The outcry over the controversial shooting of Ahmaud Arbery in late February has intensified after footage showing the shooting that killed the 25-year-old surfaced online Tuesday.
Protesters gathered yesterday at the Glynn County Courthouse in Brunswick, Georgia, calling for District Attorney Jackie Jackson to resign.
Jackson recused herself from the case as one of the suspects involved in the shooting previously worked as an investigator in her office.
The NAACP has also called for the resignation of the chief of police. “We want the immediate dismissal of Glynn County police chief. Currently, he’s on paid administrative leave. And with this level of negligence and injustice, he should not be on our payroll,” said Brunswick NAACP President John Davis Perry, II.
The video of the shooting was posted Tuesday and quickly caught national attention. Ahmaud Arbery's mother says she hasn't watched it.
“I saw my son come in the world and see him leave the world. It’s not something that I want to see ever,” said Arbery’s mother Wanda Cooper.
The incident took place February 23rd and no arrests have been made yet. The Glynn County Police Department had been handling the case until Tuesday when the Georgia Bureau of Investigation was called to investigate the footage.
“The goal in every investigation is to seek the truth, and that’s exactly what we intend on doing in this matter. I realize that emotions are running high in this community, and they’re running high throughout this state,” said GBI Director Vic Reynolds.
The Department of Justice confirmed to CBS News that the FBI is also involved in the investigation.
An outside prosecutor, Tom Durden, is taking the case and plans to have a grand jury hear the evidence. Because of the recent pandemic, courts in Georgia will remain closed until June 13th.
The NAACP say they are planning another protest on Friday.
Photo: Getty Images
Source: WTOC