JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The trial of Ahmaud Arbery’s killing is one of the biggest the country has seen in the past several years. While all eyes are on Brunswick, it was nearly nine years ago when the Jordan Davis case out of Jacksonville went viral.
Similar to Davis’ case, the murder of Arbery was surrounded by racial overtones and sparked an uproar of protests and marches across the country.
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David was 17-years-old when he was shot and killed in the parking lot of a gas station by Michael Dunn after an argument over loud music. Dunn was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison in the second trial after the jury couldn’t reach a verdict at the first one.
Davis’ father, Ron, said he was the one who told family members about the death and that going through trial was difficult but comes second to everything he had to go through.
“Reliving the moment of what I had to do, being the bearer of that news, that was the hardest thing,” he said.
As opening statements began on Friday in Glynn county, Davis said the trial will test the emotions of Arbery’s parents and it starts with a nearly all white jury.
“Can they empathize with you? Can they view you as a whole? Can they view you as a valued person?” Davis said. “A lot of people that are not the same and don’t look like you — they can’t value the same way.”
Davis says only one photo of his son was allowed to be shown during trial, which he says can paint the wrong pictures and be tough on the parents.
PHOTOS: Trial of Ahmaud Arbery’s killing on Nov. 5, 2021
“We could only show his I.D. picture, not with his family, not growing up, not playing basketball, not hanging with his friends and that pains you as parents,” he said. “They want to devalue who you are and who your friends are and they want to make you out to be a thug or something.”
Davis said seeing his sons killer on a daily basis and holding emotions back was another challenge to face. He says he’s hoping the Arbery family can stay strong.
“Fight for your son together, stand side-by-side and no matter how bleak it looks sometimes, continue to fight,” he said. “Never give up for your son and always make sure he will be very, very proud of you and I know Jordan is proud of his parents.”
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