Bond denied for father, son charged with murder in Ahmaud Arbery case

Friday, May 8, 2020

BRUNSWICK, Ga. (WTOC) -- Bond has been denied for two men charged in the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery.

They appeared before a judge this afternoon.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation announced the arrests and murder charges late Thursday night. Travis McMichael and his father, Gregory, were booked into Glynn County jail.

Cellphone video shows Travis McMichael shooting Arbery in the middle of the road in his own Brunswick neighborhood in February.

Arbery’s family says he was chased and killed for no good reason.

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Citizens took to the street Friday in Brunswick for a rally. Members of the community say they are certainly glad to see the two arrests, but they also want a third man to be arrested, the man who filmed the video. The GBI director did not rule another arrest out during his news conference on Friday.

The GBI took over the case earlier this week at the urging of the governor and the agency’s director. Very quickly, they arrested the McMichael’s.

In an incident report, Gregory tells police they chased Arbery because they thought he was a burglary suspect.

Initially, the police and the prosecutor on the case ruled the shooting self-defense and that the McMichael’s had legal grounds to chase Arbery.

These charges indicate the GBI disagrees with both assertions.

At Friday’s news conference, the GBI was directly asked simply: how did his agency come to the conclusion this was criminal so quickly, and whether he believes this was murder.

“I can tell you that if we didn’t believe it, we wouldn’t have arrested. If we believe it, then we’re going to put the bracelets (handcuffs) on them and that’s exactly what we did yesterday evening. When it is handed over to Mr. Durden for ultimate prosecution, it will be complete; it will be done, and every stone will be turned over. I promise you,” said Director Vic Reynolds, Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

Sheriff’s deputies and GBI agents arrested both men Thursday night. Director Reynolds says they agreed on charges around 5 p.m. after investigating a little over 24 hours.