Trayvon Martin's Murder

Ironically and truthfully, a guy who looks like this would be regarded suspiciously himself if he was walking around in my old neighborhood.

 

It shouldn't matter and doesn't matter. He should be arrested, tried, convicted, and sentenced.

By his own kind...I primarily meant well to do white folk. Not that he was a cop or anything. I guess that he was self appointed (the worst kind) and a little too trigger happy, obviously.

It's more than clear though that one some level, somewhere, he is being protected by someone. If not he would probably been seen by a judge already.

Edit: apparently I'm confused. Zimmerman in a Hispanic? That lives in a gated community in FL.

Anyhow...something's foul. He's guilty and that's plain as day.

Throw him in prison.

Period.

 

911 call released You can hear the shots and screaming. Audio at this link:

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com...l-20120316_1_deadly-shooting-shot-man-reports

Gunfire and screaming can be heard in dramatic 911 calls released late Friday from the shooting of Trayvon Martin.

In one call, placed by the shooter George Zimmerman, he actively pursues the teen before the deadly shooting.

"Are you following him," an emergency dispatcher asks after Zimmerman describes Trayvon as a black male who was acting suspiciously.

Zimmerman responds: "Yeah."

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"OK, you don't need to do that," the dispatcher says.

The recordings were released after Trayvon's family spent two hours with city officials, listening to the calls that documented the 17-year-old's last moments alive.

"What you hear on that tape is shocking. It's riveting," Benjamin Crump, an attorney for Trayvon's family, said after the group emerged from their meeting with officials late Friday.

Police had previously refused to release the calls. Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood crime watch volunteer, has not been arrested and is not charged with a crime. He claimed the Feb. 26 shooting was in self defense.

In one of the eight calls, screaming can be heard in the background as a woman tries to get help. The call is punctuated by two loud bangs.

Martin family attorneys said both were gunfire.


"You hear a shot, a clear shot, then you hear a 17-year-old boy begging for his life," said Natalie Jackson, one of the family's attorneys, "Then you hear a second shot."

But three witnesses who have made public statements have been clear that they heard a single shot, and Trayvon was hit in the chest by a single bullet.

In one of the eight calls, screaming can be heard in the background as a woman tries to get help. That call is punctuated by two gunshots.

"You hear a shot, a clear shot, then you hear a 17-year-old boy begging for his life," said Natalie Jackson, another family attorney. "Then you hear a second shot."

It was the first time that anyone said two shots were fired that night.

In the call placed by Zimmerman to alert authorities that there was a suspicious person in the neighborhood, he says the person "looks like he's up to no good, or he's on drugs or something."

Moments later, Zimmerman says, "These assholes, they always get away."

In one of the 911 calls, placed moments later, a man reports that "they're wrestling right in the back of my porch. There's a black guy down. It looks like he's been shot and he's dead."

Family members would not comment after listening to the tapes.

"They are overwhelmed by grief at what they heard this evening," Crump said. "The last seconds of his life were in absolute fear."

The boy's mother could only listen to about half of the recordings, Crump said. His father broke down near the end, Crump said, "and cried like a baby."

Both lawyers characterized what they heard as "murder" and said Zimmerman should be arrested immediately and federal authorities should take over the case.

The agency decided to release the 911 calls after a series of meetings Friday with U.S. Rep Corrine Brown, Sanford's mayor, Jeff Triplett, Commissioner Velma Williams and City Manager Norton Bonaparte. Triplett and Brown will be asking to meet with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder early next week.

"I would hope that they'd make a difference, to try to stop or slow down … the high state of emotions," Police Chief Bill Lee Jr. told the Sentinel in an exclusive interview Friday.

Lee said he is frustrated that Trayvon's family, its lawyers and others have ripped his department for its handling of the case. He is not a racist, he said, and his officers conducted a thorough and fair investigation and did nothing underhanded or untruthful.

"The hysteria, the media circus, it's just crazy," Lee said. "It's the craziest damn thing I've ever seen, and it's sad. It's sad for the city of Sanford, the police department, because I know in my heart we did a good job."

At a press conference Friday morning, Trayvon's parents said that in the three weeks since he was killed, their trust in the Sanford Police Department has disappeared.

Tracy Martin, father of the slain teen, told reporters he felt "betrayed" by law enforcement investigating his son's death because they have not arrested the shooter.

"It's a shame that he's [Trayvon] not getting any justice. We're not, as a family, getting any closure," the elder Martin said. "I feel betrayed by the Sanford Police Department and there's no way that I can still trust them in investigating this crime."

Investigator Chris Serino of Sanford police said Friday the agency has worked closely with prosecutors, and have not arrested Zimmerman because prosecutors have consistently told them they do not have enough evidence to win a manslaughter conviction.

That's because Zimmerman says he was defending himself, something he's allowed to do under Florida law.

The best account of what happened came from Zimmerman, Serino said. Other witnesses who saw or heard parts of what happened corroborate his version of events, the investigator said.

 

Another article from NY Times:


http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/17/opinion/blow-the-curious-case-of-trayvon-martin.html?_r=2

The Curious Case of Trayvon Martin
By CHARLES M. BLOW
Published: March 16, 2012
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“He said that Tray was gone.”
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Damon Winter/The New York Times
Charles M. Blow
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Justice Department Investigation Is Sought in Florida Teenager’s Shooting Death (March 17, 2012)
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Courtesy of Sybrina Fulton
Trayvon Martin
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That’s how Sybrina Fulton, her voice full of ache, told me she found out that her 17-year-old son, Trayvon Martin, had died. In a wrenching telephone call, the boy’s father, who had taken him to visit a friend, told her that Trayvon had been gunned down in a gated townhouse community in Sanford, Fla., outside Orlando.

“He said, ‘Somebody shot Trayvon and killed him.’ And I was like, ‘Are you sure?’ ” Fulton continued in disbelief. “I said ‘How do you know that’s Trayvon?’ And he said because they showed him a picture.”

That was Feb. 27, one day after Trayvon was shot. The father thought that he was missing, according to the family’s lawyer, Benjamin Crump, but the boy’s body had actually been taken to the medical examiner’s office and listed as a John Doe.

The father called the Missing Persons Unit. No luck. Then he called 911. The police asked the father to describe the boy, after which they sent officers to the house where the father was staying. There they showed him a picture of the boy with blood coming out of his mouth.

This is a nightmare scenario for any parent, and the events leading to Trayvon’s death offer little comfort — and pose many questions.

Trayvon had left the house he and his father were visiting to walk to the local 7-Eleven. On his way back, he caught the attention of George Zimmerman, a 28-year-old neighborhood watch captain, who was in a sport-utility vehicle. Zimmerman called the police because the boy looked “real suspicious,” according to a 911 call released late Friday. The operator told Zimmerman that officers were being dispatched and not to pursue the boy.

Zimmerman apparently pursued him anyway, at some point getting out of his car and confronting the boy. Trayvon had a bag of Skittles and a can of iced tea. Zimmerman had a 9 millimeter handgun.

The two allegedly engaged in a physical altercation. There was yelling, and then a gunshot.

When police arrived, Trayvon was face down in the grass with a fatal bullet wound to the chest. Zimmerman was standing with blood on his face and the back of his head and grass stains on his back, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

Trayvon’s lifeless body was taken away, tagged and held. Zimmerman was taken into custody, questioned and released. Zimmerman said he was the one yelling for help. He said that he acted in self-defense. The police say that they have found no evidence to dispute Zimmerman’s claim.

One other point: Trayvon is black. Zimmerman is not.

Trayvon was buried on March 3. Zimmerman is still free and has not been arrested or charged with a crime.

Yet the questions remain: Why did Zimmerman find Trayvon suspicious? Why did he pursue the boy when the 911 operator instructed him not to? Why did he get out of the car, and why did he take his gun when he did? How is it self-defense when you are the one in pursuit? Who initiated the altercation? Who cried for help? Did Trayvon’s body show evidence of a struggle? What moved Zimmerman to use lethal force?

This case has reignited a furor about vigilante justice, racial-profiling and equitable treatment under the law, and it has stirred the pot of racial strife.

As the father of two black teenage boys, this case hits close to home. This is the fear that seizes me whenever my boys are out in the world: that a man with a gun and an itchy finger will find them “suspicious.” That passions may run hot and blood run cold. That it might all end with a hole in their chest and hole in my heart. That the law might prove insufficient to salve my loss.

That is the burden of black boys in America and the people that love them: running the risk of being descended upon in the dark and caught in the cross-hairs of someone who crosses the line.

The racial sensitivity of this case is heavy. Trayvon’s parents have said their son was murdered. Crump, the family’s lawyer, told me, “You know, if Trayvon would have been the triggerman, it’s nothing Trayvon Martin could have said to keep police from arresting him Day 1, Hour 1.” Even the police chief recognizes this reality, even while disputing claims of racial bias in the investigation: “Our investigation is color blind and based on the facts and circumstances, not color. I know I can say that until I am blue in the face, but, as a white man in a uniform, I know it doesn’t mean anything to anybody.”

Zimmerman has not released a statement, but his father delivered a one-page letter to The Orlando Sentinel on Thursday. According to the newspaper, the statement said that Zimmerman is “Hispanic and grew up in a multiracial family.” The paper quotes the letter as reading, “He would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever” and continues, “The media portrayal of George as a racist could not be further from the truth.” And disclosures made since the shooting complicate people’s perception of fairness in the case.

According to Crump, the father was told that one of the reasons Zimmerman wasn’t arrested was because he had a “squeaky clean” record. It wasn’t. According to the local news station WFTV, Zimmerman was arrested in 2005 for “battery on a law enforcement officer.”

Furthermore, ABC News reported on Tuesday that one of the responding officers “corrected a witness after she told him that she heard the teen cry for help.” And The Miami Herald published an article on Thursday that said three witnesses had heard the “desperate wail of a child, a gunshot, and then silence.”

WFTV also reported this week that the officer in charge of the scene when Trayvon was shot was also in charge of another controversial case. In 2010, a lieutenant’s son was videotaped attacking a black homeless man. The officer’s son also was not initially arrested in that case. He was later arrested when the television station broke the news.

Although we must wait to get the results from all the investigations into Trayvon’s killing, it is clear that it is a tragedy. If no wrongdoing of any sort is ascribed to the incident, it will be an even greater tragedy.

One of the witnesses was a 13-year-old black boy who recorded a video for The Orlando Sentinel recounting what he saw. The boy is wearing a striped polo shirt, holding a microphone, speaking low and deliberately and has the heavy look of worry and sadness in his eyes. He describes hearing screaming, seeing someone on the ground and hearing gunshots. The video ends with the boy saying, “I just think that sometimes people get stereotyped, and I fit into the stereotype as the person who got shot.”

And that is the burden of black boys, and this case can either ease or exacerbate it.

•

I invite you to join me on Facebook and follow me on Twitter, or e-mail me at chblow@nytimes.com.

 

This is just sad, and most likely, nothing will be done about it.

 

I hope you are wrong. I feel like all eyes and pressure will stay on them to do something. Like they should. Listening to that boy cry in the audio makes me want to kill that Zimmerman guy myself.

 

They may do something to save face amid the national controversy, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if it's just a slap on the wrist, for lack of better phrase.

perhaps I'm too cynical though

 

I agree. I can't imagine, as a parent, having to listen to that tape. It would kill me to hear my son pleading for his life and then hearing the shot that ended it. And then to know that his killer is not being charged? My heart goes out to Trayvon's family.

 

Another day in the shoes of a black man.


Stay on your game, fellas.

 

lol Especialy like this guy lives here. and knows it so well lol.


Any how, will be passed to state. I don't think he is going to get a silly slap on the wrist with all of this evidence against him. The fact that he sounds drunk on the call to the police. The fact that kid has no priors. The fact that he went out to simply get candy and ice. The multiple reports of him being aggressive. The fact that he is in his 20's(not the most mature age to be carrying a gun).

There is more built on him than the Caylee Anthony case which the mother served time for lying and doing a bunch of other things. The only reason she didn't go to prison(for killing her kid assuming that she did do it) was that there was no direct evidence that she killed the child(remember O.J. same issue assuming he did it). This guy admits to it. so he is very likely to go to prison. It will end up a battle of was the kid a threat or wasn't he. It is very hard to prove a kid going out for candy and not having priors would attack a person over someone sounding drunk from the call with reported aggressive tendencies. It will be amazing if the case isn't tried by the state.


Also, Zimmerman has a record of battery against on officer and resisting arrest in 2005, a charge that was later expunged.



concerning racial issue, I think it is implied that this guy thinks the kid is an issue because he is black which is very hard to prove. It is going to be idiotic to run a case on this. as oppose to murder of second degree.

 

The fact that there needs to be national media coverage before a guy who killed a kid gets arrested is ridiculous. Honestly things like this are whats telling me to get out of America. Im also willing to bet that if some punk was attacking a black man who had a concealed carry permit, and that black man defended himself that guy would be arrested for 1st degree murder, and get the maximum no questions asked.

 

Keep laughing chuckles. Florida is still the deep south and absolutely notorious for its history of racism against black people. The fact it needed national attention for this motherfuckers to do something as simple as turn over the 911 tape is so damn telling it ain't even funny. Its sickening. The fact dude isn't in the worst prison in Florida while he awaits trial is very telling. The man is garbage he's a racist child murder and deserves to be raped daily before dying at his own hands period.

 

Petition Created By
Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton
Sanford, FL

http://www.change.org/petitions/prosecute-the-killer-of-17-year-old-trayvon-martin#


.

 

Muthafuckin' shame.

 

Words can't convey how sick to my stomach I am right now. The fact that piece of shit Police Chief has the nerve to say some dumb shit like "I'm a white man in a uniform so no one will hear my side of it" is fucking ridiculous. In what other situation in the history of this country would you have a teenagers dead body and the smoking gun in the shooters hand along with witnesses who said they heard a child scream would they allow the suspect to be taken at his word alone? Oh yeah slavery and jim crow. It's like shit never fucking changes and you people wonder why I am so on edge when it comes to racial issues. Even in a situation that's so obviously messed up black people can't get any justice. It took weeks for them to release the 911 calls and still no arrests just an unsympathetic piece of shit police chief and DA. Where else can a child be murdered blocks from his home and no one see the immediate fault. Like the article said had that boy been the one with the gun his ass would have been in lock up hour one.
This one really hurts yall.

 

It is in the South but is not part of the deep south culture. Any person visiting the three major counties (not just saying miami) would have figured this out. YEA, there are rural areas just like in New York but saying especially like florida is known for more than any state for tragedies like this is a complete generalization. Only someone never being here would think that it is "Deep South" With all the Cubans, Haitians, Jamaicans, west indians and south americans living here.


It would be like me saying that about the sean bell case.

That especially in New York you can put more than 5 bullets into a black man and not ever go to prison. A complete generalization.

Just plain ignorance. Nothing but that .

All the states are notorious for their history of racism against black people including New York.


However we are talking about present time. and I will be surprised if this ends up like sean bell where no one goes to prison for shooting an unarmed person. and yes it is sad that it requires coverage but people have become accustomed to murders happening. Unfortunate but true.

I hope that this isn't the kind of case like sean bell. it would not look good.

 

Ok here is a thought that should scare some people. The fact is shit like this happens all the time but will receive no national or even local coverage. Cops can pull you over, and arrest you on bogus charges, and you can get locked up. Try going "THE COPS BE RACIST!" and have everyone looking at you as if your some kind of moron.

Theres been numerous cases where cops have shot people for "someone thought he had a gun." Even in the case of Oscar Grant (which was in the San Francisco bay area AKA "Liberal California.") The officer who shot the kid was in-front of numerous cameras he was charged with manslaughter over some bogus "Tazer defense" Even though the guy was already held down so a tazer wasn't necessary., and then released after barely serving any time at all. Honestly if a black cop shot a white kid, and there was video evidence in court would that the officer would get the same slap on the wrist?


Historically in this country you can get away with killing black people its just that simple. In the south everyone posed proudly in lynching photos because they knew that no jury would convict them in spite of overwhelming evidence.



Welcome to the United States of America where more foreigners can agree that Im an American then Americans.

 

I know what you mean.

It's fucked up beyond words, my friend.

 

The killers of Oscar Grant were guilty and found guilty. so not the best example. The only thing wrong with that case(excluding that it shouldn't be a case because he shouldn't have been killed or injured) is that they are not in prison for life. I literally saw the guy get shoot and was just in rage over that. If I was in the jury, I would have been bias as hell. Send them to Florida or Texas and bring back old sparky. Let sparky have a talk with him!:smt042

edit: on video but it felt like I was there.