All three men accused of murdering 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery have been found guilty of felony murder. After two days of deliberation, jurors reached a guilty verdict on Wednesday (Nov. 24) and found Travis McMichael, who shot and killed Arbery, guilty of one count of malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, one count of false imprisonment and one count of criminal attempt to commit a felony.
Travis’ father, Gregory McMichael, was found guilty of four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, false imprisonment and criminal attempt to commit a felony. However, he was acquitted of the malice murder charge.
Jurors convicted William “Roddie” Bryan Jr., the McMichaels’ neighbor, on three counts of felony murder, one count of aggravated assault, one count of false imprisonment and one count of criminal attempt to commit a felony. He was acquitted of malice murder, one count of felony murder and one count of aggravated assault.
All three men now face a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. The aggravated assault charges also carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; the false imprisonment charge carries 10 years; and the criminal attempt to commit a felony charge carries five.
Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley will decide whether the men’s sentences can be served concurrently. After dismissing the jury on Wednesday, he ordered that the McMichaels and Bryan remain in police custody until their sentencing.
As reported by REVOLT, the McMichaels and Bryan were facing a nine-count indictment for chasing down Arbery while he was out for a jog and murdering him last February. Travis and Gregory armed themselves and pursued the jogger in their truck, while Bryan reportedly cut Arbery off with his own vehicle and filmed the encounter.
For the crime, the McMichaels were also indicted on federal hate crime charges; attempted kidnapping; and using, carrying, brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Bryan was also federally indicted on hate crime charges and attempted kidnapping. All three men pleaded not guilty to those charges and their trial is set for next February.