Ahmaud Arbery’s dad says he was ‘hunted like an animal’ as Georgia’s Attorney General asks DoJ to investigate the case
AHMAUD Arbery's father says his son was 'hunted like an animal' before being shot dead by a former cop and his son.
Gregory McMichael, 64 and son Travis, 34, were arrested Thursday night over the shooting of the unarmed black jogger - with Georgia's Attorney General now requesting the US Department of Justice investigate the handling of the case.
Attorney General Chris Carr announced on Sunday that he requested the DOJ to investigate the Arbery case to ensure it's handled fairly.
“We are committed to a complete and transparent review of how the Ahmaud Arbery case was handled from the outset,” Attorney General Chris Carr said in a statement.
“The family, the community and the state of Georgia deserve answers, and we will work with others in law enforcement at the state and federal level to find those answers.”
Arbery was fatally shot in Georgia while out jogging on February 23, 2020.
His father has claimed his son was "hunted."
“If he committed a crime, why don’t you call the authorities?” Marcus Arbery said to WSB-TV.
“But you came at him like you were hunting an animal.”
The McMichaels claimed they were attacked by Arbery before shooting him, and say they thought he was a burglar.
Georgia law says a person can only kill in self-defense if it's reasonably believed the force is necessary to “prevent death or great bodily injury” or to prevent “a forcible felony.”
Cellphone footage appeared to show the alleged suspects "ambush" Arbery, 25, before a confrontation and fatal shooting.
The footage was leaked and circulated online, creating public outrage over the incident, as no arrests had been made in over two months.
Following national outrage, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations became involved.
On May 7, the McMichael's were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault.
A Georgia district attorney has been accused of blocking police from arresting the father-son duo following the shooting.
Two Glynn County commissioners claim Brunswick District Jackie Johnson told them not to arrest the McMichaels.
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Glynn County Commissioner Allen Booker told The Atlanta Journal Constitution that one of the McMichael's was Johnson's "friend."
District Attorney George Barnhill revealed on Friday that Gregory McMichael had also "helped with the previous prosecution" of Arbery while he was an investigator in the DA's office.
The entire file for the case will now be provided to the US DOJ. from the Georgia Office of the Attorney General, as per Carr's request on Sunday.