You for coming, I'm getting ready director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. I know you got a lot on your plate, A lot of places to go. so I'll be relatively brief. I wanna make just a few comments and then we'll certainly entertain some questions on things that we might can answer today As all of you are aware by now yesterday evening agents from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, effectuate the arrest on two individuals, Greg and Travis Mcmichael charging them with both felony murder and aggravated assault in regards to the killing of a Mod Aubrey back in February of 2020. here in Glen County, we became involved in this case late Tuesday evening approximately 930 or so when were formally requested to get involved. we hit the ground running pretty hard Wednesday morning and and I'll talk a little bit about what the agents did in a moment, but I did wanna take a few minutes today and give some appreciation to some folks and agencies that have been involved in this and have helped us first of all. We wanna, of course extend our deepest condolences to the Aubrey family. we also wanna take a moment to thank them. One of the last things you want to do in a circumstance of this nature on a case certainly that's been around for a period of time it is. Anybody particularly a victim's family for patients. it's difficult to do, but they were gracious in extending that patience to us and we we appreciate that on behalf of the Bureau. I also wanna take a moment to thank the community of Brunswick Glenn County. For doing the same thing we realize that emotions have run very high here for a period of time and and still are to a great extent and we understand that and we respect that when I spoke from the GB. Headquarters on Wednesday morning, I also extended a request to this community asking them for some patience and understanding to us as we became involved in the investigation and they certainly have done that and I can't begin to tell you how much our agents how much our agency and I know I speak on behalf of the governor how much he appreciates it well as well, The graciousness and patience extended to us by community. That's that's emotionally 140 - one pretty thin right now. so I appreciate what they've done for us. I also wanna take a. Want to thank the district attorney assigned to this case, Mister Durden appreciate his assistance throughout our investigation to this point thanking him for being available and for answering legal questions on our behalf. I wanna thank the Glenn County Sheriff Department as well. they they were cooperative with us in an extended some assistance yesterday during the infatuation of the arrest, and we certainly appreciate Sheriff Jeff and his involvement. I also wanna take a moment to to thank some of the people behind me and some of the people who. The audience today and that's the agents of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, who will be involved in this case again, giving you just a brief timeline we were officially requested to become involved late Tuesday evening when mister Darin and I had a conversation probably about 930 or so that evening he graciously requested us to come in and we immediately accepted that request. I advised him that we would hit the ground running very hard Wednesday morning. so about 10 o 'clock to. I relay that request down the chain of command to the deputy Director of investigations, Scott Dutton, who is standing up here with me to my left and then deputy director Dutton began putting together a team to begin the investigation from my perspective early Wednesday morning sometime during the morning hours of Wednesday, we were able to secure our hands on the file the investigative file, which had been done previously and the agent spent the. Of that day, pouring through that file to make sure they understood what had been done in the case and what they thought needed to be done in the case, reviewing interviews and things of that nature and I spent the remainder of Wednesday until very late Wednesday night, doing just that they took a short break of a few hours to get some sleep and then began early Thursday morning yesterday morning running a plan of operation and what they thought needed to be done regarding. The remainder of the investigation they hit that pavement hard yesterday doing neighborhood canvases talking to other individuals who had already been spoken to some individuals who had not and then after the course of that investigation yesterday about Five PM, we had a command staff level conference call with the boots on the ground agents here in Glen County and we were advised at the command staff conference call that they had established the facts that established sufficient probable cause to seek an arrest warrant. Both Greg and Travis Mcmichael for felony murder and aggravated assault. that was certainly agreed to by the command staff individuals, including all the way up to and including myself those agents that immediately yesterday evening sometime around the 60 'clock hour or so begin securing the warrants through the assistance of a superior court judge in the Greene County area. those warrants were secured they came back to their command Center staff and begin putting to. A plan of operation to effectuate the arrest and about 745 that was in fact done yesterday evening without any incident. No one was hurt. I knew the defendant nor any of the agents so that was done properly and safely, and we're very thankful for that those individuals turned-over to the County Sheriff's Department that have been placed in custody at that particular jail. So that's where we're at today. before I take any questions. certainly understand there is some concern. There's some question by the community. By folks around the state, probably folks around the the nation, or is there anyone else going to be charged in this case? I will tell you that this case is an active ongoing investigation in fact, once this press conference breaks today, these agents behind me and the agents in the in the crowd who are here today to observe will continue their investigation. They're staying in this community. They're gonna continue to work it and they're gonna go wherever the facts take them. if, in fact, the facts take them to make another arrest in this case, then they will do that if the facts do not then. But I will tell you categorically that it's still an open active investigation. We're continuing to look at all the evidence they're continuing to do things that haven't been done yet and we'll plan on doing that the rest of the time it takes before they make some decision or conclusion whether or not probable cause exists to arrest anyone else. I thank you for allowing me to make those comments. I'll take any questions. I'll show you here for me how far had the local investigation got when you guys got your hands on. It had gotten to to a good point. My understanding and speaking to my folks is that it was a good investigation. It was a thorough investigation. That doesn't mean there was some things that we believe need to be done that hadn't been done and I don't mean that the disrespectful to the people who worked it, but you could get 10 agencies to work in case they may work at 10 different ways and still arrive at the same place. so there are some things that that needed to we thought need to be done that we're done yesterday. There's some things that will continue to be done and perhaps haven't been done. We'll go back and review things that have been done to make sure they don't need to be. Up in any fashion, but there, there's no complaining about my folks about what has been done to this point with Action News Jax. What did the GBI see during their investigation that the way cross PD didn't see during their two months with this case that led you guys to make an arrest and then you know, I can't. I can't answer what another agency did or didn't see but I can tell you that based on our involvement in this case considering the fact that we were hit the ground running Wednesday morning and within 36 hours we had secured warrants for. Individuals for felony murder I think that speaks volumes for itself and that the probable cause was cleared to our agents pretty quickly should the DA lose their job over this, You know. I'm not gonna comment on that. That's I mean you know all I can do is tell you when we became involved in this case. we did what we thought we were supposed to do. I'm I'm very confident in our investigation confident in our continuing I'm not comfortable speaking about any other anyone else that we trust. This up for a rael RR, and he also suggested that the citizens arrest and the other ones were followed here. Can you just explain why you guys came to such a wildly different conclusion than someone that the case for so long and what seems so obvious in this case to you guys, you know again. I can't speak of what anyone else sees or doesn't see about a case, but I will tell you that we base our decisions on two things, one of facts and the other the law whatever the facts are. We apply the law to it if the law says what the facts are as a felony murder. We take the warrant for it. I'm very comfortable in telling you that there's there's more than sufficient probable cause in this case for fellow Americans, the video sir. I'm sorry. Well, it's like in the other piece sure it's it's certainly a very important piece of evidence. so anytime you can see what happens at the scene. then then it plays an important role in in decision making is it. The only piece of evidence is the only thing in this case? No, but it is an important. absolutely. It seems that so much has transpired since that video has been released. I'm sorry say that one more time it seems that so much has happened transpired since that video has been released 10 weeks. nothing seems to happen. Comes out and within days there's to arrest. You know what I can only tell you what happened since Tuesday at 930 when we got involved, you know the video was already out. We saw it. We reviewed the rest of the file and we made the arrest. you know I feel the tub is that the media won the version that is out of the media is that the same video that you have and have been studied. To my knowledge is the same video Yes, sir Mister William, what will happen to him? Mister who don't know yet you know, we're we're gonna go wherever the evidence takes us. Let's say hypothetically if we believe tomorrow or in a week or three weeks, there's probable cause for an arrest and we'll do it. If we don't believe there is then we won't. I don't mean to be that simplistic or that flip, but that's the way it is with us. We don't you know we we base our decisions strictly on facts and evidence, and that's exactly what we'll do in this case to be free. Are you investigating the person? Shot that video. We're investigating everybody involved in the case, including the individual who shot the video. Yes, ma' am without this video with these two men be free right now. I don't know I I I can't comment on that. I can only tell you that when we got involved in the case we look at what's available to us. If the video wasn't available to us, then we'd look at everything else whether or not we'd be at the point of probable cause. I don't know. would you guys be involved if it weren't for this video that surfaced this week on social media? I don't know we only become about one thing about our agency. We can only statutory become involved when we're asked to become involved, you know and I we don't work off of a timeline. You know a perfect world would we prefer? Have been asked to become involved in February, of course, but sometimes it isn't a perfect world, so we have to deal with the situation as it placed in front of us. Yes sir. You say you're gonna continue to. County Police Department and also the Diego it lonely. It will only expand on what's relevant to this murder investigation. We've been asked to conduct a murder investigation. That's what we're conducting. Yes, you are a mother who said that you're original to you. That the homeowner. Not the case, you can see that from the video. And your investigation and whether. they visiting the accurate information to parents and whether or not they were. Y'all the only way I can answer that is to tell you that anything that's relevant to the murder investigation. We're doing we will look at if it's relevant to the murder investigation, which is what we've been asked to do and it's what we're doing. then we'll look at it if it isn't relevant to that issue, then we won't concern that you became involved with are you concerned? Well again, I'll I'll preface it by saying what I said a moment ago, the way we look at cases if we can become involved in a case when there's still an active crime scene when when something just happened, that's always better for my people. it always is because we're not reinventing the wheel. We're not depending on what someone else done. We're starting with what we do from the beginning and so in a perfect situation, that's the best way to get the GBI involved but again. I told you this was the first time we ever came in late in the case. it wouldn't be true. It's happened before and and so you know my my folks, I think have done a tremendous job considering when they got involved how and and and the time they got involved to do what they've done to this point but it I would be I would be foolish to tell you that things wouldn't be better for us as an agency. If we didn't get involved very early in a case, that's yes, sir, the attorney that apparently leaked the video, said that it's a full un-edited. and have you been able to confirm that and also is that the only video that your office has seen of the year. Well, you know, I'm not. I'm not comfortable talking about a whole lot more evidence about the underlying case at this point because we're not through with the investigation. We've obviously observe the video that we have whether or not there are any additional videos. I don't know of any but regarding the link the editing anything of that nature. you know we have our experts looking at it. We'll make that decision down the road right now. I'm not comfortable. Speaking on. Yeah. right. I've got a question for you. He'll be the That Right-why I was coming over. I missed part of question. You will be the one prosecuting this. yes the charges. The case goes from here in your office well, of course, the charges that have been secured and against the defendants at this point, That was of course at food me and so forth of myself and the GBI my investigator has been working on the case also so but yes to answer your question. Yes, I will be prosecute the case and let me if I might follow up on. Question that was asked earlier and vic's just I guess responding to and that is you know a perfect world. you know if you're involved in of course, the better okay as you all probably know from my prior press release, I was always asked to come to the case on April fourteenth. I believe it was so I didn't get the case until then either so we. We take it, You know what we're given and we go from there and go back and and look at what has been done and then go ahead forward and as you know has led up to this this arrest last evening I will say I believe that there was no question as far as the GBI involvement and so I will say this That We're ious to be some new developments in the case, Okay and the GBI and my thanks to the DBI for their involvement and the the response and and and and helping me okay and that's there there was a new development and I can't go into at the time but that they really did as well. they got a real quick and help me arrive at my decision as far as my capacity and advising of the law enforcement in this case. Yes, ma' am the previous. The idea of Barnhill has said that he felt that these men's actors were protected by both the standard grounds. no need for law and the the idea of Citizenss arrest is that the better. When we take this case to Grand jury and if it if it's does and we expect it will perhaps to go through a trial on Guilford innocence Okay, the legal principles will be explained by the judge. Okay, What someone says the legal of the law is is is the opinion okay, the law will come from the force. Mister Jordan Yeah, How would you describe the atmosphere over the past two days in terms of the level of public pressure, quite frankly, that you may or may not have felt to bring these charges? Well, you know public opinion is always from one side of always gonna be there. okay. we go we. We don't let that influence the decision. Okay. We can't be. We can't just make a snap decision. Alright So I I don't understand the public opinion out there. I understand the century and I will echo something that the director said. inanity. I have done this in my staff and my office has done this in our condolences to mister Aley's, mother and family so we have made the decision. So what we've we feel like is the applicable and the our conversation of the evidence that has been uncovered here so if that answers your question, I believe you have a problem and I've got the sun's kinda. it's okay. Are you concerned about the amount of publicity this received and will the change of venue possibly take place when you get to. Court system that would be a prejudgment at this point and that would depends on a lot of things and the judge would would be the five officers of that. okay and it's I can't really answer that because I don't want to. I'm just saying we're not to that point yet. If you do have had spoken on Tuesday that you the evidence of this for considered criminal charges with a Grand jury that that's not likely to happen until two because of the Coke did not change the next day. J B I is called in. An effort to maybe get something moving quicker, maybe in a quicker, No, no those are two separate things The the June 12 is a direct from the Supreme Court. the other thing has to do with with evidence and matters that I requested that the VI runs out and that that that that they have done. I will say just for a minute and I as bad as far as I can go as far as getting to the case like I feel. I'll be brief and sometimes as we always are we maybe we're not but I want to thank one other group and that's the prosecuting Attorney's Council Ander. They have given me a great deal of help as far as legal advice and so forth in the case and I just want to recognize that or Organization also and thank you just a couple of this one. Okay yes. You are a former prosecutor yourself. can you talk and give your opinion as to why this is a good or appropriate case to you. You know sometimes I have to make sure I'm I'm I'm taking off my former prosecutor hat and putting on the investigators hat, but you're the only thing I can tell you that that from the GBI perspective and I kinda entertain both your question and the question to this gentleman a moment ago. I I can tell you without any hesitation that regardless of the amount of social media regardless of the amount of the mainstream media attention, regardless of the emotion regardless of a. I suppose timeline none of that matters to the GPI. It doesn't matter who the person is it doesn't matter who the victim is. it doesn't matter who potential defendants are all that matters is what the facts tell us and so when we get into any case, certainly a case of this nature, Our goal first of all is to see and find the number one. What are the facts? then once we find those facts number two, We apply the law to those facts in this case doing that relatively quick because again some of the investigation a good portion of it was already done. We applied the law to the. In this case, he came up pretty quickly with the with the with the solid belief that this there, there's a sufficient probable cause to charge the mc's with felony murder and aggravated assault. I can tell you that if we didn't believe it, we wouldn't have arrested him. If we believe it then we're gonna put the bracelets on them and that's exactly what we did yesterday evening and so we're this case when it is handed over to mister Durden for ultimate prosecution will be complete, it will be done in every stone will be over. it will be turned-over I promise. One more question. So far, there's no hate crime in Georgia. there isn't it's one of I think four or five States left in the Union. That doesn't have a hate crime so that would not be anything is when they're first. I you know, I don't know I think with the emergency emergency order in the court system. that's gonna be something that the lawyers have to deal with you know we we don't the GBI won't be involved in setting hearings that'll be done through the lawyers. I don't know if the gentleman have counsel or not, but once they do that'll be secured, then thank you all I appreciate. So much Thank you so is that good. Alright. Thank you all. It. Go.