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==Trayvon Martin shooting and trial== ==Trayvon Martin shooting and trial==
]
{{main|Shooting of Trayvon Martin|State of Florida v. George Zimmerman}} {{main|Shooting of Trayvon Martin|State of Florida v. George Zimmerman}}
On February 26, 2012, Zimmerman fatally shot 17-year-old ] high school student ] in The Retreat at Twin Lakes community in Sanford, Florida.<ref name="Reuters prelude"/> Zimmerman was the ] coordinator for the ] where Martin was temporarily staying and where the shooting occurred.<ref name="Rally">{{cite news| url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-14/news/os-trayvon-martin-shooting-death-rally-20120314_1_demand-justice-fatal-shooting-bryant|title=Trayvon Martin: 'We are gathered here today to demand justice' in teen's fatal shooting|last=Prieto|first=Bianca|date=March 14, 2012|work=]|accessdate=March 20, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hamacher|first=Brian |url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/George-Zimmerman-to-Make-First-Appearance-Before-Judge-Thursday-147134515.html |title=George Zimmerman Makes First Appearance Before Judge |publisher=NBC Miami |accessdate=April 21, 2012}}</ref><ref name="designated watch">{{cite news|title=Trayvon Martin death spotlights neighborhood watch groups|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/us/trayvon-martin-death-spotlights-neighborhood-watch-groups.html?_r=1|work=The New York Times|accessdate=June 23, 2012|first1=Campbell|last1=Robertson|first2=John|last2=Schwartz|date=March 22, 2012}}</ref> The ] issued a statement that said that the program in the neighborhood where the altercation between Zimmerman and Martin transpired was not associated with the national organization and that Zimmerman ignored everything the program stands for. Their statement also said that Zimmerman was self-appointed, and it describes the shooting of Trayvon as a tragedy.<ref>. ]. Retrieved October 17, 2013.</ref> The Twin Lakes Neighborhood Watch program was administered by the local police department. Following an earlier call from Zimmerman, police arrived within two minutes of a gunshot during an altercation in which Zimmerman fatally shot Martin, who did not possess any weapons. Zimmerman was subsequently taken into custody, treated for head injuries, then questioned for five hours. The police chief said that Zimmerman was released because there was no evidence to refute Zimmerman's claim of having acted in self-defense, and that under Florida's ] statute, the police were prohibited by law from making an arrest.<ref name=warrant>{{cite news|last=Robles|first=Frances|title=Sanford cops sought warrant to arrest George Zimmerman in Trayvon Martin shooting|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/sanford-cops-sought-warrant-to-arrest-george-zimmerman-in-trayvon-martin/1222259|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|date=March 27, 2012|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref> The police chief also said that Zimmerman had had a right to defend himself with lethal force.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Trymaine|title=Trayvon Martin Case: Police Chief Bill Lee Under Fire With 'No Confidence' Vote|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/trayvon-martin-case-george-zimmerman-bill-lee_n_1371635.html|work=Huffington Post|date=March 22, 2012|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref> As news of the case spread, thousands of protestors across the country called for Zimmerman's arrest and a full investigation.<ref name=protests032712>{{cite news|author=CNN Wire Staff|title=From coast to coast, protestors demand justice in Trayvon Martin case|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/26/justice/florida-teen-shooting-events|publisher=CNN|date=March 27, 2012|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref> Six weeks after the shooting, amid widespread, intense, and in some cases ],<ref>{{cite web|author=Moore, Frazier|url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/06/nbc-fires-producer-of-misleading-tape_n_1409405.html |title=NBC Fires Producer Of Misleading Zimmerman Tape|work=]|date= April 7, 2012|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Deadline Team|url= http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/third-person-exits-nbc-over-misleading-edit-of-zimmermans-911-audio/|title=Third Person Exits NBC Over Misleading Edit Of Zimmerman’s 911 Audio |publisher=]|date= May 12, 2012|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref> Zimmerman was ] by a ] appointed by Governor ].<ref name="jury select">{{cite news|last=McClam |first=Erin |url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/10/18880979-potential-trayvon-martin-case-jurors-get-look-at-defendant-george-zimmerman?lite |title=Potential Trayvon Martin case jurors get look at defendant George Zimmerman |publisher=]|date=June 10, 2013|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref> On February 26, 2012, Zimmerman fatally shot 17-year-old ] high school student ] in The Retreat at Twin Lakes community in Sanford, Florida.<ref name="Reuters prelude"/> Zimmerman was the ] coordinator for the ] where Martin was temporarily staying and where the shooting occurred.<ref name="Rally">{{cite news| url=http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-14/news/os-trayvon-martin-shooting-death-rally-20120314_1_demand-justice-fatal-shooting-bryant|title=Trayvon Martin: 'We are gathered here today to demand justice' in teen's fatal shooting|last=Prieto|first=Bianca|date=March 14, 2012|work=]|accessdate=March 20, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Hamacher|first=Brian |url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/George-Zimmerman-to-Make-First-Appearance-Before-Judge-Thursday-147134515.html |title=George Zimmerman Makes First Appearance Before Judge |publisher=NBC Miami |accessdate=April 21, 2012}}</ref><ref name="designated watch">{{cite news|title=Trayvon Martin death spotlights neighborhood watch groups|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/23/us/trayvon-martin-death-spotlights-neighborhood-watch-groups.html?_r=1|work=The New York Times|accessdate=June 23, 2012|first1=Campbell|last1=Robertson|first2=John|last2=Schwartz|date=March 22, 2012}}</ref> The ] issued a statement that said that the program in the neighborhood where the altercation between Zimmerman and Martin transpired was not associated with the national organization and that Zimmerman ignored everything the program stands for. Their statement also said that Zimmerman was self-appointed, and it describes the shooting of Trayvon as a tragedy.<ref>. ]. Retrieved October 17, 2013.</ref> The Twin Lakes Neighborhood Watch program was administered by the local police department. Following an earlier call from Zimmerman, police arrived within two minutes of a gunshot during an altercation in which Zimmerman fatally shot Martin, who did not possess any weapons. Zimmerman was subsequently taken into custody, treated for head injuries, then questioned for five hours. The police chief said that Zimmerman was released because there was no evidence to refute Zimmerman's claim of having acted in self-defense, and that under Florida's ] statute, the police were prohibited by law from making an arrest.<ref name=warrant>{{cite news|last=Robles|first=Frances|title=Sanford cops sought warrant to arrest George Zimmerman in Trayvon Martin shooting|url=http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/sanford-cops-sought-warrant-to-arrest-george-zimmerman-in-trayvon-martin/1222259|newspaper=Tampa Bay Times|date=March 27, 2012|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref> The police chief also said that Zimmerman had had a right to defend himself with lethal force.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lee|first=Trymaine|title=Trayvon Martin Case: Police Chief Bill Lee Under Fire With 'No Confidence' Vote|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/22/trayvon-martin-case-george-zimmerman-bill-lee_n_1371635.html|work=Huffington Post|date=March 22, 2012|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref> As news of the case spread, thousands of protestors across the country called for Zimmerman's arrest and a full investigation.<ref name=protests032712>{{cite news|author=CNN Wire Staff|title=From coast to coast, protestors demand justice in Trayvon Martin case|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2012/03/26/justice/florida-teen-shooting-events|publisher=CNN|date=March 27, 2012|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref> Six weeks after the shooting, amid widespread, intense, and in some cases ],<ref>{{cite web|author=Moore, Frazier|url= http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/06/nbc-fires-producer-of-misleading-tape_n_1409405.html |title=NBC Fires Producer Of Misleading Zimmerman Tape|work=]|date= April 7, 2012|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Deadline Team|url= http://www.deadline.com/2012/05/third-person-exits-nbc-over-misleading-edit-of-zimmermans-911-audio/|title=Third Person Exits NBC Over Misleading Edit Of Zimmerman’s 911 Audio |publisher=]|date= May 12, 2012|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref> Zimmerman was ] by a ] appointed by Governor ].<ref name="jury select">{{cite news|last=McClam |first=Erin |url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/10/18880979-potential-trayvon-martin-case-jurors-get-look-at-defendant-george-zimmerman?lite |title=Potential Trayvon Martin case jurors get look at defendant George Zimmerman |publisher=]|date=June 10, 2013|accessdate=September 17, 2013}}</ref>

Revision as of 07:14, 6 November 2013

For the mayor of Buffalo, New York, see George J. Zimmermann.

George Zimmerman
BornGeorge Michael Zimmerman
(1983-10-05) October 5, 1983 (age 41)
Manassas, Virginia, U.S.
Height5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)

George Michael Zimmerman (born October 5, 1983) is an American best known for fatally shooting Trayvon Martin on February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida. On July 13, 2013, his trial for second-degree murder and manslaughter ended in acquittal.

Biography

George Michael Zimmerman was born on October 5, 1983, in Manassas, Virginia, and is the son of Gladys (née Mesa) Zimmerman and Robert Zimmerman, Sr.Zimmerman is the third of four children and his siblings include a brother, Robert Jr. and two sisters, Grace and Dawn.Gladys Zimmerman was born in Peru and has some black ancestry through her Afro-Peruvian maternal grandfather.Robert Zimmerman, Sr. is an American of German descent and served 22 years in the military working for the Department of Defense for the last 10 years of his military career. Before retiring to Florida in 2002, Zimmerman, Sr. had served as a magistrate in Fairfax County's 19th Judicial District.George Zimmerman's voter registration record lists him as a Democrat and a Hispanic.

Zimmerman was raised as a Catholic and served as an altar boy from age 7 to 17. Zimmerman attended All Saints Catholic School in Manassas before going to public high school.At age 14, Zimmerman joined an after school ROTC program because he had wanted to become a Marine.When Zimmerman was 15, he worked three part-time jobs on nights and weekends to save up for a car. Zimmerman graduated from Osbourn High School in 2001.

Move to Florida

After graduating from high school, Zimmerman moved to Lake Mary, Florida where he got a job at an insurance agency. Zimmerman took classes at night to obtain a license to sell insurance. It was during this time when he became friends with Lee Ann Benjamin, a real estate agent, and her husband John Donnelly, a Sanford attorney.Benjamin and Donnelly would both later testify on his behalf at his trial in the death of Martin. According to Donnelly, in 2004 Zimmerman and an African-American friend opened a satellite office of Allstate insurance which eventually failed a year later. In July of 2005, when he was 21, Zimmerman was arrested and charged after shoving an "undercover alcohol-control agent" while a friend of Zimmerman's was being arrested for underage drinking. The charges were subsequently dropped when Zimmerman entered a pre-trial diversion program that included anger management classes. Also in 2005, Zimmerman's ex-fiancée filed a restraining order against him, alleging domestic violence. Zimmerman requested a reciprocal restraining order. Both orders were granted. These incidents were raised by prosecutors at Zimmerman's initial bond hearing. The judge described the arrests as "run of the mill."

Move to Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford

Zimmerman married Shellie Dean, a licensed cosmetologist in 2007 and two years later they rented a townhouse in the Retreat at Twin Lakes. Zimmerman had also previously been employed at a car dealership and a mortgage company.Zimmerman enrolled in Seminole State College in 2009 and was working on an associate degree in criminal justice. In December 2011 he was allowed to participate in a school graduation ceremony, even though he was a course credit shy of his degree. He was completing that credit at the time of the shooting. Zimmerman was employed as an insurance underwriter at that time also.

In early 2011, Zimmerman participated in a citizen forum at the Sanford City Hall, to protest the beating of a black homeless man by the son of a white Sanford police officer. During the meeting, Zimmerman claimed he witnessed "disgusting behavior" while in ride-along program with local police; however the police department said it did not know when, if ever, Zimmerman was in that program.

Trayvon Martin shooting and trial

George Zimmerman, 2012
Main articles: Shooting of Trayvon Martin and State of Florida v. George Zimmerman

On February 26, 2012, Zimmerman fatally shot 17-year-old African American high school student Trayvon Martin in The Retreat at Twin Lakes community in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman was the neighborhood watch coordinator for the gated community where Martin was temporarily staying and where the shooting occurred. The National Sheriff's Association issued a statement that said that the program in the neighborhood where the altercation between Zimmerman and Martin transpired was not associated with the national organization and that Zimmerman ignored everything the program stands for. Their statement also said that Zimmerman was self-appointed, and it describes the shooting of Trayvon as a tragedy. The Twin Lakes Neighborhood Watch program was administered by the local police department. Following an earlier call from Zimmerman, police arrived within two minutes of a gunshot during an altercation in which Zimmerman fatally shot Martin, who did not possess any weapons. Zimmerman was subsequently taken into custody, treated for head injuries, then questioned for five hours. The police chief said that Zimmerman was released because there was no evidence to refute Zimmerman's claim of having acted in self-defense, and that under Florida's Stand Your Ground statute, the police were prohibited by law from making an arrest. The police chief also said that Zimmerman had had a right to defend himself with lethal force. As news of the case spread, thousands of protestors across the country called for Zimmerman's arrest and a full investigation. Six weeks after the shooting, amid widespread, intense, and in some cases misleading media coverage, Zimmerman was charged with murder by a special prosecutor appointed by Governor Rick Scott.

Zimmerman's trial began on June 10, 2013, in Sanford. On July 13, 2013, a jury acquitted Zimmerman of the charges of second-degree murder and manslaughter.

Other encounters with police

This section needs expansion. You can help by making an edit requestadding to it . (September 2013)

On September 9, 2013, in Lake Mary, Florida, police responded to a 911 call by Zimmerman's estranged wife, who reported that Zimmerman had threatened her and her parents with a gun and had punched her father in the face. Zimmerman was briefly detained and questioned by police. No gun was found at the scene. Police were investigating a broken iPad for video to determine if they would press charges, and if they would be against Zimmerman or his wife. His wife declined to press charges and said that she had not actually seen a gun but had assumed Zimmerman had had a gun from his stance and the way he was putting his hand in his shirt. She said, in a subsequent interview on the Today show, "In hindsight I should've , and I really regret that, but I'm on probation and the officers made it very clear that day if I pressed charges we were all going to go to jail and I would've been the only one to stay there."

Notes

  1. Zimmerman's weight was shown as 185 pounds (84 kg) on his Seminole County Sheriff's Office Inmate Booking Information on April 11, 2012, the date of his arrest.

References

  1. Seminole County Sheriff's Office, "Zimmerman, George Michael", Inmate Booking Information, Public Version, 4/11/2012 20:10. (PDF from Central Florida News 13) (from BBC News)
  2. "Trayvon Martin Shooting Fast Facts". CNN. June 25, 2013. Retrieved July 12, 2013.
  3. ^ Francescani, Chris (April 25, 2012). "George Zimmerman: Prelude to a shooting". Reuters. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  4. ^ Weiner, Jeff (March 20, 2012). "Trayvon Martin: Who is crime-watch volunteer George Zimmerman". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  5. Boedeker, Hal (February 16, 2013). "George Zimmerman: Brother says Sanford's history adds to furor". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  6. ^ Roig-Franzia, Manuel (March 22, 2012). "Who is George Zimmerman?". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 17, 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. Daily Mail (April 5, 2012). "Trayvon Martin case: George Zimmerman's brother defends him as his father attacks Obama". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  8. Gamboa, Suzanne (March 29, 2012). "Florida shooter's race a complicated matter". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 6, 2012. Retrieved April 11, 2012.
  9. Connor, Adam Sheets (March 27, 2012). "Voting Form Shows George Zimmerman Is A Registered Democrat, Confounding Message Pushed By Left". International Business Times. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  10. Manuel Roig-Franzia (July 8, 2013). "George Zimmerman trial continues to focus on 911 call". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  11. Fox News (July 8, 2013). "Judge rules defense can show Trayvon Martin died with marijuana in his system". Fox News. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  12. Associate Press (April 20, 2012). "George Zimmerman's wife testifies at bond hearing: 'He is absolutely not a violent person'". CBS News. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  13. MSNBC.com Staff (March 27, 2012). "Zimmerman accused of domestic violence, fighting with a police officer". U.S. News. NBC News. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  14. CNN Wire Staff (April 20, 2012). "Zimmerman apologizes as judge sets $150,000 bond". CNN. Retrieved September 17, 2013. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  15. Fausset, Richard (April 20, 2012). "George Zimmerman apologizes to Trayvon Martin family; bond is set". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  16. Robles, Frances (August 9, 2012). "Records show George Zimmerman got D's in criminal justice classes". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  17. Thuman, Scott (May 24, 2012). "Zimmerman publicly accused Sanford police of corruption in 2011". Washington, DC: WJLA-TV. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  18. Robles, Frances (May 23, 2012). "George Zimmerman: In 2010, lazy Sanford police engaged in coverup". Miami Herald. Retrieved October 2, 2013.
  19. Prieto, Bianca (March 14, 2012). "Trayvon Martin: 'We are gathered here today to demand justice' in teen's fatal shooting". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  20. Hamacher, Brian. "George Zimmerman Makes First Appearance Before Judge". NBC Miami. Retrieved April 21, 2012.
  21. Robertson, Campbell; Schwartz, John (March 22, 2012). "Trayvon Martin death spotlights neighborhood watch groups". The New York Times. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  22. "NSA Statement on the NW Tragedy in FL". National Sheriff's Association. Retrieved October 17, 2013.
  23. Robles, Frances (March 27, 2012). "Sanford cops sought warrant to arrest George Zimmerman in Trayvon Martin shooting". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  24. Lee, Trymaine (March 22, 2012). "Trayvon Martin Case: Police Chief Bill Lee Under Fire With 'No Confidence' Vote". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  25. CNN Wire Staff (March 27, 2012). "From coast to coast, protestors demand justice in Trayvon Martin case". CNN. Retrieved September 17, 2013. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  26. Moore, Frazier (April 7, 2012). "NBC Fires Producer Of Misleading Zimmerman Tape". Huffington Post. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  27. Deadline Team (May 12, 2012). "Third Person Exits NBC Over Misleading Edit Of Zimmerman's 911 Audio". Deadline.com. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  28. McClam, Erin (June 10, 2013). "Potential Trayvon Martin case jurors get look at defendant George Zimmerman". NBC News. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  29. Campo, Arian (July 14, 2013). "Jury Acquits Zimmerman of All Charges". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  30. Kuo, Vivian (September 10, 2013). "George Zimmerman detained". CNN. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  31. Associated Press (September 12, 2013). "iPad video key in George Zimmerman domestic dispute case with estranged wife". The Washington Post. Retrieved September 17, 2013.
  32. Stump, Scott (September 26, 2013). "George Zimmerman's wife: 'I have doubts but I also believe the evidence'". Today News.

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