'He Had My Gun,' Man Accused Of Killing Ahmaud Arbery Testified

BRUNSWICK, GA — Travis McMichael, the man accused of shooting and killing 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, testified before the court, pleading that it was Arbery who grabbed his shotgun prior to McMichael firing the fatal shot.

According to an Associated Press report, when McMichael's attorney asked why he shot Arbery, he responded, “he had my gun. He struck me. It was obvious that he was attacking me, that if he would have gotten the shotgun from me, then this was a life or death situation, and I’m going to have to stop him from doing this, so I shot.”

McMichael's father. Greg McMichael, and their neighbor. William "Roddie" Bryan, all had a role in Arbery's shooting death.

Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Arbery’s mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said to the Associated Press: “Mr. Travis McMichael killed my son all on assumptions. He didn’t know where Ahmaud was coming from or what Ahmaud had done. He just took actions into his own hands.”

Prosecutor Linda Dunikoski shows evidence to members of the defense during the trial of Greg McMichael and his son Travis McMichael, and neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021, in Brunswick, Ga. The three are charged with the February 2020 slaying of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, center right, puts his arm around Ahmaud Arbery’s father, Marcus, in a news conference during a break in the trial of three men charged with killing Arbery. A judge denied a defense attorney’s request to kick Jackson out of the courtroom.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, center right, puts his arm around Ahmaud Arbery's father, Marcus, in a news conference during a break in the trial of three men charged with killing Arbery.

Travis McMichael reacts to question during his testimony in the trial of he and his father Greg McMichael and neighbor William "Roddie" Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse.

Travis McMichael speaks from the witness stand during his trial Wednesday in Brunswick, Ga.

Travis McMichael speaks from the witness stand during his trial Wednesday.

Greg McMichael looks at the gallery during the testimony of his son, Travis McMichael's in the trial of he, his son and William "Roddie" Bryan in the Glynn County Courthouse.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.