By Rich McKay

(Reuters) – Ahmaud Arbery (25-year-old Black) was jogging in a predominantly white area on February 23, 2020 when he was pursued by two white men in trucks and shot to death about 2 miles (3 km) away from his mom’s home near Brunswick (NYSE;), Georgia.

National outrage erupted after cellphone footage showing the shooting was made public months later. The video showed that his pursuers had been refused arrest by local authorities.

Arbery’s chasers told police that they believed Arbery had committed a criminal offense and wanted to have a citizen’s warrant for his arrest. They were all found guilty of murder last year in state court and face federal hate crime charges.

WHO WAS THE AHMAUD ARBERY?

Ahmaud Marquez Archery lived in Brunswick, a coastal city in south Georgia for his entire life. To his friends, he was called “Maud”, or “Quez”, and was the son Marcus Arbery Sr. (Wanda Cooper-Jones). His family stated that he had an easy smile, ran everyday, even in the rain.

Arbery spent long hours working at both his truck washing business and his father’s landscaping company. Arbery was often seen playing basketball or lifting weights at his mother’s driveway. He would often sing freestyle hip-hop.

FOOTBALL DREAMS

Arbery was an ex-linebacker for the Brunswick Pirates, his high school football club. He was a star in the local community, despite not having the typical strength of a linebacker. However, his speed and agility made him an instant favorite. Although he had once considered playing in the National Football League (at 5-foot-10, 1.8 meters), his family stated that he didn’t have enough size.

Arbery was a Brunswick High School graduate in 2012. His football coach retired No. 21 to honor the great player.

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.

2017 was the year he was accused of shoplifting from local Walmart. Court records indicate that he had been on probation for a longer period than he originally received, and was serving it at the time of his death.

The defense attorneys tried to inform the jury about these incidents but the judge refused. He ruled that defendants couldn’t have known any information about Arbery or his probation status.

The 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 about one year and a half. However, money became tight so he dropped out. Theawanza Brooks was his aunt and said that Arbery had saved up for the future to pursue his education.