BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The attorney for the man who recorded the fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in February released a statement on his client’s behalf Friday afternoon.
William “Roddie” Bryant recorded the video that showed Arbery’s last moments. Brunswick attorney Alan David Tucker came forward Thursday and said he released that video of Arbery’s final moments.
ORIGINAL STORY: Ahmaud Arbery case: Man killed in Brunswick in February, shooter not arrested
On February 23, Arbery, 25, was in the Satilla Shores neighborhood in Brunswick when both Gregory and Travis McMichael confronted Arbery with two firearms. During the encounter, Travis McMichael shot and killed Arbery, investigators said.
The McMichaels were arrested Thursday night and charged with murder and aggravated assault in Arbery’s death.
PHOTOS: Two men arrested in Ahmaud Arbery’s death
Attorney Kevin Gough, who represents Bryan, wrote in a statement that Bryan has cooperated with the investigation “from day one" and allowed police to search his phone and make a copy of everything they needed.
Gough also wrote, “Until this morning, when the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced it at a press conference, Mr. Bryan had never been advised by any prosecutor or law enforcement officer that he was a target of the investigation into Mr. Arbery’s death.”
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Gough wrote that Bryan was unarmed at the time of the shooting.
Gough also wrote that Bryan’s heart goes out to Arbery’s family. Here is the full statement from Gough below:
"My name is Kevin Gough. I represent Roddie Bryan, a witness to the tragic shooting and death of Ahmaud Arbery. No parent should have to bury their own child, especially one so young. As a father himself, Roddie’s heart goes out to Ahmaud’s family. Thanks to the public outcry over Mr. Arbery’s death, and the manner in which (prosecutors) handled it, the family will have their day in court. It will be for a judge and jury to determine the fate of those responsible for his death.
"From day one, Mr. Bryan has fully cooperated with law enforcement officers investigating this matter. It was Mr. Bryan who videotaped the incident in question, disclosed the existence of the videotape, and invited a responding Glynn County Police Officer to sit with him in his truck where they watched the video together. Mr. Bryan went home, came back out to the crime scene shortly thereafter at the request of law enforcement to further assist them, and then later voluntarily went to the Glynn County Police Department where he answered all the questions they had for him, without a lawyer, during a lengthy interview. Roddie even gave the police consent to search his cell phone. The police took possession of the phone for well over an hour and led Mr. Bryan to believe they had made a copy of everything that they needed before returning it to him.
"Despite his cooperation, and for reasons that he does not understand, Mr. Bryan has learned that the family and apparently their lawyers are demanding that he be arrested. Local media have apparently reported that an arrest is imminent. Roddie and his family are now receiving threats. Roddie has lost his job, and is now unemployed. Mr. Bryan, his fiancee, his children, his siblings and other family members, friends and neighbors now live in fear despite the fact that Mr. Bryan has committed no crime and fully cooperated with the investigation into the shooting.
"Contrary to irresponsible media reports, Mr. Bryan was unarmed at the time of the shooting. Roddie is a family man, NASCAR fan, and enjoys rock and roll. He is not now, and never has been, a ‘vigilante.’
“Until this morning, when the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced it at a press conference, Mr. Bryan had never been advised by any prosecutor or law enforcement officer that he was a target of the investigation into Mr. Arbery’s death. Such comments, which are unsupported by the evidence already in the possession of the GBI, have needlessly placed the lives of Mr. Bryan, his family, friends and neighbors in jeopardy, and in a matter of moments effectively destroyed his life. Mr. Bryan respectfully asks that the GBI promptly review the file again and clear his good name.”
RELATED LINKS:
- Ahmaud Arbery: Waycross District Attorney explains in letter why no one was arrested in 25-year-old’s shooting death
- 'It’s not something that I’ll want to see:’ Ahmaud Arbery’s mom won’t watch video showing his death
- Ahmaud Arbery: Neighbors want arrests, new District Attorney following deadly shooting
- Ahmaud Arbery: Video emerges of black jogger killed by 2 white men; case heads to grand jury
- Ahmaud Arbery case: Attorney for family of Glynn County man shot, killed said he expects arrest today
- Ahmaud Arbery case: Protesters gather in Brunswick after video showing man’s death is released online
- Ahmaud Arbery case: Man killed in Brunswick in February, shooter not arrested
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