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Man who shot video of Ahmaud Arbery’s death says he’s getting death threats

By Tom Jones, WSB-TV
By Tom Jones, WSB-TV

GLYNN COUNTY, Ga. — The man who filmed the now-viral video of Ahmaud Arbery's death said he's been getting death threats.

Ahmaud Arbery, 25, was killed by a father and son as he jogged through their Glynn County neighborhood back in February. A video shot on a cellphone showed the confrontation between Arbery and the McMichaels after they confronted him with guns. It took 74 days for the McMichaels to be arrested for Arbery’s death.

Channel 2′s Tom Jones was in Glynn County, where he talked to the attorney who represents William Roddie Bryan, the man who filmed the video. Kevin Gough said his client recorded the video and gave it to police. Police arrested the McMichaels after the video went viral and sparked outrage nationwide.

Gough said now, Bryan and his family are getting threats.

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"He and his family are very scared," Gough said. "They are worried about their safety, they are worried about their property."

Bryan was recording on February 23 on Satilla Drive when police say Arbery tussled with an armed Travis McMichael. Travis' father, Greg, was also armed. There was gunfire and Arbery was hit an killed.

Bryan’s fiancée said he is worried about two things right now: Winding up in the local jail with the two accused of murder and being attacked by people.

“This is awful. The last few days since last Thursday. The threats that we’ve had against not only us, but our families, our neighbors,” said Amy Elrod.

Elrod said this tragedy doesn’t need to be met with another tragedy. She and her Bryan are scared and insist he wasn't involved in the death of Arbery.

“We’re scared. I mean, we’re living out of my car pretty much right now,” Elrod said.

Elrod said she feels for the Arbery family.

“Our hearts go out to them and just break for him,” Elrod said.

Atlanta community activist Marcus Coleman thinks Bryan should face charges.

"He is just as much of an accomplice," Coleman said.

Bryan's attorney said he was not part of the confrontation.

"He's been portrayed as a vigilante, which he is not," Gough said. "He was unarmed at the time of this."

The McMichaels suspected Arbery had broken into a home nearby that is under construction. Channel 2 Action News obtained video that shows a man who appears to be Arbery entering the home. Authorities said the McMichaels, thinking he was a burglary suspect, pursued him.

Arbery was killed moments later.

Gough said people should be thanking his client.

"But for his action, there would be no evidence of this crime," Gough said.

Gough said Bryan had lost his job since recording the video.

Family of Ahmaud Arbery reacts to new video moments before his death Video of the shooting has been seen by millions of people around the world and sparked outrage.

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