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Arbery family attorney after third arrest in case: We now want to see formal indictment, prosecution

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested 50-year-old William “Roddie” Bryan Jr. on Thursday.

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The attorney for Ahmaud Arbery's family has been pushing for an additional arrest in the murder investigation. On Thursday, that arrest came.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation arrested 50-year-old William “Roddie” Bryan Jr. on charges of felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false Imprisonment.  

Arbery was shot and killed in February while he was jogging in a south Georgia neighborhood. Video of the shooting went viral in recent weeks. A father and son, Gregory and Travis McMichael, were arrested earlier this month after the GBI was requested to look into the death of the 25-year-old. They were charged with murder and aggravated assault. 

Credit: Glynn County Sherrif's Office
Travis McMichael, 34, (left) and Gregory McMichael, 64 (right) were booked into the Glynn County Jail and charged with the murder of Ahamaud Arbery.

The shooting encounter was recorded by Bryan on camera. 

11Alive talked exclusively with Lee Merritt, the Arbery family attorney about the third arrest.

"This case started because there was an incomplete investigation from the beginning," he said. "So the GBI had to go in there, re-look at all the evidence and go make the arrest that should’ve been made in the first place. We felt strongly that when they arrested the McMichaels they should’ve arrested to co-conspirator, William Bryan."

On Tuesday, Bryan took a lie detector test, his attorney Attorney Kevin Gough said. He said the test is not considered admissible in court but does show Bryan was unarmed at the time of the shooting, did not have any conversation with the McMichaels prior to the shooting that day and was not privy to any plan to take a life. Gough said Bryan was nothing but a witness and not a "vigilante."

Merritt said his team is pushing to see more done in the case.

"Well obviously we want to see the arrest lead to a formal indictment then a vigorous prosecution and conviction," he said. "But there are other people we believe were involved. We spoke with the DOJ earlier today about their investigation into the corruption that failed to, that delayed these arrest in the first place."

Merritt said Arbery's mother, Wander Cooper, felt a sense of relief.

"But she remains stoic and focused on holding the entire legal apparatus accountable," Merritt said. "She has been dealing with decision makers in South Georgia who have ignored her cries."

He said she's starting to move toward justice. 

"She hasn't let her guard down but this is getting her to exhale just a bit," he explained.

MORE IN THE ARBERY CASE

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What we know about the timeline of events in the Ahmaud Arbery case

Georgia representatives ask Justice Department to assist in Arbery investigation

GBI executes search warrant at home of men accused of killing Ahmaud Arbery

NAACP Atlanta calls for investigation into Glynn and Waycross Georgia circuits

Atlanta mayor shares tweet on Ahmaud Arbery case: 'nauseating churn of my stomach I get each time'

 

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