In this case, that appears to be correct.
Arbery did not do anything.
“ Under cross-examination by the prosecution on his second day of testimony, Travis McMichael said he was “under the impression” that Arbery could be a threat because he was running straight at him and he had seen Arbery trying to get into the truck of a neighbor who had joined in a pursuit of Arbery.
“All he’s done is run away from you,” prosecutor Linda Dunikoski said. “And you pulled out a shotgun and pointed it at him.””
He was running straight at him when there was plenty of room to go to the side. Then he reverses course when Travis pulls out the gun. Note that Travis didn't shoot him that time and didn't follow him. Arbery should have learned by now that he can avoid getting shot by not attacking.
Then after disappearing around the bend, Arbery comes back again, and runs straight at him again, when he has the whole road to run in. You can see it on the video. The guy is irrationally aggressive. He doesn't have to run straight at him. Yet he chooses to do so.
This time when Travis points his gun at him -- and doesn't shoot -- he veers to the right and goes by the truck on the right side. Fine, so far so good. Travis remains on the left side. Arbery has an open path ahead of him, but instead of continuing, he turns sharply, crosses in front of the truck, and attacks Travis.
And people claim Travis didn't fire in self defense. Preposterous! Look at the video -- -- VIEWER WARNING: Uncut video of confrontation, shooting of Ahmaud Arbery (News4JAX).
As was pointed out above, previously Arbery was running straight at the younger McMichael until the younger McMichael pulled out his shotgun at which time Arbery immediately stopped and ran back the other direction.
Trying to break into another car in an effort to flee is also evidence that Arbery was dangerous.