# Arbery Shooting in Georgia and Citizen's Arrest \[& similar shootings\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 14, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815 "2020-05-14T23:26:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/41 "2020-05-15T17:59:13Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > As noted above, McMichael started the incident by pointing the gun at Arbery and Georgia law specifically exempts self-defense claims by a person who “initially provokes the use of force against himself”. I agree with basically everything else you said. But, Georgia law prohibits self-defense claims by “\*nitially provokes the use of force against himself _with the intent to use such force as an excuse to inflict bodily harm upon the assailant_”. (emphasis added). It may be that the purpose of confronting Arbery was to provoke a violent altercation to allow the use of force in response but I think it would be difficult to show that this was the intent, at least based on what he currently know. I mean, I agree that Arbery could defend himself in this situation, but if he unnecessarily escalated the force (and he didn’t), I don’t think that provision would prevent a counter-escalation. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/42 "2020-05-15T18:16:46Z")
> [@Ruken](#): > > nothing about there being no problem. That’s all you. The OP is, literally, asking what the problem is because the OP can’t see it after noting that apparently there is a law that makes it all legal and because the guy fought it was ok to shoot him. There is no reflection from the OP if that makes any sense whatsoever. Seems more like [JAQing off](https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Just_asking_questions) to me. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/43 "2020-05-15T18:17:52Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > You misspelled “ten.” Goddammit. I started writing the list then got ambitious. Thought I’d fixed this. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/44 "2020-05-15T18:54:08Z")
> [@Kearsen1](#): > > It must really get tiresome blaming anything and everything on racism … Couldn’t have been any thing else no? Possible suspicion based upon anything other than the color of a persons skin is improbable. That shit makes me laugh every time, and worse it makes it incredibly hard to stand on the side of right when that side thinks that they are right for the wrong reasons. > > Srsly. A single incident, perhaps. But when it happens again and again and again, and it’s almost always white people putting black people, who are just going about their lives, in danger, then it’s pretty reasonable to suspect that racism is involved in most of these incidents. Further, racism is pernicious and often unconscious. These folks may have really thought this guy was a criminal… but his skin color was probably a big part of that judgment, whether they realized it or not. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/45 "2020-05-15T20:44:54Z")
Aside from the McMichaels’ claims after the fact, do we have any indication that they were, in fact, putting Arbery under citizen’s arrest? The whole citizen’s arrest point [is probably moot](https://www.nytimes.com/article/ahmaud-arbery-citizen-arrest-law-georgia.html), however > [@](#): > > Force can only be used to prevent a violent felony, Mr. Zimmerman said, adding, “What is not lawful is, you can’t detain somebody and then use force.” Zimmerman is the president of the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. So that defense is out. The McMichaels’ only hope then would be claiming they acted in self-defense, which begs the question: If someone presents a clear and present danger to me, and I act in self-defense, can the perpetrator of the incident claim self-defense if he kills me while I’m defending myself because he thinks I might kill him (in self-defense)? ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/46 "2020-05-15T21:26:18Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The most obvious rebuttal to the OP’s implied argument is that the Georgia law he quotes only applies to people who have committed a felony. Arbery had not. Trespassing is a misdemeanor in Georgia. But his presence on the construction site seems irrelevant in any case, since the McMichaels (by their own testimony) had no knowledge of it when they pursued him, that surveillance video only came to light later. They just saw him running past their yard, and claimed to suspect him of burglaries or thefts days or weeks earlier. > **[Murder of Ahmaud Arbery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Ahmaud_Arbery)** > > District Attorney Jackie Johnson: > On February 23, 2020, Ahmaud Arbery, a 25-year-old black man, was murdered during a racially motivated hate crime\[b\] while jogging in Satilla Shores, a neighborhood near Brunswick in Glynn County, Georgia. Three white men, who later claimed to police that they assumed he was a burglar, pursued Arbery in their trucks for several minutes, using the vehicles to block his path as he tried to run away. Two of the men, Travis McMichael and his father, Gregory McMic... > [@](#): > > The report describes Gregory McMichael as a witness, who said he initially was in the yard of his house when he saw Arbery running by. He said he recognized Arbery **from prior incidents** , including one where Gregory said he saw Arbery reach into his pants as if for a weapon… > > …the McMichaels told police that they pursued Arbery because he resembled a suspect in a string of local burglaries. There were three break-ins or thefts reported in Satilla Shores in the months prior to the incident. On December 8, a Satilla Shores neighbor reported rifles stolen from their unlocked car. Police records next reported a theft on December 28. On January 1, Travis McMichael filed a report of a firearm stolen from his truck. On February 11, Travis McMichael again called police to report a 6-foot-tall black man trespassing on the site of a house under construction. Police responded and searched along with several neighbors, but the man escaped. Comments by Falchion and Hamlet above seem to give some comfort on whether the interpretation of citizen’s arrest laws is reasonable. Even if there were a genuine resemblance to the perpetrator, with the obvious potential for error and for escalation of violence it seems insane to me that any law would justify a civilian attempting to forcibly “arrest” someone when the suspected crime was non-violent and occurred days or weeks earlier, and when the “suspect” is currently doing nothing wrong and is no threat to anyone. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/47 "2020-05-15T21:39:32Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > But his presence on the construction site seems irrelevant in any case, since the McMichaels (by their own testimony) had no knowledge of it when they pursued him, that surveillance video only came to light later. They just saw him running past their yard, and claimed to suspect him of burglaries or thefts days or weeks earlier. Also, is merely being at the construction site enough reason to be suspicious and chase the guy? Did they know he wasn’t the owner? On what basis could they assume this guy was up to no good an needed pursuing (much less shooting)? ---
**Author:** ![Sdowiat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Sdowiat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sdowiat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/48 "2020-05-15T23:13:52Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > They saw a black man running, and thought they’d put a little scare into him for shits and giggles. By chasing him down while armed. Most likely because they are racist assholes. > > It turned out badly for them. > > That’s all there is too it. The rest of it is just pathetic excuses for their criminal behaviour by the usual suspects. It would truly be TERRIBLE if that is the case and for it I’d give them the Chair… but do you have anything to back this up? Have you got some kind of insight into their motivations? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/49 "2020-05-15T23:35:06Z")
> [@Sdowiat](#): > > It would truly be TERRIBLE if that is the case and for it I’d give them the Chair… but do you have anything to back this up? Have you got some kind of insight into their motivations? We can never know what these people thought at the time. Maybe they will tell us. Maybe they will lie when/if they tell us and even then there is no reason to trust what they say. What we can do is consider what a reasonable person would do. And no reasonable person would do what they did. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2020, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/50 "2020-05-15T23:37:51Z")
Yes, in fact, we do have insight into their motivations. Insight #1: If they are not completely insane, then they have motivations for the things they do. Insight #2: Their stated motivations have turned out to be blatant lies. Insight #3: Their lying must also have had motivation. Insight #4: The likely motive behind their lying is that the actual motive for the shooting was a reprehensible one. Insight #5: Racism is one possible reprehensible motive for the shooting. Insight #6: Racism is an extremely common reprehensible motive in this country, especially in that part of the country. But if you think that’s an unfair conclusion, then you can go ahead and tell us what you think their motive was, and why they lied about it. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/51 "2020-05-16T00:09:10Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > So that defense is out. The McMichaels’ only hope then would be claiming they acted in self-defense, which begs the question: If someone presents a clear and present danger to me, and I act in self-defense, can the perpetrator of the incident claim self-defense if he kills me while I’m defending myself because he thinks I might kill him (in self-defense)? In some circumstances “yes,” but not in circumstances that would matter here. (Georgia law may be different). But, broadly, you may use, in self-defense, only the amount of force reasonably necessary to defend yourself. So if the “defender” unreasonably escalates the situation, the self-defense right can flip back to the initial aggressor. That principle can’t matter here because “confronted with shotgun” pretty much immediately maxes out the level of force available in response. > [@Riemann](#): > > Comments by Falchion and Hamlet above seem to give some comfort on whether the interpretation of citizen’s arrest laws is reasonable. Even if there were a genuine resemblance to the perpetrator, with the obvious potential for error and for escalation of violence it seems insane to me that any law would justify a civilian attempting to forcibly “arrest” someone when the suspected crime was non-violent and occurred days or weeks earlier, and when the “suspect” is currently doing nothing wrong and is no threat to anyone. I assume that the definition of “escape” is fleshed out under state law (most likely in the context of warrantless arrests by police officers), but I can’t imagine a definition that would extend to observing someone walking (or running) by who you believe committed a felony in the past, especially if part of your theory is that you frequently see this individual. That would seem to render the probable cause + exigency requirement meaningless. (Although, burglary is generally considered a violent crime). While it may have been your historic right (and duty!) to apprehend a fleeing felon, it poses certain (obvious) risks to everyone involved. ---
**Author:** ![Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kolak_of_twilo/32/73_2.png) [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolak_of_Twilo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/52 "2020-05-16T02:14:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yes, in fact, we do have insight into their motivations. > > Insight #1: If they are not completely insane, then they have motivations for the things they do. > Insight #2: Their stated motivations have turned out to be blatant lies. > Insight #3: Their lying must also have had motivation. > Insight #4: The likely motive behind their lying is that the actual motive for the shooting was a reprehensible one. > Insight #5: Racism is one possible reprehensible motive for the shooting. > Insight #6: Racism is an extremely common reprehensible motive in this country, especially in that part of the country. > > But if you think that’s an unfair conclusion, then you can go ahead and tell us what you think their motive was, and why they lied about it. Well stated and insightful. ::making popcorn while we wait for the OP to return and address these insights:: ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/53 "2020-05-16T02:55:18Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > They saw a black man running, and thought they’d put a little scare into him for shits and giggles. By chasing him down while armed. Most likely because they are racist assholes. > > It turned out badly for them. It turned out badly for the guy whom they lynched. We have yet to see whether it will turn out badly for the murderer and if so, how badly. It certainly won’t be anywhere nearly as bad as Arbery’s fate. Not unless someone murders them. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/54 "2020-05-16T03:00:48Z")
> [@Kolak\_of\_Twilo](#): > > Well stated and insightful. > > ::making popcorn while we wait for the OP to return and address these insights:: I’m not responding to any of it. Several posters make an accusation of racism against me, which is reported and goes unmodded. Can we not have a regular debate about this? And I even said that if what you said the unvarnished facts were, these guys are guilty, and probably are guilty of racism. But we can’t do that on this board. Now, back to (possibly) reasoned debate on the facts. Several incorrect posts here. 1. The right to arrest is the right to use reasonable force. Would you argue that the police cannot pull a gun to when arresting a fleeing felon? And before you say that these guys are just racist redneck buffoon assholes who want to execute a black guy, I am assuming for the purposes of argument that they were making a lawful arrest. If they were, brandished a gun, and Arbery did not submit to a lawful arrest, but fought back and attempted to disarm his lawful arrestors, self defense is certainly justified (Again for those that do not read the disclaimers. I am not saying that is what happened). 2. I cited the law but several people want to point out that they believe (the facts prove?) that Arbery committed no felony or no crime at all. That doesn’t matter. The law clearly states a probable cause standard. Are you allowed to shoot a cop if he mistakenly things you committed a felony and tries to arrest you? Citizens are clothed in arrest power in more limited circumstances than cops, but they power to arrest, if lawful is the same. Finally, what is the Georgia law about resisting an unlawful arrest? If these guys (and again, I need to keep making this disclaimer, not that it will matter) thought in good faith that they were on the right side of the law because they thought they had probable cause that this guy had committed prior felonies, may a citizen resist an unlawful arrest? Many states say that you must submit and fight the unlawful detention in court. If not, and they make a good faith argument, wouldn’t that mitigate murder to manslaughter in Georgia? Sort of “imperfect self defense”? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/55 "2020-05-16T03:07:36Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I am assuming for the purposes of argument that they were making a lawful arrest. What if no one is interested in accepting this as an assumption for the basis of discussion? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/56 "2020-05-16T03:32:17Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > 1. I cited the law but several people want to point out that they believe (the facts prove?) that Arbery committed no felony or no crime at all. That doesn’t matter. The law clearly states a probable cause standard. What was the probable cause? ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/57 "2020-05-16T04:03:10Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > What if no one is interested in accepting this as an assumption for the basis of discussion? Then you can either not respond or not participate in that portion of it. I would appreciate if you did not threadshit, however. > [@RickJay](#): > > What was the probable cause? I haven’t seen any. I just find it hard to believe that these two guys, not just backwoods idiots, but people with training who worked for the prosecutor’s office, would just run after a black guy for no reason at all. Maybe they did. But with the vitriol on both sides, I was hoping to get a better picture of it. It seems that makes me Just Asking Questions so that I may spew my hidden racist beliefs. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/58 "2020-05-16T04:10:17Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > Then you can either not respond or not participate in that portion of it. I would appreciate if you did not threadshit, however. You forgot option #3: Objecting to the evidentless premise. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/59 "2020-05-16T04:13:18Z")
> [@UltraVires](#): > > I just find it hard to believe that these two guys, not just backwoods idiots, but people with training who worked for the prosecutor’s office, would just run after a black guy for no reason at all. It’s called “bigotry”, and it can corrupt everyone from “backwoods idiots” to the President of the United States. ---
**Author:** ![ASL\_v2.0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asl_v2.0/32/3525_2.png) [@ASL\_v2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ASL_v2.0)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2020, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815/60 "2020-05-16T04:29:06Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It’s called “bigotry”, and it can corrupt everyone from “backwoods idiots” to the President of the United States. That and they might just be clever enough to know what flies in their neck of the woods. If one is confident, for instance, that even if they are in error, their past history as a police officer and other connections will ensure they get the benefit of a doubt when they, together with their son, concoct “reasonable suspicion” or “probable cause” where in fact none exists, then that could lead one to do a whole bunch of stupid (to an external observer without such confidence in one’s immunity) things. So bigotry shielded by familial and social connections, and ultimately the law. They just didn’t figure on their proposed victim choosing to fight for his life from the two armed white dudes apparently forcing a confrontation on him. **UltraVires** , you have, in effect, said we can either be guilty of threadshitting, or agree with you that the father and son were right to attempt an arrest, at which point it’s a very short step to “and therefore they acted in self-defense when they shot that unarmed man who they denied the opportunity of flight to and so provoked into fighting.” Assuming that the arrest was lawful and then going from there is **question begging**. You have not, and indeed cannot demonstrate with the evidence available at this time, that the father/son pair had probable cause or reasonable suspicion of a felony. So why entertain that scenario exclusively that they did, as if the sole point at issue now is whether or not one can resist a “lawful” citizen’s arrest? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/arbery-shooting-in-georgia-and-citizens-arrest-similar-shootings/853815.md?page=4)