Three defendants in Ahmaud Arbery killing charged with federal hate crimes

Three Georgia men were charged with federal hate crimes Wednesday in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, a Black man who was pursued and gunned down by two White men as he jogged through a Brunswick neighborhood. The men already faced state murder charges.

Travis McMichael, 35, his father Gregory McMichael, 65, and 51-year-old William "Roddie" Bryan were indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia. They were each charged with one count of interference with rights and one count of attempted kidnapping, according to a Department of Justice press release. Travis and Gregory McMichael were charged with one count of using, carrying and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Travis McMichael was also charged with discharging a firearm. The indictment alleges the men used force and threats of force to intimidate and interfere with Arbery's right to use a public street because of his race. It alleges Travis and Gregory Michael armed themselves and chased Arbery in a truck while yelling at him and threatening him with firearms, and it says Bryan joined the chase. All three cut off Arbery's route in their vehicles, the indictment alleges.