEMENT WAS TOTALLY
ASININE, RIDICULOUS.
THIS CASE IS NOT ABOUT RACISM OR
RACIST MOTIVES, THIS IS JUST A
NEIGHBORHOOD AND SOME PEOPLE
TRYING TO DO THE BEST THEY COULD
TO STOP THE CRIME IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> THE DEFENSE INSISTS IT'S NOT
ABOUT RACE, BUT EVERYWHERE YOU
LOOK, EVERY TIME YOU TRY TO GET
AWAY FROM RACE, RACE COMES BACK
IN.
>> I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH A MORE
SPECIFIC MOTION ON MONDAY, AND
MY APOLOGIES TO ANYONE THAT
MIGHT HAVE BEEN OFFENDED.
>> KEVIN GOUGH GAVE WHAT HE
CALLED AN APOLOGY, BUT IT WASN'T
TAKEN THAT WAY BY A LOT OF
PEOPLE.
>> HE SPOKE HIS MIND.
ACTUALLY, HE SPOKE HIS HEART.
>> ALL RISE FOR THE JURORS.
>> AFTER THE STATE RESTED, THE
DEFENSE REALLY HADN'T SIGNALED
WHO THEIR WITNESSES WERE GOING
TO BE AND WHETHER ANY OF THE
DEFENDANTS WERE GOING TO TAKE
THE STAND.
>> WE'RE ASKING THE COURT NOT TO
ASK HIM IF HE'S GOING TO TESTIFY
OR NOT, BUT THE COURT CAN INFORM
HIM OF HIS RIGHTS.
>> THEN TO EVERYBODY'S SURPRISE,
TRAVIS McMICHAEL, THE MAN WHO
ACTUALLY SHOT AND KILLED AHMAUD
ARBERY TAKES THE WITNESS STAND.
>> DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL THE
TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH?
>> I DO.
>>> JUSTICE FOR AHMAUD!
JUSTICE FOR AHMAUD!
>> KEVIN GOUGH'S STATEMENT ABOUT
BLACK PASTORS BEING IN THE
GALLERY CREATED A WINDSTORM OF A
REACTION.
>> HE SAID NO MORE BLACK
PASTORS.
LOOK AT WHAT YOU BROUGHT NOW.
>> OUTSIDE THE GLYNN COUNTY
COURTHOUSE IN GEORGIA TODAY,
HUNDREDS OF BLACK PASTORS CAME
TO PRAY.
>> GOD, WE ARE LOOKING FOR A
MIRACLE.
>> BLACK PASTORS IN GEORGIA,
BLACK PASTORS IN AMERICA, ARE
SYNONYMOUS WITH THE CIVIL RIGHTS
MOVEMENT.
>> IT SPEAKS TO THE TWO
DIFFERENT AMERICAS THAT STILL
EXIST.
THAT FOR THIS WHITE MAN, THIS
LAWYER, HE SAW THE PRESENCE OF
BLACK MINISTERS AS A MENACE, AS
A THREAT.
IN BLACK AMERICA, THESE ARE
REVERED FIGURES WHO PROVIDE
COMFORT AND CONTEXT IN DIFFICULT
MOMENTS.
>> AMEN.
>> AMEN!
>> BE SEATED.
>> INSIDE THE GLYNN COUNTY
COURTROOM, THE DEFENSE WAS
NOW PRESENTING ITS CASE.
>> DEFENSE CALLS TRAVIS
McMICHAEL.
>> WHEN TRAVIS McMICHAEL WAS
CALLED AS THE FIRST DEFENSE
WITNESS, IT SHOCKED EVERYONE.
JAWS WERE DROPPING.
>> TRAVIS McMICHAEL LOOKED A LOT
DIFFERENT ON THE STAND THAN HE
DID IN THE BODY CAMERA FOOTAGE.
>> PUTTING TRAVIS ON THE STAND
DOES MAKE HIM MORE HUMANE AND
LIKABLE THAN WHAT THE VIDEO
PRESENTS HIM AS.
>> I WANT TO GIVE MY SIDE OF THE
STORY.
I WANT TO EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED.
>> TRAVIS' LAWYERS HAVE TRIED TO
PUT TOGETHER A PICTURE OF HIM
AS SOMEONE WHO CARED ABOUT
SAFETY, SOMEONE WHO CARED ABOUT
THE WELL‐BEING OF HIS PARENTS.
>> DID THEY SHARE THINGS WITH
YOU ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE HEARING
HAPPENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
ABOUT CRIME?
>> THEY DID.
>> TRAVIS McMICHAEL WAS ABLE TO
GIVE THIS JURY HIS COAST GUARD
HISTORY, HIS TRAINING AS A LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICER.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY TRAINING ON
HAND‐TO‐HAND COMBAT?
>> YES.
>> DID YOU HAVE ANY TRAINING ON
HOW TO RETAIN YOUR WEAPON?
>> YES.
>> THE DEFENSE WANTS TO SUGGEST
THAT HE WAS ESSENTIALLY THE
PSEUDO‐COP IN HIS NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> DID YOU WANT TO STOP HIM AND
HOLD HIM SO THE POLICE COULD
COME AND ARREST HIM?
>> THAT WAS MY PLAN, YES, SIR.
>> THE COURTROOM IS SILENT AS
TRAVIS McMICHAEL TALKS ABOUT
THOSE FINAL MOMENTS WITH
AHMAUD ARBERY.
>> WHAT DID YOU DO?
>> I SHOT HIM.
>> WHY?
>> HE HAD MY GUN.
HE STRUCK ME.
IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT HE WAS ‐‐
IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT HE WAS
ATTACKING ME, THAT IF HE WOULD
HAVE GOT THE SHOT GUN FROM ME
THAT THIS IS A LIFE OR DEATH
SITUATION, AND I'M GOING TO HAVE
TO STOP HIM FROM DOING THIS, SO
I SHOT.
>> THIS WAS A MAJOR RISK TO TAKE
THE STAND AS A DEFENDANT IN THIS
CASE, BECAUSE THEY ARE FACED
WITH A VIDEO THAT SHOWS THEM
CHASING AHMAUD ARBERY.
THEY'D HAVE TO EXPLAIN WHY THEY
DID THAT.
AND THE DANGER IS THAT THEY
DON'T HAVE A CONCRETE REASON TO
BE CHASING HIM.
>> THE PROSECUTOR,
LINDA DUNIKOSKI CAME OUT OF THE
GATE REALLY HOT.
SHE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE
CORNERSTONE OF THE DEFENSE'S
CASE, WHICH IS ALL WRAPPED UP
IN CITIZEN'S ARREST.
>> NOT ONCE DURING YOUR DIRECT
EXAMINATION DID YOU STATE THAT
YOUR INTENTION WAS TO EFFECTUATE
AN ARREST OF MR. ARBERY UNTIL
YOUR ATTORNEY ASKED YOU THAT
LEADING QUESTION, ISN'T THAT
RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> THE PROSECUTOR IS CLEARLY
TRYING TO GET TRAVIS McMICHAEL
TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT HE NEVER SAW
AHMAUD ARBERY DOING ANYTHING
WRONG.
>> AND YOU HAD NO IDEA WHAT HE'D
ACTUALLY BEEN DOING THAT DAY.
>> NOT AT THAT TIME, NO.
>> ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE
PARTS OF THE PROSECUTOR'S
CROSS‐EXAMINATION IS WHEN SHE
ASKS TRAVIS McMICHAEL WHAT
AHMAUD ARBERY WASN'T DOING.
AND SHE GIVES A LIST.
>> AND HE NEVER YELLED AT YOU
GUYS.
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> NEVER THREATENED YOU AT ALL?
>> NO, HE DID NOT THREATEN ME
VERBALLY.
NO, MA'AM.
>> IT ESSENTIALLY WAS POKING A
HOLE, OVER AND OVER, IN THE
DEFENSE'S CLAIM OF SELF‐DEFENSE.
>> DIDN'T BRANDISH WEAPONS?
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> DIDN'T PULL OUT ANY GUNS.
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> DIDN'T PULL OUT ANY KNIFE.
>> NO, MA'AM.
>> NEVER REACHED FOR ANYTHING,
DID HE?
>> UH, NO.
>> HE JUST RAN.
>> YES, HE WAS JUST RUNNING.
>> THE PROSECUTOR REALLY
CHALLENGED TRAVIS McMICHAEL'S
CONTENTION THAT ARBERY WAS A
THREAT TO HIM.
>> YOUR FATHER IS IN THE PICKUP
TRUCK, CORRECT?
>> YES, MA'AM.
>> AND HE HAS HIS .357 MAGNUM,
CORRECT?
>> HE HAS IT, YES.
>> FINALLY, SHE BUILT THIS
PICTURE OF THE POWER IMBALANCE
OF AN EXHAUSTED YOUNG MAN COMING
UP TO THIS HUGE PICKUP TRUCK
WITH TWO ARMED WHITE MEN.
>> SO, YOU'RE TELLING THIS JURY
THAT A MAN WHO HAS SPENT FIVE
MINUTES RUNNING AWAY FROM YOU,
YOU'RE NOW THINKING IS SOMEHOW
GOING TO WANT TO CONTINUE TO
ENGAGE WITH YOU, SOMEONE WITH A
SHOTGUN, AND YOUR FATHER, A MAN
WHO'S JUST SAID, "STOP OR I'LL
BLOW YOUR [ BLEEP ] HEAD OFF,"
BY TRYING TO GET IN THEIR TRUCK?
>> THAT'S WHAT IT SHOWS.
YES, MA'AM.
>> OVER THE COURSE OF TWO DAYS,
TRAVIS McMICHAEL TESTIFIES FOR
SIX HOURS.
HE WOULD BE THE ONLY DEFENDANT
TO TAKE THE STAND.
THE ONLY OTHER WITNESSES CALLED
BY THE DEFENSE ‐‐
>> SWEAR TO TELL THE TRUTH, THE
WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE
TRUTH?
>> I DO.
>> A HANDFUL OF NEIGHBORS IN
SATILLA SHORES.
>> THE DEFENSE WAS TRYING TO
CURATE THIS CONTINUOUS NARRATIVE
OF A NEIGHBORHOOD UNDER THREAT.
THEY WANTED NEIGHBORS TO
CORROBORATE WHAT
TRAVIS McMICHAEL HAD SAID WAS
TRUE, WHICH WAS THE NEIGHBORHOOD
WAS ON EDGE.
>> OTHER THAN THE HOMICIDE OF
MR. ARBERY, VIOLENT CRIMES WERE
FEW AND FAR BETWEEN OR
NONEXISTENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
IS THAT CORRECT?
>> THAT IS CORRECT.
>> THIS IS IRONIC.
THE MOST VIOLENT CRIME THAT
THESE NEIGHBORS IN
SATILLA SHORES WOULD HAVE
WITNESSED IS THE DEATH OF
AHMAUD ARBERY, WHICH WAS CARRIED
OUT BY ONE OF THEIR OWN.
>> WE TURN NEXT TO CLOSING
ARGUMENT IN THE AHMAUD ARBERY
CASE.
>> IT WAS CLEAR THAT IN THE
PROSECUTION'S CLOSING IN THIS
CASE, THEY WANTED TO DRIVE HOME
THIS IDEA OF JUST HOW IMBALANCED
THE SITUATION WAS ON FEBRUARY
23rd.
>> THREE‐ON‐ONE.
TWO PICKUP TRUCKS, TWO GUNS.
THEY WANT YOU TO BELIEVE HE WAS
A DANGER TO THEM, AND HE WAS
SCARY.
>> AFTER THE CLOSING ARGUMENTS,
IT'S NOW UP TO THE JURY TO
DECIDE THE FATE OF THE THREE
MEN.
THE JURY DELIBERATED FOR 11
HOURS.
OUTSIDE THE COURTHOUSE, A CROWD
HAS BEEN GATHERING, WAITING FOR
THE VERDICT.
>> MADAM FOREPERSON, I
UNDERSTAND YOU HAVE REACHED A
VERDICT AS TO EACH DEFENDANT.
>> WE HAVE.
>>> IT'S THE DAY BEFORE
THANKSGIVING, AND A CROWD HAS
NOW GATHERED OUTSIDE THE
COURTHOUSE.
AFTER 11 HOURS OF DELIBERATION,
THE JURY HAS REACHED A VERDICT.
>> MADAM FOREPERSON, PLEASE HAND
YOUR VERDICT FORMS TO THE
SHERIFF.
MR. McMICHAEL, PLEASE STAND.
THE VERDICT IS AS FOLLOWS.
IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF GLYNN
COUNTY, STATE OF GEORGIA, THE
STATE OF GEORGIA
VS. TRAVIS McMICHAEL,
COUNT 1 MALICE MURDER.
WE THE JURY FIND THE DEFENDANT
TRAVIS McMICHAEL GUILTY.
>> WHOO.
>> SHE VOWED TO FIND JUSTICE FOR
HER SON, AND WANDA COOPER‐JONES
KEPT HER PROMISE.
>> AS TO GREGORY McMICHAEL,
COUNT 2 FELONY MURDER ‐‐ GUILTY.
AS TO WILLIAM R. BRYAN,
COUNT 3 FELONY MURDER ‐‐ GUILTY.
>> ALL THREE MEN GUILTY OF
MURDER.
AHMAUD ARBERY'S FAMILY HAS BEEN
WAITING MORE THAN A YEAR AND
EIGHT MONTHS FOR THIS MOMENT.
>> LET THE WORD GO FORTH ALL
OVER THE WORLD THAT A JURY OF
11 WHITES AND 1 BLACK IN THE
DEEP SOUTH STOOD UP IN THE COURT
ROOM AND SAID THAT BLACK LIVES
DO MATTER.
>> I MEN AMEN!
>> LET'S KEEP FIGHTING!
LET'S KEEP DOING AND MAKING THIS
PLACE A BETTER PLACE FOR ALL
HUMAN BEINGS.
>> AMEN.
>> I NEVER THOUGHT THIS DAY
WOULD COME.
THANK YOU FOR THOSE WHO MARCHED,
THOSE WHO PRAYED, MOST OF ALL
THE ONES WHO PRAYED.
>> YES, LORD.
>> THE VERDICT SHOWS IN THIS
CASE OF THE DEATH OF
AHMAUD ARBERY THAT CITIZEN'S
ARREST AND SELF‐DEFENSE WAS NOT
SOMETHING THAT THE JURY BOUGHT.
>> I WAS DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED.
I REALLY FELT THAT THIS JURY WAS
GOING TO ACQUIT MR. BRYAN.
>> THERE'S ENOUGH TRAGEDY IN
THIS CASE TO GO AROUND.
LEIGH McMICHAEL HAS LOST HER
HUSBAND AND HER SON THROUGH THIS
VERDICT, AND SHE'S DEVASTATED.
>> I HOPE HISTORY LOOKS BACK ON
THIS CASE AS A CASE WHERE WE
SOUGHT JUSTICE FOR AHMAUD, WE
SOUGHT JUSTICE FOR THE FAMILY,
AND THAT JUSTICE WAS DONE.
>> WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THE
McMICHAELS AND MR. BRYAN IF YOU
COULD?
>> AHMAUD'S NOT COMING HOME.
I'VE LOST MY SON.
THEY GO TO JAIL.
THEY STILL HAVE LIFE.
I'VE LOST MY SON.