Ahmaud Arbery’s father reacts to district attorney losing reelection bid

BRUNSWICK, GA — Incumbent Republican District Attorney in Brunswick, Jackie Johnson, was ousted by voters on Tuesday.

Johnson lost her bid for reelection Tuesday to Independent, Keith Higgins, by a margin of 53% to 47%. She served 10 years in the position.

Johnson faced backlash this year for her handling of the Ahmaud Arbery shooting investigation.

On Wednesday, Arbery’s father, Marcus Arbery Sr., spoke to Action News Jax. Arbery Sr. shared his reaction to news of Johnson being unseated.

“Ain’t nothing I could say to her. But I guess she just needs to be in jail right alongside the people she’s been corrupt with. Yup, she needs to be in jail,” said Arbery Sr.

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Johnson was criticized after recusing her office in the investigation and handing it over to a second district attorney. The elder McMichael previously worked in Johnson’s office as an investigator.

Gregory and Travis McMichael, and William “Roddie” Bryan, were arrested months after the February shooting. The GBI took over the investigation amid public outcry sparked by video of the shooting surfacing on social media.

Arbery Sr. also weighed in on news of Bryan seeking a bond to get out of jail.

“You want to try to make bond, but it ain’t gonna work,” he said. “Because they didn’t give my son no choice. They didn’t let my son go home, so why should they go home?”

Arbery’s father says he has faith in D.A.-elect, Higgins.

“I already talked to him,” said Arbery Sr. “He’s talking real good. He said he’s going to be working for all people. He said he don’t care who they is, if they break the law, he’s going to make them pay just like everybody else do.”

The independent Higgins needed to gather signatures in order to earn his way onto the ballot. He’s set to take office in January.

Action News Jax reached out to Johnson and Higgins for comment. We’ll be sure to update you with their responses.

Cox Media Group