Arbery’s Killers Sentenced to Life in Prison; Federal Trial Begins Feb. 7

In Summary

The day of sentencing has arrived for the three white men convicted of killing Ahmaud Arbery, but a federal hate crime still awaits. 

Three white men found guilty of felony murder for killing Ahmaud Arbery were sentenced to life in prison on Friday. 

Travis McMichael, the man who pulled the trigger, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole and 20 years consecutive to the life sentence. 

Gregory McMichael, the father of Travis McMichael, who grabbed his .357 Magnum pistol and told his son he noticed Arbery running outside, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole and 20 years consecutive to the life sentence. 

William “Roddie” Bryan, who filmed Arbery’s murder from his truck, was sentenced to life with the possibility of parole. 

In November, the father-and-son duo and Bryan were all found guilty by a Brunswick, Georgia, jury of felony murder for killing Arbery.   

Arbery, 25, was murdered while jogging in a Brunswick neighborhood in February 2020. He was chased, stopped, confronted and fatally shot by Travis McMichael, which was all captured on video filmed by Bryan.      

RELATED: Three White Men Found Guilty of Murdering Ahmaud Arbery    

The McMichaels and Bryan now face federal hate crime charges that allege they violated Arbery’s civil rights for pursuing him without cause and threatening him on a public street because he was Black.  

U.S. District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood plans to summon a jury pool of close to 1,000 in the upcoming hate crimes trial of the three white men. The search for the jury pool will extend to 43 Georgia counties.  

The decision by Wood is in agreement with both the prosecutors and defense attorneys who filed a joint motion to seek a more impartial jury and cast a wider net in the federal case. 

Jury selection in the federal case begins Feb. 7. 

RELATED: Jury Pool of 1K Sought in Fed Hate Crime Case of Men Who Killed Arbery 

If you or someone you know is struggling from trauma triggered by this story, resources are available here.   

Latest in Social Justice

George Floyd

Social Justice

Corporate America Failed to Deliver Two Years After George Floyd’s Death

Social Justice

NJ Supreme Court Tosses Robbery Convictions, Cites Bias in Police Stop 

Black Man Trial Tainted in Nevada

Social Justice

Black Man’s Conviction Reversed in Nevada Due to ‘Racial Stereotypes’

Kyle Rittenhouse x Kenosha

Social Justice

Kyle Rittenhouse Requests Return of Firearm Used in Kenosha Shootings

Pennsylvania, Fanta Bility

Social Justice

3 Pennsylvania Officers Fired for Death of 8-Year-Old Fanta Bility

Team Roc Nation Lawyer

Social Justice

Jay-Z’s Team ROC Lawyer: Kansas City PD Has Harmed Its Community

Jason Walker Bodycam Footage

Social Justice

‘Justice for Jason Walker’ Protestors Rally at NC Commissioners Meeting

MLK Day x Prince Harry, Meghan

Social Justice

Prince Harry, Meghan Donated Black-Owned Food Trucks to Honor MLK Day