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The shooting of Trayvon Martin took place on February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida. Trayvon Martin was an African American teenager who was shot and killed by 28-year-old George Zimmerman, a man of mixed ethnicity (Latino and white American). Martin, who was unarmed, had been walking to the home of his father's girlfriend from a convenience store when Zimmerman, a community watch captain, followed him while on the phone with the Sanford Police Department, saying he witnessed suspicious behavior. Soon afterward, there was a physical altercation which ended when Zimmerman fatally shot Martin.

Zimmerman described the shooting to the police who arrived on the scene as self-defense; specifically, that Martin was angry at Zimmerman's following him and physically attacked Zimmerman. The responding officers did not arrest Zimmerman, saying on March 12 that they did not find evidence to contradict his assertion of self-defense. Zimmerman had a bloody nose, blood stains on the back of his head, and moisture on his back consistent with his story of being attacked by Martin. Both Martin and Zimmerman made phone calls during the incident, some of which were recorded.

The circumstances around Martin's death received national and international attention, particularly regarding Florida's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law and allegations of racial motivations and police misconduct, triggering multiple investigations and public demands for Zimmerman's arrest. Many people, from civil rights leaders to public officials – including Reverend Al Sharpton, President Barack Obama Jesse Jackson, and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi – have made public comments or released statements about the shooting.

Persons involved

Trayvon Martin

Trayvon Benjamin Martin (February 5, 1995 – February 26, 2012) was the son of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin. He was 17 years old, 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) and weighed 140 pounds (64 kg) at the time of his death. His parents had divorced in 1999; his mother is a Miami-Dade government employee and his father is a truck driver. He was a student at Krop Senior High School, where he was a junior interested in military aviation. Martin lived with his mother and older brother in Miami Gardens, Florida. He was visiting his father and his father's fiancee, Brandi Green, at her townhome in Sanford, Florida, on the day he was killed, after being suspended from school for a third time.

George Zimmerman

George Michael Zimmerman was born on October 5, 1983, in Virginia, the son of Gladys Zimmerman and Robert Zimmerman, Sr. His father is a caucasian American and his mother is from Peru. He was raised Catholic and served as an altar boy, living in Manassas, Virginia until the early 2000s. He is a self-identified Hispanic. At the time of the incident, he was 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) tall, and weighed approximately 250 lb (110 kg). He is licensed to carry a firearm.

Zimmerman enrolled in the Seminole County Sheriff's Office citizens' law-enforcement academy — a four-month-long, one evening a week course consisting of a total of 14 hours of classes. He was working toward an associate degree at Seminole State College. His enrollment was withdrawn after this shooting controversy due to their "...responsibility to provide for the safety of our students on campus as well as for Mr. Zimmerman."

According to Zimmerman's father, in the wake of the controversy, George Zimmerman received death threats and moved out of his home. The New Black Panther Party has offered a $10,000 reward for the abduction of George Zimmerman. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan warned of "retaliation". Film director Spike Lee retweeted Zimmerman's purported address on his Twitter account, which some took as a call for vigilante action. It was later reported that the address was incorrect, belonging to someone unrelated to the incident. Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee said that Zimmerman had cooperated with investigators, has not retained an attorney, and has disconnected his phones. Zimmerman retained an attorney on March 24.

Neighborhood watch

The February 2012 HOA newsletter requested that crime victims "call our captain, George Zimmerman" after calling the police. Wendy Dorival, who organizes Neighborhood Watch for the Sanford Police Department, told the Sentinel in a recent interview that Zimmerman was chosen as a watch coordinator by his neighbors.

Some residents of his gated townhouse community declared that Zimmerman was known for being strict and that he went door to door asking them to be on the lookout for "young black men who appear to be outsiders", while others regarded him as normal, helpful and passionate about neighborhood security, having supposedly thwarted a previous burglary attempt. The community reportedly experienced numerous instances of burglary, theft, and one shooting during the previous year, with 402 calls made to the police." According to the Miami Herald, Zimmerman had placed 46 of those calls since the beginning of 2011, "to report disturbances, break-ins, windows left open and other incidents; nine of those times, he saw someone or something suspicious". The Herald described Zimmerman as "mild-mannered", but "fixated on crime and focused on young, black males."

Sanford police chief Bill Lee stated, "Mr. Zimmerman was not acting outside the legal boundaries of Florida Statute by carrying his weapon when this incident occurred."

Location

The Retreat at Twin Lakes is a recently built private community in Sanford, Florida consisting of townhouses and condominiums. Vehicular access is by gates to the north and east, which are unguarded but electronically controlled.

Shooting

Interaction

During a break in an NBA basketball game on TV, Martin left his father's fiance's home in the gated community of Twin Lakes to walk to a nearby 7-Eleven convenience store to buy some Skittles. While returning to the house, Trayvon was seen by George Zimmerman, who called the Sanford Police Department non-emergency number.

According to phone records provided by T-Mobile, Martin was speaking on a cell phone at the time of the incident. Martin's girlfriend came forward, identifying herself as the other person in that conversation; she was interviewed by an attorney, who has made a statement, and her parents have requested her anonymity. The girl said that Martin expressed concern about a strange man following him, and she advised him to run. She says she heard Martin say "What are you following me for?" followed by a man's voice responding "What are you doing here?" She said that she heard the sound of pushing and that Martin's headset suddenly went silent, leading her to believe that he had been knocked down. She attempted to call him back immediately, but was unable to reach him.

Zimmerman police call

Zimmerman phoned the Sanford Police Department police at the non-emergency number at approximately 7:00 p.m., February 26, 2012 to report Martin's suspicious behavior, which he described as "just walking around looking about" in the rain. The police dispatcher tape recorded him saying, "This guy looks like he is up to no good. He is on drugs or something." He further stated that the person he was observing had his hand in his waistband, was holding something in his other hand, and was walking around slowly in the rain looking at houses.

The dispatcher recommended that he not take any action, and informed him that police were on the way. Zimmerman reported that Martin had started running. The dispatcher asked him if he was following Martin and he affirmed that he was. The dispatcher informed him that this was not necessary, saying, "We don't need you to do that." Zimmerman affirmed "OK" and made arrangements to meet with police when they arrived.

A portion of what Zimmerman said in the call to police is disputed. Some have suggested the disputed words were "fucking coons", an ethnic slur used against black people, while others suggest it was "clueless", "course", or "punks". Joe Oliver, a Zimmerman family friend, said he heard the word "goon". The disputed portion occurs around 2:21.

Police arrival

When the police arrived, they reported finding Martin face-down and unresponsive, with a gunshot wound in the chest. The police report states that they attempted CPR, paramedics arrived and continued CPR, finally declaring him dead at 7:30 p.m. Statements by the police say Zimmerman had grass on his back and his back was wet. Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose and the back of the head; subsequently his lawyer stated that Zimmerman's nose was broken. Zimmerman received medical care for his injuries the next day. Zimmerman asserted self-defense, telling police he had stepped out of his truck to check the name of the street he was on, when Martin attacked him from behind as he walked back to his truck. He said he fired the semiautomatic handgun because he feared for his life. Martin was unarmed, and was carrying a bag of Skittles candy and a can of Arizona brand iced tea.

Immediately following the shooting, Trayvon Martin's body was transported to the morgue and was tagged as a John Doe. Trayvon was unidentified by police for 63 hours after the incident. Trayvon's family criticized the police department for not identifying their son more quickly, and for not asking neighbors if they recognized Trayvon, who had been staying with his father in the gated community. David Horsey also criticized police for failing to check his cell phone to find someone he knew.

The lead homicide investigator on the case, Chris Serino, recommended charging Zimmerman with manslaughter, but was instructed by the state attorney's office that there was not enough evidence. Serino filed an affidavit the night of the incident, saying he was unconvinced by Zimmerman's account.

Witness accounts

An eyewitness to the physical altercation just prior to the shooting stated that Martin was on top of Zimmerman and beating him up, while the older man yelled for help. Another witness, Mary Cutcher, believes "there was no punching, no hitting going on at the time, no wrestling" just prior to the shooting, though she neither saw the shooting nor the preceding altercation. The police say she gave an official account to them that agreed with Zimmerman's story. Cutcher and her roommate told CNN journalist Anderson Cooper that their own account of the incident to the police did not agree with Zimmerman's, and that they had demanded that the police retract that incorrect statement. They also said, about the police's attitude at the scene, that "they were siding with him from the start" and that they heard the pair in their backyard and a "very young voice" whining, with no sounds of a fight. They heard a gunshot; the crying stopped immediately, and they saw Zimmerman on his knees pinning Martin down on the ground.

Zimmerman's account of events

The police told the Orlando Sentinel, that Zimmerman told them that after he followed Martin, he lost track of him and was returning to his car. Zimmerman reported Martin then confronted him and asked "Do you have a problem?". Zimmerman said he replied no, and then reached for his cell phone. Zimmerman then alleged that Martin punched him in the face, knocking him down, and then began to beat his head against the ground. Zimmerman states that he called out for help while being beat, and that he then shot Martin in self defense.

Aftermath

Zimmerman has not been charged with any crime, because he asserted the right of self-defense, and investigators said they could find no evidence disproving that assertion. According to Martin's father, Tracy Martin, when the family asked why Zimmerman had not been arrested, the police responded that he had a "squeaky-clean record" and they respected his educational background in criminal justice. Tracy Martin says that the revelation of Zimmerman's previous charge demonstrated his "propensity for violence" and that the police had lied to the family. Police ran a background check on Trayvon Martin, confirming that he had no criminal record, which caused Tracy Martin to further question why Zimmerman was not arrested after shooting and killing an unarmed teenager with no criminal history. The case has sparked national outrage and protests.

Recordings of eight calls to the police made on the night of the shooting were released by the Sanford police on March 17, 2012. Early press reports incorrectly indicated that the recordings included the sound of a single shot followed by a voice pleading or begging for help, and then a second shot is heard, after which the voice immediately stopped. Later reports indicate that gun was fired only once. Zimmerman told police at the scene that he was the one crying out for help. The statement was corroborated by an eyewitness who said that Martin was on top of Zimmerman, beating him, as Zimmerman called for help. One witness, who had only heard but not seen the events, believed Martin was the one calling for help, and said that the police tried to correct her into changing their assertion to Zimmerman as the one calling for help. Another witness who also heard but did not see the events, Mary Cutcher, said that she believed the cry was from Martin and said that she did not believe that Zimmerman acted in self-defense, contending that she and her roommate heard Martin cry out, followed by a gunshot, whereupon they saw Zimmerman standing over his body.

The night of the shooting, Sanford police accepted Zimmerman's account at face value. Police Chief Lee said he did not have enough evidence to arrest Zimmerman. "In this case Mr. Zimmerman has made the statement of self-defense", Lee said. "Until we can establish probable cause to dispute that, we don't have the grounds to arrest him." In response to criticisms of the investigation, Lee responded that "We are taking a beating over this," and defended the investigation. "This is all very unsettling. I'm sure if George Zimmerman had the opportunity to relive Sunday, Feb. 26, he'd probably do things differently. I'm sure Trayvon would, too."

Missing persons report

The morning after the incident, Tracy Martin called missing persons and the police to report his son as missing. Officers were dispatched to the home, where they showed the father a crime scene photograph of Martin for identification purposes. Martin's body had been taken to the medical examiner's office as a John Doe and unidentified for 24 hours.

Investigations and other official statements

Multiple investigations are ongoing. On March 20, the FBI and the Justice Department announced that they were opening investigations into the incident. The state governor, Rick Scott, has asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the shooting. A Seminole County grand jury will also investigate the case, and will convene on April 10, 2012 according to State Attorney Norm Wolfinger.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi made a statement on March 20 regarding the case:

"I am both devastated and deeply troubled that young Trayvon Martin lost his life in a shooting. When someone loses his life at the hands of another, there cannot be any questions surrounding the circumstances of the death. ... I have spoken to FDLE Commissioner Bailey, whose agency is now involved, and I know that a complete and thorough review of the facts will be conducted. FDLE has skilled investigators of the highest caliber, and no stone will be left unturned in this investigation. While the Seminole County State Attorney's Office has the sole authority regarding a charging decision by law, I will remain vigilant in ensuring that questions are answered."

President Barack Obama, speaking to reporters on March 23 after federal investigators were deployed to Sanford, said, "When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids, and I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this."

Allegations of racism

Against Zimmerman

The shooting also resulted in allegations that Zimmerman was motivated by racism. Critics disparaged what they perceived to be Zimmerman racially profiling Martin. Witnesses had previously noted that Zimmerman went door to door warning residents to be on the lookout for "young black men who appear to be outsiders". Thousands of people attended rallies around the country to demand Zimmerman's arrest, including a gathering on March 22 of civil rights leaders including Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, Dick Gregory, and others. Charles M. Blow of The New York Times commented that the case touched upon longstanding concerns about racial profiling, inequitable treatment under the law, and overall racial strife.

Defense of Zimmerman by father and friends

In an open letter, Zimmerman's father, Robert Zimmerman, defended his son against allegations that his actions were racially motivated, stating that Zimmerman was part Hispanic, was raised in a multiracial family, and "would be the last to discriminate for any reason whatsoever," saying that the portrayal of his son as a racist "could not be further from the truth." However, Robert goes on to say that "At no time did George follow or confront Mr. Martin," a claim which contradicts Zimmerman's own response to a police dispatcher in his phone call, explaining he was following. In an interview with Anderson Cooper, Zimmerman's lawyer Craig Sooner stated that Zimmerman is not a racist, and that he had mentored black youths in the past. Another friend, Joe Oliver, 53, a former television news reporter, noted "I'm a black male and all that I know is that George has never given me any reason whatsoever to believe he has anything against people of color."

Accusation of jumping to conclusions

Commentator Thomas Sowell wrote, "The man who shot the black teenager in Florida may be as guilty as sin, for all I know — or he may be innocent, for all I know. We pay taxes so that there can be judges and jurors who sort out the facts. We do not need Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton or the President of the United States spouting off before the trial has even begun. Have we forgotten the media's rush to judgment in the Duke University "rape" case that blew up completely when the facts came out?"

Against the Sanford police

For not arresting Zimmerman, the Sanford police have faced heavy criticism, protests, and allegations of racial bias. Over 2 million people have demanded Zimmerman's arrest via a Change.org petition by Trayvon's mother. The NAACP wrote U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder expressing "no confidence that, absent federal oversight, the Sanford Police Department will devote the necessary degree of care to its investigation" and requesting that personnel be detailed to Sanford to review the case without bias. Lee repeatedly defended the investigation, stating that the Sanford police did not feel they had conducted a racially biased investigation and welcomed a review of their efforts. Allegations were also made that the Sanford police were protecting Zimmerman. A witness who reported that she heard Martin cry out for help and subsequently saw Zimmerman standing over Martin's body, said that police only took a brief statement from her, despite her attempts to provide more detail. Lee told reporters that they could not arrest Zimmerman because no evidence contradicted his story, and that to do so would leave the police open to litigation. He also said that although 911 did instruct Zimmerman not to pursue Martin, those instructions are only recommendations that do not carry the force of law.

Three out of the five members of the Sanford city commission, including the Mayor, passed a motion of no confidence in regards to the police chief Bill Lee, and his handling of the case. One member of the council, Mark McCarty, then asked for Lee to step down. The City Manager, Norton Bonaparte Jr., stated that he would not make a decision regarding Lee until more information from the investigation was available.

On Mar 22, 2012, Lee announced publicly that he had temporarily stepped down from his position as chief of police, stating "my involvement in this matter is overshadowing the process."

Previous incidents with racial issues

News reports noted that the police department of the city of Sanford has faced previous allegations of racial prejudice. In 2011, chief of police Brian Tooley was forced from office after declining to prosecute a police lieutenant's son for beating up a homeless black man, in an incident caught on video. After the footage went viral on YouTube, the perpetrator, Justin Collison, was arrested. The officer in charge of that case was also in charge of the Trayvon Martin shooting scene. In 2005, two parking lot security guards, one the son of a Sanford police department veteran and the other a volunteer for the department, shot a black teen, Travares McGill, in the back, killing him. The guards asserted self-defense, and the case was dismissed in court.

Legal issues

Self-defense laws in the United States, particularly regarding justifiable homicide, vary by state. Florida law, as of 2005, includes a "stand your ground" provision, under which a person can use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm, in most circumstances. In many states, such laws protect people in their own homes, but Florida's version extends the no-retreat premise to vehicles and public places. After the shooting, media reports had indicated that Zimmerman most likely would use the Stand Your Ground provison in Florida's self-defense law. However, Craig Sonner, attorney for George Zimmerman, was interviewed by Anderson Cooper on March 23, 2012 and stated that the Stand Your Ground law was not applicable in this case, but that this was still a case of self defense. According to Durell Peaden, one of the sponsors of the Florida law, the law does not say that a person has a right to confront another. "When said 'I'm following him', he lost his defense."

Zimmerman said that he was returning to his SUV when attacked, telling police he had stepped out of his truck to check the name of the street he was on, when Martin attacked him from behind as he walked back to his truck. His attorney said he believed that Zimmerman's nose was broken and he sustained an injury to the back of his head that probably should have had stitches. Florida law prohibits arresting a suspect who claims self defense, unless it has probable cause to show the force used was unlawful, and awards damages, repayment of lost income, court costs, attorneys fees if an arrest is made, and the suspect is later found immune to prosecution due to the self-defense statute.

Some sources have given the opinion that Martin was acting in self defense from the confrontation with Zimmerman and was protected by the Stand Your Ground Law; under that theory, Zimmerman would not be entitled to immunity for the shooting.

See also

• Crime in the United States
• Jesus C. Gonzalez
• Vincent Chin
• Yoshihiro Hattori
• Bernhard Goetz
• Lemrick Nelson
• Yankel Rosenbaum
• Joe Horn shooting controversy
• Shai Dromi
• Murder of Shaima Alawadi

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External links

• Sanford Florida Police Report
• Sanford Police FAQ on the incident
• George Zimmerman police call reporting Trayvon Martin Orlando Sentinel
• Trayvon Martin collected news and commentary at The New York Times
• Template:WSJtopic
• Trayvon Martin collected news and commentary at The Guardian

• Current events from March 2012
• 2012 in Florida
• Gun politics in the United States
• Seminole County, Florida