Neighborhood Watch guy chases down a kid, shoots him, charged with 2nd-degree murder

[Eruff24]

The teen was killed by Zimmerman while walking back to his father's fiancés home after stepping out to buy Skittles and some iced tea during the NBA All-Star Game. After weeks of relentless pressure, the Sanford Police have decided to release emergency and non-emergency calls placed during the incident.

"These a**holes always get away," Zimmerman says in a call to a non-emergency number.

Dispatcher: "Are you following him?"

Zimmerman: "Yeah."

Dispatcher: "We don't need you to do that."








So much for self defense

[nesper]

oh and i still believe the sanford pd failed to properly investigate...

i'm not saying automatically throw the guy in jail for life or anything, but when there is this much uncertainty, at least charge the guy at see what happens after that- if a jury isnt convinced, at least it still went through the process..

So guilty until proven innocent? That's how these statements read.

Yep. At this point there will be a lot of people riled up if he is tried and exonerated but that really is all I want. He should have to face a judge and jury for his actions. And he most certainly should not still be able to walk around carrying a gun until this whole thing is investigated.

[Go Blue Girl]

My thoughts...working in the prosecutors office, I know first hand that the vast majority of the time, law enforcement (police, prosecutors) know far more about the case and have far more info than the media has. I have been involved in high profile cases where the info being reported by the media is in part factually inaccurate and inflammatory. I keep thinking why now, with all the other entities investigating this case, why no charges have yet to be filed, and I keep going back to that...they know far more than we do.

But that said. It still is hard for me to believe...there would have been no confrontation if Zimmerman had not been stalking this kid, there would have been no confrontation if Zimmerman had stood down as police ordered him to. Even if, and I mean IF Martin did respond aggressively at some point, the evidence appears to suggest that Zimmerman instigated the confrontation. That being the case, not sure how he isn't charged yet.

But again, I keep going back to my personal experience...police/feds have info we probably do not know, otherwise, with such intense scrutiny, it is likely Zimmerman would have been arrested already.

[det2orl]

So guilty until proven innocent? That's how these statements read.

Really? How is that saying he is guilty? Saying that a judge and jury should determine his guilt or innocence is guilty before proven innocent?

If a police officer discharges his weapon, it is taken away until an investigation is completed. POs are trained professionals. How is a random citizen be above the same scrutiny?

[The Great Gazoo]

thank you interwebs...seems like (not that it matters about what occurred) he labeled himself as a Hispanic...and a Democrat...



this whole case comes down to him getting out of his car...he doesn't engage and lets the police check out the situation, no one dies...

[RickFromFowler]

The teen was killed by Zimmerman while walking back to his father's fiancés home after stepping out to buy Skittles and some iced tea during the NBA All-Star Game. After weeks of relentless pressure, the Sanford Police have decided to release emergency and non-emergency calls placed during the incident.

"These a**holes always get away," Zimmerman says in a call to a non-emergency number.

Dispatcher: "Are you following him?"

Zimmerman: "Yeah."

Dispatcher: "We don't need you to do that."








So much for self defense

Not withstanding that "we don't need you to do that" isn't an order to stop. And not withstanding that a police dispatcher may not have the authority to tell him to stop.

The question is.. what happen after that ?

[det2orl]

Not withstanding that "we don't need you to do that" isn't an order to stop. And not withstanding that a police dispatcher may not have the authority to tell him to stop.

The question is.. what happen after that ?

It surely doesn't mean. "proceed and attempt to apprehend"

[RickFromFowler]

It surely doesn't mean. "proceed and attempt to apprehend"

I agree totally.

It would appear that GZ did also, as according to the police report, he stopped looking for TM, returned to his vehicle, was confronted by TM, asked if he had a problem, said he didn't and TM said "you do now" and attacked GZ.

That is the Sanford Police Report based off an eye witnesses statement from the scene.

There are others who report different circumstances and that is what the investigation needs to drill down on.

If that police report is accurate, then there is a lot of explaining to do by a lot of folks.

If it isn't accurate, then there is a lot of explaining to do by a bunch of different folks.

[pGekko]

Attempt to apprehend?

[det2orl]

Attempt to apprehend?

or maybe interrogate. I mean what else was he planning to do when/if he caught up with Trayvon?

[det2orl]

I agree totally.

It would appear that GZ did also, as according to the police report, he stopped looking for TM, returned to his vehicle, was confronted by TM, asked if he had a problem, said he didn't and TM said "you do now" and attacked GZ.

That is the Sanford Police Report based off an eye witnesses statement from the scene.

There are others who report different circumstances and that is what the investigation needs to drill down on.

If that police report is accurate, then there is a lot of explaining to do by a lot of folks.

If it isn't accurate, then there is a lot of explaining to do by a bunch of different folks.

But that is kind of the problem. The police report consists of GZ's retelling of the happenings. The PD accepted that as fact and moved on.