With the trial underway for the three men charged in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery, below is a key timeline of events over the past 1½ years. 

Travis McMichael, 35, his father Gregory McMichael, 65, and William Bryan, 52, the man who filmed the killing on his cellphone, face an array of state charges, including murder, aggravated assault for chasing Arbery in their pickups and false imprisonment. 

Ahmaud Arbery’s Aunt, Theawanza Brooks, prays outside of the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick on Oct. 17 during a vigil to honor Arbery ahead of the trial of the three white men charged in his killing.
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Ahmaud Arbery’s aunt Theawanza Brooks prays outside of the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick on Oct. 17 during a vigil to honor Arbery ahead of the trial of the three white men charged in his killing.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

Members of Ahmaud Arbery’s family including aunts Theawanza Brooks and Carla Arbery rally outside of the Glynn County Courthouse on Oct. 16 as the trial for the three men accused in Arbery’s murder is scheduled to begin Oct. 18 in Brunswick.
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Members of Ahmaud Arbery’s family, including aunts Theawanza Brooks and Carla Arbery, rally outside of the Glynn County Courthouse on Oct. 16 as the trial for the three men accused in Arbery’s murder is scheduled to begin Oct. 18 in Brunswick.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

Zyon Thorpe is surrounded by signs in support of Ahmaud Arbery outside of the Glynn County Courthouse during a rally on Oct. 16.
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Zyon Thorpe is surrounded by signs in support of Ahmaud Arbery outside of the Glynn County Courthouse during a rally on Oct. 16.

Credit: Riley Bunch/ GPB News

Ahmaud Arbery’s aunt Carla Arbery comforts Aailyah Trimmings, 9, and Alyria Carter, 10, outside of the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick on Oct. 16.
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Ahmaud Arbery’s aunt Carla Arbery comforts Aailyah Trimmings, 9, and Alyria Carter, 10, outside of the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick on Oct. 16.

Credit: Riley Bunch/ GPB News

Outside of the Glynn County Courthouse, Ahmaud Arbery's aunt, Thea Brooks, joins a group during a demonstration calling for the conviction of the three men who face charges in the death of Ahmaud Arbery and other county officials they say were complicit in his death.
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Outside of the Glynn County Courthouse, Ahmaud Arbery's aunt Thea Brooks joins a group during a weekend demonstration calling for the conviction of the three men who face charges in the death of Ahmaud Arbery and other county officials they say were complicit in his death.

Credit: Riley Bunch/ GPB News

The faces of Travis McMichael, 35, his father Gregory McMichael, 65, and William Bryan, 52, who all face charges in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery are painted onto the back of an orange prison jumpsuit during a demonstration outside of the Glynn County Courthouse on Oct. 16.
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The faces of Travis McMichael, 35, his father Gregory McMichael, 65, and William Bryan, 52, who all face charges in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery are painted onto the back of an orange prison jumpsuit during a demonstration outside of the Glynn County Courthouse on Oct. 16.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

Aaliyah Trimmings, 9, holds a banner celebrating the prosecution of former district attorney Jackie Johnson, who faces charges of impeding prosecution of the men charged in Ahmaud Arbery’s death.
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Aaliyah Trimmings, 9, holds a banner celebrating the prosecution of former district attorney Jackie Johnson, who faces charges of impeding prosecution of the men charged in Ahmaud Arbery’s death.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

Ahmaud Arbery’s Aunt, Theawanza Brooks, rides in a car down Satilla Drive, the street where her nephew took his last breath, during a car procession in Brunswick on Oct. 16.
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Ahmaud Arbery’s aunt Theawanza Brooks rides in a car down Satilla Drive, the street where her nephew took his last breath, during a car procession in Brunswick on Oct. 16.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

A car procession makes its way through the Satilla Shores neighborhood in Brunswick in honor of Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed in the location in February 2020.
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A car procession makes its way through the Satilla Shores neighborhood in Brunswick in honor of Ahmaud Arbery, who was killed in the location in February of 2020.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

Ahmaud Arbery’s aunt Carla Arbery prays during a vigil outside of the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick on Oct. 17, 2021.
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Ahmaud Arbery’s aunt Carla Arbery prays during a vigil outside of the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick on Oct. 17, 2021.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

Lashay Thorpe prays during a vigil in honor of Ahmaud Arbery outside of the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick on Oct. 17, 2021.
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Lashay Thorpe prays during a vigil in honor of Ahmaud Arbery outside of the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick on Oct. 17, 2021.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

Friends and family of Ahmaud Arbery pray during a vigil outside of the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick on Oct. 17, 2021.
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Friends and family of Ahmaud Arbery pray during a vigil outside of the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick on Oct. 17, 2021.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

Ahmuad Arbery’s aunt Theawanza Brooks stands for a portrait outside of the Glynn County Courthouse on Oct. 16.
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Ahmuad Arbery’s aunt Theawanza Brooks stands for a portrait outside of the Glynn County Courthouse on Oct. 16, 2021.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

A sign directs Glynn County’s 1,000 potential jurors to Selden Park, a mass jury selection spot as the trial gets underway on Oct. 18.
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A sign directs Glynn County’s 1,000 potential jurors to Selden Park, a mass jury selection spot, as the trial gets underway on Oct. 18.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

Supporters of Ahmaud Arbery gather at Glynn County Courthouse the Saturday ahead of the trial of three men accused in his killing.
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Supporters of Ahmaud Arbery gather at Glynn County Courthouse on Oct. 16, 2021, ahead of the trial of three men accused in his killing.

Credit: Riley Bunch / GPB News

Feb. 23, 2020 — Ahmaud Arbery killed

While on a jog in the Satilla Shores subdivision near Brunswick, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery is chased and gunned down in the street by three white men, now charged with murder.

A portrait of Ahmaud Arbery
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Ahmaud Arbery

Credit: File photo

Feb. 27, 2020 — First prosecutor recused

Jackie Johnson, who was district attorney for the Brunswick Judicial Circuit for 10 years, recuses herself from the case, citing that Gregory McMichael had been an investigator in her office for many years before he retired.

April 3, 2020 — Second prosecutor bows out

Waycross Judicial Circuit District Attorney George Barnhill, another early DA on the case, defends Gregory and Travis McMichael in a letter to the Glynn County Police Department and removes himself from the case.

April 13, 2020 — Third prosecutor takes over

The case is transferred another time to Thomas Durden, the district attorney for Georgia’s Atlantic Judicial Circuit.

May 5, 2020 — Video leaks online

A viral video showing the final moments of Arbery's life surfaced on Facebook, sparking outrage in Georgia and across the country. The killing had not garnered much attention outside Glynn County, until the video went viral.

This image from video posted on Twitter Tuesday, May 5, 2020, purports to show Ahmaud Arbery, left, struggling with Travis McMichael over a shotgun on a street in a neighborhood outside Brunswick, Ga., on Feb. 23, 2020.
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This image from video posted on Twitter Tuesday, May 5, 2020, purports to show Ahmaud Arbery, left, struggling with Travis McMichael over a shotgun on a street in a neighborhood outside Brunswick, Ga., on Feb. 23, 2020.

Credit: Twitter

May 7, 2020 — McMichaels charged

After nearly three months without an arrest, father and son Gregory and Travis McMichael are arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault in relation to Arbery's death.

Lawyers for father and son, Gregory and Travis McMichael, asked for a judge to grant bond for the pair, saying the elder McMichael was not motivated by race and that the younger man, never gets into trouble. But Judge Timothy Walmsley denied their requests.
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Lawyers for father and son, Gregory and Travis McMichael, asked for a judge to grant bond for the pair, saying the elder McMichael was not motivated by race and that the younger man, never gets into trouble. But Judge Timothy Walmsley denied their requests.

Credit: Lewis Levine/Associated Press

May 11, 2020 — Fourth prosecutor named

Attorney General Chris Carr names Cobb County District Attorney Joyette Holmes as the fourth prosecutor for the Arbery case.

Cobb District Attorney Joyette Holmes has been named prosecutor for the Ahmaud Arbery case. Holmes is the fourth prosecutor to be in charge of the case.
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Cobb District Attorney Joyette Holmes has been named prosecutor for the Ahmaud Arbery case. Holmes is the fourth prosecutor to be in charge of the case.

Credit: File photo

May 12, 2020 — Autopsy report

An autopsy report released by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation reveals Arbery died from two gunshot wounds and suffered from a third.

May 18, 2020 — Savannah judge to preside

Court records filed in Glynn County show that trial proceedings for defendants Gregory McMichael and Travis McMichael will be handled by Superior Court Judge Timothy R. Walmsley.

May 20, 2020 — GBI searches suspects' home

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation executes a search warrant at the home of Gregory and Travis McMichael.

May 21, 2020 — GBI arrests third suspect

William “Roddie” Bryan, the man who filmed the viral video of Arbery's death, is arrested and charged with felony murder and criminal attempt to commit false imprisonment.

June 24, 2020 — Trio indicted

Cobb District Attorney Joyette M. Holmes announced that a Glynn County grand jury has indicted Travis McMichael, Greg McMichael and William R. Bryan on malice and felony murder charges in the killing of Arbery.

 This combo of booking photos provided by the Glynn County, Ga., Detention Center, shows from left, Travis McMichael, his father Gregory McMichael, and William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. All three men are charged with murder in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.
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This combo of booking photos provided by the Glynn County, Ga., Detention Center, shows from left, Travis McMichael, his father Gregory McMichael, and William "Roddie" Bryan Jr. All three men are charged with murder in the killing of Ahmaud Arbery.

Credit: Glynn County Detention Center via AP

June 26, 2020 — Kemp signs hate crimes bill 

In a historic move under the Gold Dome, the Georgia General Assembly approves new hate crimes legislation after more than a decade without one on the books. What Gov. Brian Kemp called the "vigilante-style" shooting of Arbery pushed the legislation's passage.

Gov. Brian Kemp signs a hate crimes law.
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Gov. Brian Kemp signs a hate crimes bill into law June 26, 2020.

Credit: Stephen Fowler / GPB News

Nov. 13, 2020 — Bond denied

Judge denies bond for Travis and Greg McMichael. 

Feb. 23, 2021 — Arbery's mother files suit 

Wanda Cooper, Arbery’s mother, files a multimillion-dollar lawsuit in federal court against the three men charged with killing her son.

Wanda Cooper-Jones, the mother of Ahmaud Arbery, leaves the courthouse on July 17, 2020. She asked a judge not to release the man who filmed the killing of her son.
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Wanda Cooper-Jones, the mother of Ahmaud Arbery, leaves the courthouse on July 17, 2020. She asked a judge not to release the man who filmed the killing of her son.

Credit: Emily Jones/GPB News

April 28, 2021 — Hate crime charges

Both McMichaels and Bryan are indicted by a grand jury in the Southern District Court of Georgia and charged with hate crimes and the attempted kidnapping of Arbery. 

May 10, 2021 — Citizen's arrest law overhauled

Following passage of hate crimes legislation, the Georgia lawmakers also moved to abolish the state’s Civil War-era citizen’s arrest statute. Defense lawyers for the men accused of killing Arbery attempted to use the statute to justify their actions.

Gov. Brian Kemp hugs Wanda Cooper-Jones. mother of Ahmaud Arbery.
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Gov. Brian Kemp hugs Wanda Cooper-Jones. mother of Ahmaud Arbery.

Credit: GPB Screenshot

May 12, 2021 — Judge weighs what evidence to allow

Superior Court Judge Timothy Walmsley hears arguments and testimony on several motions, mostly dealing with what evidence will be permitted at trial.

Sept. 2, 2021 — Ex-prosecutor indicted 

Former district attorney Jackie Johnson is indicted by a grand jury on charges of violation of oath of public officer — a misdemeanor — and obstruction of a police officer — a felony for mishandling of the Arbery case.

Former Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson
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Former Brunswick Judicial Circuit District Attorney Jackie Johnson

Oct. 18, 2021 — Jury selection begins

More than a year and a half after Arbery was gunned down on a residential street in southeastern Georgia, jury selection begins for the trial of the three white men charged with his murder.

The media spotlight has been trained intensely on the small coastal Georgia town. In this May 2020 photo, crowds gathered on the lawn of the Glynn County courthouse as a grand jury considered murder indictments.
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The media spotlight has been trained intensely on the small coastal Georgia town. In this May 2020 photo, crowds gathered on the lawn of the Glynn County courthouse as a grand jury considered murder indictments.

Credit: Georgia Recorder file photo