Glynn County

Homeowner doesn’t believe Ahmaud Arbery stole anything before his death

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. — For the first time, we are hearing from the Georgia homeowner whose construction property is tied to the Ahmaud Arbery shooting investigation.

Larry English currently lives about 90 miles from the neighborhood where Arbery was killed Feb. 23.

English said he learned of the shooting and his property’s ties to it minutes after the incident and never wanted any of it to happen.

“First off, I’d like to say that this is a tragedy,” English said. “I’m deeply sorry for the family and their loss."

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English was building a waterside home just outside of Brunswick as a peaceful spot for his home. He said that’s all been shattered since his under construction home has been linked to Arbery’s killing.

“We were innocent bystanders in this situation," English said.

Moments before Arbery was killed, English’s surveillance camera alerted him of someone on his property. The video shows a man that appears to be Arbery wander inside the home under construction.

A separate video from a home across the street from the construction site appeared to show Arbery go inside for a few minutes.

English said he didn’t check his video until 20 minutes after he got the alert. By that time, witnesses say Greg and Travis McMichael had already chased Arbery with guns and killed him.

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The McMichaels said they were trying to make a citizen’s arrest because they thought Arbery was a burglary suspect.

English said he doesn’t believe that Arbery stole anything from his property and did not file any previous police reports.

“I don’t want it to be put out and misused and misinterpreted for people to think that I had accused Mr. Arbery of stealing or robbery. Because I never did,” English said.