A third person has been charged in connection to the death of Ahmaud Arbery.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation revealed on Thursday (May 21), that they have arrested William Bryan Jr. on charges of criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment and felony murder.
Bryan was the one who filmed the entire ordeal between Arbery, Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael. In the disturbing footage, the McMichaels can be seen in their truck chasing Arbery, who is jogging in the neighborhood. Travis stood outside the truck with a shotgun as his father stood in the flatbed of the truck with a gun as well.
Travis and Arbery began to have a struggle over the gun until three shots were fired. Arbery then fell to the ground where he tragically died.
According to ABC News, Arbery’s family is very “relieved” to hear about Bryan’s arrest.
“We called for his arrest from the very beginning of this process. His involvement in the murder of Mr. Arbery was obvious to us, to many around the country and after their thorough investigation, it was clear to the GBI as well,” attorneys, S. Lee Merritt, Benjamin Crump and L. Chris Stewart, said in a statement.
“The family of Mr. Arbery is thankful for the diligence of the GBI and the way in which they tirelessly pursued the evidence in this case,” they added. “We want anyone who participated in the murder of Mr. Arbery to be held accountable.”
Earlier this week, Bryan’s attorney, Kevin Gough, blamed the media for putting a target on his client’s back.
“Without his video there would be no case,” Gough said Monday (May 18). “Ya’ll have put a target on his back.”
Gough also claimed that his client was unarmed during the shooting and “was not in communication with Gregory or Travis McMichael, or anyone else, during that timeframe.”