Ahmaud Arbery’s Family To Visit His Grave On Christmas Day
The holidays will be a tough time for many families who lost loved ones due to police violence or viliginates this year. Ahmaud Arbery, the 26-year-old who was fatally shot while jogging in Georgia, was one of the most heartbreaking stories of 2020. His family now says they will honor his life during the holiday season by visiting his grave.
Arbery’s mother Wanda Cooper Jones told TMZ that on Christmas the family will visit his resting place, which is outside of Waynesboro, Georgia. Additionally, the family will gather at Arbery’s grandmother’s house to celebrate Ahmaud.
Cooper Jones said, "It's going to be hard. I'm trying to prepare myself in the best way by continuing to attend events in his honor, but it's just going to be hard that day."
She also added, "We will never forget him and will continue to say his name."
On February 23, Gregroy and Travis McMichael chased Arbery in a pickup truck after they saw him jogging through their neighborhood. Travis McMichael confronted Arbery and they got into a scuffle and wrestled over McMichael’s gun, which discharged a fatal shot. Another man, William Bryan, followed them and recorded the incident.
New bodycam footage was recently released, which showed that Arbery was breathing when officers arrived at the scene but they did not immediately help him, according to The Washington Post.
The McMichaels were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault on May 7, which was 73 days after Arbery was killed. They claim the shooting was in self defense, and that they went after Arbery thinking he was a robber after he stopped briefly in front of a home that was under construction.
Bryan was charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment charges. He was denied bond as well. He also faces possible hate crime charges and is currently under investigation for sex crimes.
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