Town Hall Held Ahead of Trial for Men Accused of Killing Ahmaud Arbery

By Christina Santi Published: October 15, 2021

Town Hall Held Ahead of Trial for Men Accused of Killing Ahmaud Arbery

In Summary

Officials in Brunswick, Georgia, held a town hall to address security concerns ahead of the trial proceedings for the men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery.

WARNING – This story contains details of violence. Resources for those triggered by this content can be found here.

Jury selection in the trial for the men who allegedly shot and killed Ahmaud Arbery begins Monday and the town of Brunswick, Georgia, held a town hall to discuss concerns.

Several members of the community attended a town hall meeting on Thursday to hear law enforcement officials explain their plans for keeping residents safe when the trial begins.

BNC correspondent Jenyne Donaldson was there to hear the questions from community members and answers from officials.

The focus of the town hall was safety and security for residents and visitors. It was an opportunity for residents to ask questions about upcoming street closures, plans for police presence and other concerns.

For the past six months, the town has been working with Homeland Security and the Georgia Department of Emergency Management on a plan to address safety, but there will be no presence from federal officials.

A spokesperson for the Glynn County Unified Command said a small police footprint would be available and officers would be present to deal with issues that arise. Local agencies have not received any threats and do not expect violence.

Father-and-son duo Gregory and Travis McMichael chased Arbery in a pickup truck in the Satilla Shores neighborhood of Brunswick in February 2020 while he was jogging.

They reportedly shot him at close range, killing him. William “Roddie” Bryan is also on trial for joining the chase and recording it on a cellphone.

According to Savannah Now, the McMichaels and Bryan also face federal hate crimes and kidnapping charges; that trial begins February 7, 2022.

A $1 million civil lawsuit was also filed against the men by Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones. Numerous others, including former Glynn County Police Chief John Powell, Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill and several Glynn County police officers, were also named in the lawsuit.

BNC will have coverage of the McMichaels trial, which begins Monday.

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