BREAKING NEWS: Guilty Verdict In Federal Hate Crime In Ahmaud Arbery Killing

(BRUNSWICK, GA) BREAKING NEWS: The three men who killed Ahmaud Arbery have been found guilty of all counts in a federal hate crimes trial. The verdict came one day after closing arguments wrapped up in the case Monday afternoon. There were no cameras allowed in the courtroom, but reporters were able to listen in as the verdict was read via teleconference.  Travis and Greg McMichael as well as Roddie Bryan were found guilty of interference with rights and attempted kidnapping.

Travis McMichael was found guilty of brandishing and discharging a gun during the commission of a violent crime. Greg McMichael was found guilty of brandishing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. The men will have 14 days to appeal and sentencing will come down within three to four weeks. It’s the first time in Georgia’s history anyone was convicted of a federal hate crime. The panel of eight White people, three Black people and one Hispanic person received the case Monday following a week-long trial in U.S. District Court in the port city of Brunswick. The jurors adjourned for the night after about three hours of deliberations, and resumed deliberations at 9 a.m. Tuesday morning.

The jury deliberated for less than four hours in total. Arbery’s family was visibly moved by the verdict, holding hands and raising their linked arms up to the sky outside the courtroom. “Thank God for this good morning,” the family’s lawyers said. “It is there conviction to get full justice, not partial justice for their son, Ahmaud Arbery.” Arbery’s parents, Marcus Arbery and Wanda Cooper-Jones also address the crowd celebrating outside the courtroom. Cooper-Jones spoke about the family’s fight to keep the McMichaels and Bryan from taking a plea deal and blasted the Department of Justice for initially denying their requests.