By Rich McKay

(Reuters) – Ahmaud Abery, a Black man aged 25 who ran through a mostly-white neighborhood, was on a Sunday running trip. On February 23, 2020, he was shot to death by three men in white trucks. The incident occurred about 2 km (3.2km) from Ahmaud’s mother’s residence near Brunswick (NYSE :). Police were told by the men that they believed he had committed a crime, and wanted to arrest him as a citizen.

WHAT WAS THE AHMAUD ARBERY?

Ahmaud Marquez, 25 was a Brunswick resident for many years. To his friends, he was called “Maud”, or “Quez” by them. He was the son Marcus Arbery Sr. (Wanda Cooper-Jones) and Ahmaud Marquez Arbery. According to his family, he was easy-going and had a large smile. He ran all day, except when it was raining.

Arbery was a long-term employee at his father’s truck washing and landscaping business. His neighbors would often see him lifting weights on his mother’s driveway, or even playing basketball. His favorite song was freestyle rap.

FOOTBALL DREAMS

Arbery played linebacker on his high school’s football team, The Brunswick Pirates. Although he didn’t have the usual heft to be a linebacker but his agility and speed on the field made Arbery a local superstar. Although he had once dreamed to play for the National Football League (at 5-foot-10, 1.8 meters), his family stated that he wasn’t quite tall enough.

Arbery was a Brunswick High School graduate in 2012. His football coach retired No. 21 was in his honor at last year’s ceremony.

LEGAL TROUBLES

Arbery did have a couple of brushes with the police, which his family claims he has put behind him.

He was a senior at high school when he returned to campus in 2013 for a game of basketball. His waistband contained a gun. He was sentenced to five years probation.

A 2017 arrest was made for him trying to shoplift a TV purchased from local Walmart. (NYSE: According to court records, he had been on probation for the original term and was continuing it when he died.

Although defense lawyers wanted to speak with the jury on those events, the judge ruled against them, stating that they could not know anything about Arbery’s probation status or legal problems.

Future

Arbery had other football goals than he realized. His family told him that he wanted to be an electrician and follow in three uncles’ footsteps.

After high school, Arbery attended South Georgia Technical College approximately 1-1/2 years. However, money became tight and he dropped out. Thea Brooks, his aunt, stated that Arbery had been working hard to pay for college.