Newly Released Body Cam Video Proves William ‘Roddie’ Bryan Lied About His Involvement In Ahmaud Arbery Shooting
Newly released police body camera footage, obtained by Action News Jax, shows Glynn County Police officers responding to the deadly shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in February and of William ‘Roddie’ Bryan admitting to his involvement in it.
The video shows police investigating the scene and interviewing Bryan as well as Gregory and Travis McMichael, who are currently accused of killing the 25-year Black man.
“I truthfully need to be cleared of this because I had nothing to do with it,” Bryan told Action News Jax in May. That statement has just been proven false as Bryan in this latest footage tells police that he tried to “block” Arbery while the McMichaels chased him down.
“When I see him, I knew, hate that people were getting broken into out here, you know. So, I hollered at them and said, ‘Y’all got him?’ And he just kept running. He was full blown running,” Bryan said to police. “They got down to the end down there somewhere, must’ve past him. Because I pulled out of my driveway, was going to try to block him. But he was going all around. I made a few moves at him, you know. And he didn’t stop.”
The McMichaels, in the footage, told police Travis acted in self-defense when he shot Arbery.
“Last thing I ever want to do in my life,” said Travis. “I was playing with my kid, the next thing you know, this.”
“I said ‘Travis, don’t! Don’t shoot! Don’t do anything!’” said Gregory. “The guy turns and comes at him! And they start wrestling and Travis shoots him right in the damn chest! The guy was trying to take the shotgun away from him! [Roddie’s] got it on video.”
Arbery’s father, Marcus Arbery Sr., says he wants justice for his son.
“When I see a guilty verdict, I’ll know the justice system is moving forward, not setting us African American people back another 400 years again,” said Arbery Sr.
Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump, who is representing the Arbery’s family, released a statement in response to the new body cam footage.
“After publicly absolving himself of having any part in Ahmaud Arbery’s modern-day lynching, this newly released body camera footage confirms what we had long suspected about William ‘Roddie’ Bryan,” said Crump. “The footage clearly documents that Bryan used his truck to block Ahmaud from escaping the McMichaels. With the murderous teamwork of Bryan and the McMichaels exposed for the world to see, we are confident that this will bring us one step closer to justice for the Arbery family.”
Arbery was shot and killed on February 23 by the McMichaels while William Bryan recorded the incident. The McMichaels were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault on May 7, 73 days after Arbery was killed. Bryan was charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment charges. He also faces possible hate crime charges.
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