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One of the three men charged with murdering Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man who was killed while jogging, allegedly used a racial slur as Arbery lay dying from gunshot wounds, a Georgia law enforcement agent said during a court hearing Thursday.
The revelation came during a preliminary hearing for Travis McMichael and his father Gregory McMichael, two men charged in Arbery’s murder. William “Roddie” Bryan Jr., who recorded the shooting on a cellphone and is also charged in Arbery’s murder, waived his right to appear Thursday.
In a statement to investigators, Bryan said Travis McMichael shot Arbery and then called him a “fucking nigger” prior to police arriving to the scene, Georgia Bureau of Investigation special agent Richard Dial testified.
Dial’s testimony marked the first court statement suggesting Arbery’s killing was about race, CBS 46 reported. The Justice Department is investigating the shooting as a hate crime, S. Lee Merritt, an attorney for Arbery’s family, said last month.
Arbery was killed on Feb. 23 after Travis McMichael, 34, and Gregory McMichael, 64 ― two white men ― confronted him with guns while he was out for a jog. Video of the incident taken by Bryan shows Arbery attempting to run past the car of the two men before he is shot by Travis McMichael.
The father and son said they believed him to be a burglar. Merritt called Arbery’s death a “modern-day lynching.”
Dial testified Thursday that Travis McMichael used the N-word “many times” on social media prior to Arbery’s killing, and that the toolbox on the defendant’s truck had a Confederate flag sticker on it.
In describing Arbery’s slaying, Dial said the three men chased Arbery and trapped him between their two trucks. During the pursuit, Bryan hit Arbery with his truck, the GBI agent testified.
An attorney for Travis McMichael asked Dial if he believed Arbery had been trying to break into one of the trucks. Dial said no.
“I’d say Mr. Arbery was trying to escape,” Dial told the court.
Travis McMichael and Gregory McMichael were arrested and each charged with felony murder and aggravated assault on May 7. Two weeks later, Bryan was arrested and charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.
They have not yet been asked by a judge to plea. Attorneys for the defendants have said publicly that they committed no crimes.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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