The frantic 911 call made just minutes before the fatal shooting of unarmed black jogger Ahmaud Arbery was revealed Thursday.
‘Hello. Err, I’m out here in Satilla Shores. There’s a black male running down the street,’ says the caller, believed to be former Georgia cop, Gregory McMichael, 64.
‘I don’t know what street we’re on,’ he adds, distracted and out of breath, when the operator asks him for the exact address within the Satilla Shores neighborhood in Brunswick, Georgia.
McMichael breaks off the call suddenly with an inaudible shout, adding: ‘Goddamn it, c’mon, Travis.’
For the remainder of the 4:46-minute long call, the operator repeatedly asks in vain for information, saying ‘hello, where you at?’ without getting any reply.
The call happened moments before McMichael, 64, and his son Travis, 34, had their fatal encounter with Arbery, 25, that left the young black man dead in the street from a trio of shotgun blasts.
The killing happened February 23 but made national headlines this week when a leaked cell phone video revealed the two men ‘ambushing’ Arbery as he tried to run past their pickup truck.
The father and son insist that they thought Arbery was a burglar after a spate of thefts in their area, and that he attacked them when they tried to make a citizen’s arrest.
The shocking video shows the younger McMichael getting out the vehicle with a rifle before getting into struggle with Arbery while his father looked on, with his own gun primed, from the cargo bed of their truck.
Father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael (left) were filmed shooting Ahmaud Arbery dead on February 23 after chasing him in their truck because they thought he was a burglar. Ahmaud was unarmed and was out running. Neither McMichael has been arrested or charged
In the footage, shot can be heard and the two can then be seen scuffling as Arbery looks to try to get the gun away from Travis. Two more shots can be heard and are fired at point-blank range before
Arbery can be seen stumbling to the ground as the clip comes to a close. ‘This is murder,’ Arbery’s family lawyer, Lee Merritt said
The 911 call was one of two calls placed relating to Arbery’s supposed suspicious behavior in the moments before the shooting, with a second made to the non-emergency number of the Brunswick Police Department.
‘There’s a guy in the house right now, a house under construction,’ says the caller, whose name has been redacted in the two-minute clip, obtained by DailyMail.com.
He tells the operator the property is at 219 or 220 Satilla Drive, which would be around 500 yards from the home where Travis and Gregory McMichael live.
‘And you said someone’s breaking into it right now?’ the operator asks.
‘No, it’s all open, it’s under construction,’ the caller explains. ‘And he’s running right now, there he goes right now.’
The operator replies: ‘Ok, what is he doing?
‘He’s running down the street,’ the caller says.
‘Okay, that’s fine. I’ll get them out there. I just need to know what he was doing wrong,’ the operator says.
The caller alleges that Arbery had been seen previously in the neighborhood.
‘He’s been caught on the camera a bunch before at night,’ he claims, ‘It’s kind of an ongoing thing out here.’
The operator asks the caller to clarify what the alleged suspect is wearing, saying someone will be sent out to ‘check it out.’
‘Black guy, white t-shirt. And he’s gone running back into the neighborhood,’ the caller adds.
When police arrived neither McMichael was arrested and since then, it has been passed between three prosecutors, two of whom had to recuse themselves because of their professional ties to McMichael.
The first, Jackie Johnson, recused herself because Gregory worked in her office as an investigator until retiring a year ago. He previously served as a detective in the police department.
The second prosecutor, George Barnhill, said that he believed the McMichaels were within their rights to chase Arbery and arrest him, with guns, because citizens arrests are legal in Georgia.
He also claimed that Ahmaud ‘initiated’ the fight – even though the start of it is out of the video frame – and that he ‘clearly’ tried to grab Travis’s weapon frm him.
As such, he said Travis was lawful in shooting him because it constitutes a stand your ground killing.
Barnhill later recused himself amid complaints that his son works in the first prosecutor’s office, where Gregory used to serve.
The third prosecutor, Tom Durden, has passed the case off to a grand jury, meaning it could be months before anyone is charged or arrested since court proceedings have been stalled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Barnhill’s own son works in the Brunswick District Attorney’s Office, where Greg McMichael used to work as an investigator.
Despite the conflict, he ruled that charges should not be brought against either Greg or Travis.
He also slammed the current prosecutor in charge of the case, Tom Durden, who has passed it on to a grand jury to weigh whether or not to bring charges.
‘Prosecutors will need a grand jury in order to formally indite them but that has nothing to do with going out and arresting the men seen on camera.
‘The prosecutors actually have the option to directly indict and skip the grand jury process,’ he added.
Now, Ahmaud’s mother is demanding that the men at least be arrested, let alone charged.
She appeared on Good Morning America on Thursday morning to say that she believess the white father and son are being protected by law enforcement.
‘I think no arrest has been made because of the title that he carried as a retired police officer.
‘They don’t feel like he was wrong because he was one of them,’ she said.
She revealed that she has not been able to bring herself to watch the video of her son’s killing that has spread through social media and sparked outrage.
‘I don’t think I’ll ever be in a mental state where I can actually watch the video,’ she said.
She added that her son, who would have turned 26 on Friday, had a ‘humbling spirit’.
Ahmaud’s mother Wanda Jones said on Thursday that the two white men were being protected because the father is a former police detective
PROSECUTOR: UNARMED AHMAUD ‘INITIATED’ FIGHT AND REACHED FOR THE GUN
The second prosecutor to be given the case was George Barnhill.
In an April 2 letter to the Glynn County Police Department – where Greg McMichael worked – he said neither he nor his son deserved to be charged because they were firstly lawful in pursuing Arbery with their guns and then in shooting him.
He argued that they were trying to make a citizen’s arrest by chasing Arbery -which is legal in Georgia – and that they had ‘solid probable cause for it’, claiming Arbery was a burglary suspect.
He said the pair intended to subdue Arbery until police arrived but that Arbery ‘initiated’ a fight by grabbing for Travis McMichael’s gun.
He went on to say that Travis was lawful in shooting him because he thinks it constitutes a stand your ground killing.
The start of their fight happens out of the camera’s view but Barnhill said Arbery’s wounds – namely the first of three which was in his right palm – showed he had reached for the gun.
He went on to say that Travis McMichael feared for his life so did not break the law by using deadly force.
Lastly, Barnhill claimed Arbery had a ‘history of mental health and prior convictions’.
‘Ahmaud was kind, Ahmaud was well mannered, Ahmaud was loved by his family and peers.
‘He didn’t deserve to go the way that he went,’ she said.
Lee Merritt, the family’s lawyer who previously described Ahmaud’s death as a ‘lynching’, said the second prosecutor involved ought to be hauled before the board of ethics for not disclosing the conflict of interest.
Speaking on Wednesday, Merritt stated during a press conference: ‘These men were not performing any police function or any duty as citizens of Georgia… these men were vigilantes, they were performing a lynching in the middle of the day.’
‘I saw my son come into the world,’ Jones said. ‘And seeing him leave the world, it’s not something that I’ll want to see ever.’
She added: ‘He was my baby boy that I had on Mother’s Day of 1994. He was his sister and brother’s keeper… his spirit was good. He was a yes ma’am and no ma’am type of fellow.’
Arbery’s father, Marcus, labeled his son’s death a ‘hate crime’.
‘My young son wasn’t doing nothing – minding his own business, running and working out. And that’s a crime? To work out and run and he ain’t breaking no law? No. Time out.’
The footage sparked widespread outrage from viewers across America, with a crowd of protesters assembling in Brunswick brandishing signs and chanting for justice.
On Wednesday, a crowd of protesters also gathered in Atlanta to raise awareness of Arbery’s death and to demand that arrests be made in the case.
FOX 5 reports that a larger demonstration is being planned for Friday – which would have marked Arbery’s 26th birthday.
Protesters gathered for a march through Brunswick on Tuesday – the same day shocking footage of Arbery’s death went viral on the internet
The shocking footage has sparked widespread outcry. Protesters are pictured in Brunswick on Tuesday. A larger demonstration is reportedly being planned for this coming Friday
Meanwhile, Arbery’s death has now captured the attention of the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, Joe Biden, who sent out a tweet describing Arbery’s death as ‘murder’.
‘The video is clear: Ahmaud Arbery was killed in cold blood,’ Biden tweeted late Tuesday along with a link to a Georgia district attorney recommendation that a grand jury hear the case.
‘My heart goes out to his family, who deserve justice and deserve it now,’ the presumed Democratic nominee continued in his Twitter post. ‘It is time for a swift, full, and transparent investigation into his murder.’
Former Democratic Presidential hopefuls Bernie Sanders and Beto O’Rourke also tweeted for justice – stating that the attack was racially motivated.
Celebrities including LeBron James, Justin Bieber and Kendall Jenner also posted about the case.
LA Laker star James tweeted out an impassioned message to his 45 million Twitter followers claiming black people are profiled on the color of their skin.
‘We’re literally hunted EVERYDAY/EVERYTIME we step foot outside the comfort of our homes!’ he wrote.
‘Can’t even go for a damn jog man! Like WTF man are you kidding me?!?!?!?!?!? No man fr ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!! I’m sorry Ahmaud (Rest In Paradise) and my prayers and blessings sent to the heavens above to your family’.
Meanwhile, Rosanna Arquette suggested the McMichaels be charged with murder for their ‘despicable racist heinous crime.’
Serana Williams also shared a series of post on her Instagram Stories, making it clear she believed the death was racially motivated.
‘My crime? BEING BLACK,’ she wrote, assuming the voice of Arbery.
Elsewhere, Kendall Jenner, Viola Davis, Maria Shriver and Justin Bieber also shared their outrage online.
Tom Durden, a Georgia prosecutor assigned to examine the case, announced Tuesday that he plans to have a grand jury hear the evidence in the shooting.
The grand jury won’t happen for more than a month, as Georgia courts remain largely closed because of the coronavirus until at least June 13.
‘I am of the opinion that the case should be presented to the grand jury of Glynn County for consideration of criminal charges against those involved in the death of Mr. Arbery,’ Durden said in a statement Tuesday.
Reached by phone, Durden said no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. He declined to say what charges he would have a grand jury consider or to comment further.
‘He was my baby boy that I had on Mother’s Day of 1994. He was his sister and brother’s keeper… his spirit was good. He was a yes ma’am and no ma’am type of fellow’: Arbery is pictured at right with his mom Wanda Jones
LeBron James, Viola Davis, Rosanna Arquette, Kerry Washington and Amy Schumer lead stars campaigning for action to be taken in fatal shooting of Ahmaud Arbery
LeBron James led a host of celebrities speaking out about the shooting of an unarmed black jogger Ahmaud Arbery by two white men less than three months ago – and the lack of consequences against the men involved in the shooting.
The LA Laker star James tweeted out an impassioned message to his 45 million Twitter followers claiming black people are profiled on the color of their skin.
‘We’re literally hunted EVERYDAY/EVERYTIME we step foot outside the comfort of our homes!’ he wrote.
The Akron, Ohio native continued: ‘I’m sorry Ahmaud (Rest In Paradise) and my prayers and blessings sent to the….. heavens above to your family!!’
The iconic basketball player added the hashtags #StayWoke and #ProfiledCauseWeAreSimplyBlack after a jarring video of the incident made its way online this week, leading many on social media to call for immediate action in the case.
Meanwhile, Rosanna Arquette suggested the McMichaels be charged with murder for their ‘despicable racist heinous crime.’
Outrage: Rosanna Arquette also expressed their disgust over the situation, calling it a ‘racist’ and ‘heinous’ crime
Passionate: Tennis icon Serena Williams had a bold response to the story involving Arbery
Serana Williams also shared a series of post on her Instagram Stories, making it clear she believed the death was racially motivated.
‘My crime? BEING BLACK,’ she wrote, assuming the voice of Arbery.
Elsewhere, Kendall Jenner, Viola Davis, Maria Shriver and Justin Bieber also shared their outrage online.
Davis posted an ‘action alert’ poster on her Instagram, and captioned it with the quote: ‘I am sick and tired of being sick and tired’ by Fannie Lou Hamer.
She followed that up by saying: ‘Stand with us and demand that Ahmaud’s murders are chargd with his death. They are not immune from prosecution and should be charged with murder.’
Powerful: Oscar-winner Viola Davis called for action from officials in the situation
Focused: Pop star Justin Bieber said he was ‘praying for justice’ in the case
Upset: Kendall Jenner indicated she was heartbroken by the turn of events
Bieber said he was ‘prayed for the family’ and also ‘praying for justice’. Jenner posted an image of a smiling Arbery, with an emoji of a broken heart.
Gabrielle Union also made her thoughts on the situation crystal clear amid her calls for justice
‘It’s been months and his killers walk free,’ the actress said in an Instagram post. ‘I don’t want to beg, plead, reason, cry, or scream for you to see us as worthy of our breath. If you need to be cajoled into empathy, you are not who you think you are.’
The L.A.’s Finest star ended her post in saying, ‘We keep fighting. We will not stop. There will be justice.’
Focused: Gabrielle Union made her thoughts on the situation crystal clear amid her calls for justice
Time to answer: Academy Award winner Halle Berry, comedy star Amy Schumer and A-lister Kerry Washington called for justice in the situation
Zoe Kravitz said the incident was reflective of an unjust system.
She wrote: #ahmaudarbery was murdered by two white men, ON CAMERA, and dudes have not been arrested. come on, people…come. the F*** on.’
Rosanna Arquette suggested the McMichaels be charged with murder for their ‘despicable racist heinous crime.’
Maria Shriver called the story ‘absolutely outrageous,’ adding, ‘Watching this video should outrage and disgust us all.’
Director Ava DuVernay, who made the Netflix documentary ‘When they see us’, about the Central Park Five, said she was posting to ‘amplifly’ a protest being held outside the courthouse on Friday.
‘If you are in Georgia and are comfortable going outside with social distancing protocols, please safely support this family whose loved one was murdered in cold blood while jogging by gun-toting Trump supporting White supremacists.’
Calls for action: Khloe’s ex, NBA star Tristan Thompson, said that justice ‘NEEDS’ to be served in the ongoing case
Crestfallen: Khloe Kardashian posted an emoji depicting her heartbreak over the tragic death
Khloe Kardashian posted an image of Arbery, with the caption: ‘I was murdered by an armed father and son who hunted me down and shot me as I jogged in a Georgie neighborhood. Neither of my killers have been charged. My name is Ahmaud Arbery.’
Actress Vanessa Hudgens also posted a similar caption, while demanding justice.
Taraji P. Henson, Tristan Thompson, Olivia Wilde, Tina Lawson, Lily Collins, and Sailor Brinkley Cook and Naomi Campbell also paid memorial to the late Arbery, with some demanding a day in court for the men involved in the shooting.
Cook posted a caption saying: ‘Ahmaud Arbery was brutally murdered by two white supremacists while he was innocently going for a job. These men stopped him in his tracks, beat him up and shot him. And these same EVIL men are still walking free. That makes me so f*****g nauseous. Say his name. Spread the word.’
Growing group: Sailor Brinkley Cook and Naomi Campbell also shared their thoughts on the deadly incident
Upset: Vanessa Hudgens linked to a Change.org petition demanding justice in the case
Response: Actress Lily Collins called the situation ‘tragic and unacceptable’