Man Who Filmed Ahmaud Arbery’s Death Is Charged with Murder

The man who filmed the pursuit and shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery, the 25-year-old black man who was killed after an encounter with two white men, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the killing, Georgia authorities said.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that the man, William Bryan, 50, was arrested on charges of felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment. {snip}

Mr. Bryan, who is white, recorded the confrontation on Feb. 23 as the McMichaels pursued Mr. Arbery while he was running through the Satilla Shores neighborhood near Brunswick on the southeastern Georgia coast.

{snip} After the McMichaels were arrested, pressure ratcheted up for the authorities to arrest Mr. Bryan, who is known as Roddie.

{snip}

In a statement released on Thursday night, lawyers for Mr. Arbery’s family said they were “relieved” by the arrest.

“His involvement in the murder of Mr. Arbery was obvious to us, to many around the country and after their thorough investigation, it was clear to the G.B.I. as well,” the statement said.

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[Mr. Bryan’s lawyer] Mr. Gough had said repeatedly in recent days that Mr. Bryan should not be charged. In the same television interview, appearing alongside Mr. Bryan on CNN, Mr. Gough blamed the McMichaels for the shooting, asserting that Mr. Bryan lived nearby and was drawn by the commotion.

“This is a terrible matter and some people are going to have to answer for what they did,” Mr. Gough said. “But my client is not responsible for that.” Mr. Bryan, he added, “hasn’t been in so much as a fistfight since he was in high school.”

{snip}