The medical examiner who performed the autopsy on Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was hunted and gunned down by three white men last year, testified about the injuries he sustained when he was killed.
On Tuesday (Nov. 16), Dr. Edmund Donoghue, a local forensic pathologist, told jurors that Arbery died from multiple gunshot wounds to the chest, armpit and wrist. Donoghue testified that he could not determine the order the shots were fired based solely on his autopsy, but after reviewing the cell phone video of the shooting, he said he believed Arbery’s hand was in front of his chest when the first shot grazed his wrist and entered his body, breaking multiple ribs.
The first shot left a gaping hole in the 25-year-old’s chest and caused heavy internal bleeding. The second gunshot completely missed Arbery, however, the third shot, which was fired at point-blank range, tore through a vein and major artery near his left armpit, which paralyzed his left arm and broke several bones.
Donoghue also testified that he believes there was nothing first responders or law enforcement could have done to save Arbery’s life and the young man would have bled to death from the initial chest wound alone.
As REVOLT previously reported, Gregory McMichael, his son Travis McMichael and their neighbor William “Roddie” Bryan are charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment for Abery’s death. The jogger was followed and gunned down by the McMichaels and Bryan, who reportedly blocked the 25-year-old in with his truck.
They are also facing federal charges, including attempted kidnapping and one count of interference with rights — which is a hate crime. Additionally, the McMichaels were federally indicted for using a firearm during a crime of violence. The trial for the three suspects’ federal charges is set to begin next February.