One of the three men charged for the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery cited the releases of the cops who killed George Floyd, Rayshard Brooks and Breonna Taylor in his request for bond.
TMZ reports a lawyer representing William Roddie Bryan argued it was “manifestly unjust” he is stuck in prison while those responsible in other shootings named are free. The court documents state Bryan “languishes” in jail even though he was “armed only with a cell phone and located more than 50 feet away from Mr. Arbery at the time of the shooting.”
Arbery died in February following a confrontation with Bryan, Travis McMichael and Travis’ father, George. The trio followed the 25 year old as he jogged through a neighborhood in Brunswick, Georgia. Travis McMichael, who was armed with a shotgun, ultimately confronted Arbery as his father watched from their vehicle. Arbery and McMichael fought over the gun before he was shot in his chest.
Bryan witnessed the killing and filmed it with his cell phone. The video went viral when it was leaked by George McMichael in May. Bryan was arrested on May 21, three weeks after the McMichaels were arrested and charged. All three suspects pleaded not guilty in July and were denied bail.
Bryan has professed his innocence since he was publicly linked to the Arbery case. About a week before his arrest, he told WJAX-TV he was not involved.
“I had nothing to do with it. I’m trying to get my life back to normal, and it’s been smeared for the last week,” Bryan said. “I was told I was a witness and I’m not sure what I am, other than receiving a bunch of threats.”
The officers involved in the Brooks and Floyd cases are out on bond. The Louisville Metro Police cops who killed Breonna Taylor were never charged for her death. One of the officers, Brett Hankison, was charged with first-degree wanton endangerment for firing recklessly into apartments near Taylor’s home.
