Georgia men charged with federal hate crime in connection to Ahmaud Arbery’s death

Three Georgia men accused of taking part in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery in February 2020 have been indicted on federal hate crime charges, according to the Justice Department.

Georgia men charged with Ahmaud Arbery hate crime

Travis McMichael, 35, his 65-year-old father Gregory and William “Roddie” Bryan, 51, now face federal hate crime charges of interference with rights and attempted kidnapping in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery.

The McMichaels face additional firearms charges.

“In addition to the hate crime charges, Count Three [of the indictment] alleges that all three defendants attempted to unlawfully seize and confine Arbery by chasing after him in their trucks in an attempt to restrain him, restrict his free movement, corral and detain him against his will, and prevent his escape,” the DOJ said in a statement.

Killed while jogging

25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery was killed in Brunswick, Georgia, on Feb. 23, 2020.

Federal prosecutors said Travis and Gregory McMichael, both armed, got into a truck and chased Arbery while yelling at him.

Bryan then joined the chase in his truck, and all three tried to detain Arbery against his will, prosecutors said.

The McMichaels, who maintained Arbery was a robbery suspect running away, was charged with murder and aggravated assault charges.

The father and son duo were arrested in May 2020 – more than two months after Arbery’s death – after video of the incident was made public.

Initially, local prosecutors refused to file murder charges, drawing widespread anger from community leaders who accused authorities of allowing Arbery’s killers to remain free.

Benjamin Crump, one of the attorneys representing Arbery’s family, said that the charges were an “important milestone in America’s uphill march toward racial justice

“Today is yet another step in the right direction as we seek justice for Ahmaud Arbery and his grieving family by holding those responsible for his death accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” he said in a statement provided to USA TODAY.