The three men charged with killing Black jogger Ahmaud Arbery last year have been charged with federal hate crimes, the Department of Justice announced Wednesday.
A federal grand jury has charged Travis and Gregory McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan with interference with rights and one count of attempted kidnapping.
The indictment alleges that the men, who are white, used force and threats of force to interfere with Arbery’s right to use a public street because of his race.
Arbery was jogging through the white men’s neighborhood in February 2020 when they pursued him in pickup trucks. The McMichaels confronted him, and Travis McMichael shot him.
The McMichaels are also facing new federal weapons charges.
All three men have been charged with murder, assault, and false imprisonment at the state level as well.
Georgia’s hate crime law does not apply to this case because it was passed after Arbery’s death, partly in response to mass protests following the release of video of the shooting.
No trial date has been set in the state case, though hearings are scheduled next month on several motions.
