One of the three men charged with Ahmaud Arbery’s death “cornered” him before he was killed, according to the first police officer who arrived on the scene where he was shot dead.
The former Glynn County police officer Ricky Minshew testified before jury members during the ninth week of the trial that he met with William “Roddie” Bryan, who claimed he “blocked,” “cornered,” and “cut off” Arbery prior to Travis McMichael’s shooting. “Was it wise to pursue him? “I’m unsure,” Bryan responded in the transcript read aloud from the former cop’s body cam video.
Upon arriving at the scene, Minshew also testified that he saw two men pacing and the body of Arbery on the ground. He described the sound he heard as a “death rattle” coming from the victim, explaining to jurors that the victim appeared to be dead. According to the former officer, while he called emergency responders, he did not attempt life-saving measures on Arbery because of his “inadequate medical training” and because his vehicle did not contain medical supplies.
As a result of Arbery’s testimony, his mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, told reporters that she could not understand why her son’s father, James Minshew, was not assisting her. “I understand he had to go and secure the crime scene, but there was a person laying in a pool of blood in the middle of the road,” she said.
As a result, Bryan McMichael, his father, Gregory McMichael, and a number of other suspects are charged with malice murder, conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault, unlawful restraint, and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. Arbery was chased and killed by McMichaels and Bryan as he ran through the Georgia neighborhood. They boxed him in with their truck as he ran.
In addition to the federal charges, the guys face charges of attempted kidnapping and infringement on rights, both hate crimes. Moreover, the McMichaels faced a charge of using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime. Prosecutors plan to take the men to trial next year on federal charges.
This article was penned by Jonathan P. Wright. Jonathan is a freelance writer for multiple mainstream publications and CVO of RADIOPUSHERS. You can read more of his work by clicking here.
