BRUNSWICK, Ga. — On Tuesday, a courtroom filled with jurors began hearings over allegations against a former district attorney, Jackie Johnson, concerning her alleged misuse of power linked to the death of Ahmaud Arbery. This occurred in a tranquil neighborhood in Georgia nearly five years back, where Arbery, a 25-year-old Black man, was pursued by three white men in pickup trucks, mistakenly believing he was involved in criminal activity. The chase concluded with one of the men fatally shooting Arbery with a shotgun at close range on February 23, 2020.
The case saw no arrests for more than two months until cellphone footage of the incident emerged online, prompting the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to step in and take over from local authorities. The three men involved in the pursuit faced charges and were eventually convicted of murder.
In 2021, Johnson herself faced serious charges, including a felony for breaching her oath of office and a misdemeanor for obstructing the investigation into Arbery’s death. As jury selection concluded, the trial commenced with nearly two hours of opening statements from both the prosecution and Johnson’s defense team.
Prosecutor John Fowler presented the case, asserting that initial reports to Arbery’s mother falsely depicted her son as a perpetrator involved in a home invasion. He claimed that while Arbery’s family sought answers, Johnson was more focused on protecting Greg McMichael, the man responsible for initiating the deadly chase. McMichael had retired as an investigator in Johnson’s office the previous year, and it was his son who fired the fatal shots. Fowler indicated that McMichael had left a voicemail for Johnson just an hour after the shooting, seeking assistance.
“She prioritized the welfare of her former colleague and friend over that of the victim,” Fowler stated.
Defending Johnson, lead attorney Brian Steel argued for her innocence, claiming her only advice to McMichael post-shooting was, “Get a lawyer.” He emphasized that she appropriately recused herself and assigned the case to an outside prosecutor. Steel further criticized local police for their premature conclusion that Arbery was shot while committing a crime.
