JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Attorneys for the family of Ahmaud Arbery believe the first two district attorneys who handled Arbery’s case initially, should be arrested.
Attorney Lee Merritt said in a virtual news conference he is hopeful for the arrest of the arrests of DA’s Jackie Johnson and George Barnhill.
Merritt said they are under criminal investigation by the FBI.
Arbery was shot and killed while running through a Brunswick neighborhood in February.
Merritt called Arbery’s case a model for the nation, as his family would not stop pushing for justice.
“If the nation is paying attention at this moment, we don’t want to pay lip service to these families, we want to see policies,” Merritt said.
It was months before Gregory Mcmichael, Travis McMichael, and William Roddy Bryan were arrested and indicted on murder charges.
Merritt also said he plans to file a civil lawsuit against the Glynn County Police Department.
“We think Glynn County certainly shares liability in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery specifically for their role, in encouraging neighbors in Satilla Shores to rely on vigilante justice,” Merritt said.
Merritt believes the McMichaels will use the defense that they were performing a police function and had the authority to do so. That’s the same argument made by one of the DA’s who decided not to press charges.
Cox Media Group
