Killing of Trayvon Martin

Killing of Trayvon Martin

Date	February 26, 2012 (2012-02-26)
Time	7:09 pm EST (start)
Location	The Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Florida, US (See aerial views of points of interest.)
Coordinates	28.79295°N 81.32965°W / 28.79295; -81.32965 (The Retreat at Twin Lakes Community in Sanford, Florida)
Participants	George Zimmerman (shooter)
Deaths	Trayvon Martin
Charges	Second-degree murder

The fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman took place on February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, US. Trayvon Martin was a 17-year-old African American male who was unarmed; George Zimmerman is a 28-year-old biracial Hispanic American who was the community watch coordinator for the gated community where the shooting took place.

While on a private errand, Zimmerman saw Martin walking inside the gated community where he was visiting his father and his father's fiancée. Zimmerman called the Sanford Police Department to report Martin's appearance and behavior as suspicious. Shortly afterwards, there was an altercation, which ended with Zimmerman fatally shooting Martin once in the chest at close range.

When police arrived on the scene, Zimmerman told them that Martin had attacked him, and that he had shot Martin in self-defense. Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose and had a wound on the back of his head. EMTs treated Zimmerman at the scene, after which he was taken to the Sanford Police department where he was questioned for hours, taped a video statement, and was released without being arrested. Police said that they had not found evidence to contradict his assertion of self-defense. According to media reports, the lead homicide investigator recommended that Zimmerman be arrested, but the state attorney's office was responsible for the decision not to arrest and charge Zimmerman the night of the shooting.

The circumstances of Martin's death, the delay in charging Zimmerman, and questions about Florida's Stand Your Ground law have received national and international attention. Allegations of racist motivation for the shooting contributed to public demands for Zimmerman's arrest. A Special Prosecutor was appointed to take over the investigation and on April 11, 2012, she chose to file charges of murder in the second degree against Zimmerman. Zimmerman then turned himself in and was placed in custody. On April 20, the judge approved Zimmerman's bail on a $150,000 bond. He was released from jail on April 23 and is required to wear an electronic monitoring device until trial.

People involved in the case

File:Trayvon Martin on the backseat of a car.png

Trayvon Martin

George Zimmerman

Trayvon Martin

Trayvon (/treɪˈvɔːn/ tray-VAWN) Benjamin Martin (February 5, 1995 – February 26, 2012) was the son of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, who were divorced in 1999. According to the Sanford police incident report of Trayvon Martin's death, he was 6'0" tall and weighed 160 pounds; however, his family said he was actually 6-foot-3 and weighed at most 150 pounds. He was a high school junior in the Miami area of south Florida and had turned 17 three weeks before his death. Martin lived with his mother and older brother in Miami Gardens, Florida. On the day he was shot, he was visiting his father and his father's fiancée at her townhome in The Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Florida.

George Zimmerman

"therealgeorgezimmerman" donation site has been hacked and blocked with a 'GoDaddy' advertisement...so much for free speech on the Internet. George Michael Zimmerman was born on October 5, 1983, in Manassas, Virginia, and is the son of Robert Zimmerman Sr, a retired Virginia magistrate, and Peruvian-born Gladys Zimmerman, growing up in what his father described as a "multiracial family". Zimmerman's height and weight was not listed on the Sanford police report, although family friend Joe Oliver said Zimmerman is 5'8" tall and weighs 170 lbs. Zimmerman's voter registration record lists him as Hispanic. In 2009, he moved with his wife to The Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Florida, a multi-ethnic gated community, where the shooting occurred. He was employed as an insurance underwriter prior to the shooting and attended Seminole State College. His goal was to become a police officer.

Zimmerman's role in the neighborhood watch

As the only person to volunteer when the homeowners association wanted to organize a community watch, Zimmerman was appointed coordinator by his neighbors, according to Wendy Dorival, Neighborhood Watch organizer for the Sanford Police Department. The homeowner's association told residents who saw suspicious activity to call Zimmerman if they could not contact the police. "He [Zimmerman] once caught a thief and an arrest was made," said Cynthia Wibker, secretary of the homeowners association.

File:Entrance.jpeg

The Retreat at Twin Lakes, north entrance

Police had been called to The Retreat at Twin Lakes 402 times from January 1, 2011, to February 26, 2012. Zimmerman was the caller on 12 of those calls in that time frame. Crimes committed at The Retreat in the year prior to Martin's death included eight burglaries, nine thefts and one shooting. The City of Sanford posted a "George Zimmerman 911 Call History" listing 46 event reports naming George Zimmerman as the caller between 2004 and the night of the shooting.

Zimmerman was licensed to carry a firearm. Sanford police chief Bill Lee stated that neighborhood watch volunteers are not encouraged to carry a gun but have a Constitutional right to do so. Lee further stated, "Mr. Zimmerman was not acting outside the legal boundaries of Florida Statute by carrying his weapon when this incident occurred."

Police

According to ABC News and other media organizations, multiple sources had indicated to them that Chris Serino, the lead investigator for the Sanford Police on the night of the shooting, stated in an affidavit that he was unconvinced by Zimmerman's version of events. Based on Serino's affidavit, police sought an arrest warrant for Zimmerman. That request was denied by the Office of the State Attorney for insufficient evidence.

On March 16, 2012, Serino told the Orlando Sentinel that his investigation turned up no reliable evidence that cast doubt on Zimmerman's account, that he had acted in self-defense. "The best evidence we have is the testimony of George Zimmerman, and he says the decedent was the primary aggressor in the whole event, everything I have is adding up to what he says."

When special prosecutor Angela Corey was asked by the Miami Herald to confirm that the Sanford Police recommended a manslaughter charge, she stated, "I don't know about that, but as far as the process, I can tell you that the police went to the state attorney with a capias request, meaning; We're through with our investigation and here it is for you." A capias is a request for charges to be filed. A source in the Seminole County State Attorney's office told the Miami Herald, "We get capias warrants all the time. That doesn't mean we file charges right away. We investigate to see if it's appropriate. That's the responsible thing to do.

Bill Lee, Chief of Police at the time of the shooting, received criticism for his role in the case. The Sanford city commission, including the Mayor, passed a motion of no confidence in regards to Chief Lee, and his handling of the case. On March 22, 2012, Lee announced that he had temporarily stepped down from his position as chief of police, stating "my involvement in this matter is overshadowing the process." On Monday, April 23, 2012, the city of Sanford announced that Police Chief Bill Lee would resign but city commissioners voted to reject the resignation. Some commissioners had concerns about the fairness of Lee losing his job and the mayor stated he preferred to wait for the results of an investigation into Lee and his department. Lee was to remain on paid leave.

State Attorneys

State Attorney Angela Corey

Norm Wolfinger was the State Attorney initially responsible for the case. He is responsible for prosecutions in Brevard and Seminole counties, where the shooting occurred.

On March 22, 2012, Florida Governor Rick Scott announced that he was appointing Angela Corey to be Special Prosecutor and that she would be investigating the case instead of Wolfinger. She is the State attorney for Duval, Clay and Nassau counties. After several weeks of investigation, Corey stated that her office, rather than a grand jury, would decide whether to press charges against Zimmerman. The decision to charge Zimmerman with second-degree murder was announced by Corey on April 11, 2012.

George Zimmerman's attorneys

Craig Sonner and Hal Uhrig were the first lawyers to represent George Zimmerman. On April 10, 2012, they announced at a news conference that they were withdrawing from the case as Zimmerman was no longer returning their calls and had been acting against their advice. According to Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz, Sonner and Uhrig should not have disclosed those details and other information about Zimmerman after they quit representing him, because of considerations of lawyer client privileged information.

On April 11, 2012, it was announced that Zimmerman was represented by a new attorney, Mark M. O'Mara, who is board certified as a criminal trial specialist. O'Mara pointed out that a small number of murder cases actually go to trial, with many cases resulting in a plea bargain. "We're not taking any possibilities off the table how this case gets resolved. I haven't seen the first sheet of evidence yet so it's very premature," he said. O'Mara described the intensely debated encounter between Martin and Zimmerman as resulting in "a deceased child" and also said, "Obviously it was a horrible interception of two young men's lives and it ended in tragedy."

Martin family attorney

Benjamin Crump, the lawyer representing the interests of the Martin family, operates a law firm in Tallahassee, Florida, with his partner Daryl Parks. The firm has eight lawyers who focus on wrongful death, malpractice, personal injury and civil rights. In 2006, Crump sued to have the video released in the Martin Anderson case.

Shooting

Martin was staying with his father at the home of his father's fiancée. On his return from a convenience store, he was observed by Zimmerman, who was in his truck on a personal errand. At the end of their interaction, Martin was shot 70 yards (64 meters) from the rear door of the fiancée's townhouse.

Zimmerman cell phone call to police

• Zimmerman's call to police
9-1-1 calls
• reports yelling 'Help'
• 'Help' and gunshot in background
• reports screaming and gun shot
• reports screaming 'Help' and gunshot
• reports gun shot
• distraught caller
• brother of caller was witness

Zimmerman called the Sanford Police Department police at the non-emergency number at approximately 7:09 pm, February 26, 2012 to report what he considered to be suspicious behavior by Martin, 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 or 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. On the recording of the call, Zimmerman is heard commenting "these assholes, they always get away."

After the audio of the call was released, CNN and other reports alleged Zimmerman had exclaimed "fucking coons," two minutes and twenty-one seconds (2:21) into the call. Two weeks later on April 4, 2012, CNN claimed that enhanced audio revealed the word to be "cold". The following day, April 5, 2012, CNN's Martin Savidge reported that forensic audio expert Tom Owen claimed it was "punks". In the affidavit of probable cause, dated April 11, 2012, it is stated as being "punks". Other reviewers of the call have offered alternate interpretations of what was said, but the transcript of the call states that the word in question is "unintelligible".

At 2:07 minutes into the police call Zimmerman says "he's running". At 2:37 into the call Zimmerman tells the dispatcher, "he ran". When Zimmerman reported that Martin had started running the dispatcher asked him if he was following and he affirmed that he was. The dispatcher said, "We don't need you to do that." Zimmerman said "OK". Zimmerman said he couldn't tell the dispatcher the address of his current location, but tells him the numbers of his street address and then at 3:35 adds "Oh crap, I don't want to give it all out. I don't know where this kid is". Asked if he "wanted to meet with the officer" Zimmerman at first agreed to the dispatcher's suggestion that he meet the police by the mailboxes,^{[Note 2, 4th picture]} then asked, "Actually, could you have him call me, and I'll tell him where I'm at?", to which the dispatcher replied, "no problem". Zimmerman appears to hang up at the 4:05 mark. The recording ends at 4:11.

Full transcript of Zimmerman's call

Dispatcher: Sanford Police Department. ... Zimmerman: Hey we've had some break-ins in my neighborhood, and there's a real suspicious guy, uh, [near] Retreat View Circle, um, the best address I can give you is 111 Retreat View Circle. This guy looks like he's up to no good, or he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking about. Dispatcher: OK, and this guy is he white, black, or Hispanic? Zimmerman: He looks black. Dispatcher: Did you see what he was wearing? Zimmerman: Yeah. A dark hoodie, like a grey hoodie, and either jeans or sweatpants and white tennis shoes. He's [unintelligible], he was just staring... Dispatcher: OK, he's just walking around the area... Zimmerman: ...looking at all the houses. Dispatcher: OK... Zimmerman: Now he's just staring at me. Dispatcher: OK—you said it's 1111 Retreat View? Or 111? Zimmerman: That's the clubhouse... [Note 2, 3rd picture] Dispatcher: That's the clubhouse, do you know what the—he's near the clubhouse right now? Zimmerman: Yeah, now he's coming towards me. Dispatcher: OK. Zimmerman: He's got his hand in his waistband. And he's a black male. Dispatcher: How old would you say he looks? Zimmerman: He's got button on his shirt, late teens. Dispatcher: Late teens ok. Zimmerman: Somethings wrong with him. Yup, he's coming to check me out, he's got something in his hands, I don't know what his deal is. Dispatcher: Just let me know if he does anything ok Zimmerman: How long until you get an officer over here? Dispatcher: Yeah we've got someone on the way, just let me know if this guy does anything else. Zimmerman: Okay. These assholes they always get away. When you come to the clubhouse you come straight in and make a left. Actually you would go past the clubhouse.[Note 2, 3rd picture] Dispatcher: So it's on the lefthand side from the clubhouse? Zimmerman: No you go in straight through the entrance and then you make a left...uh you go straight in, don't turn, and make a left. Shit he's running. Dispatcher: He's running? Which way is he running? Ambient sounds are heard which may be Zimmerman unbuckling his seat belt and his vehicle's "open door" chime sounding. The change in his voice and the sound of wind against his cell phone mic indicate that he has left his vehicle and is now walking. The dispatcher seems to pick up on these changes and sounds concerned when he later asks Zimmerman if he is following Martin. Zimmerman: Down towards the other entrance to the neighborhood. Dispatcher: Which entrance is that that he's heading towards? Zimmerman: The back entrance...fucking [disputed/unintelligible] This section of the recording has been the subject of much speculation. Some suggest that Zimmerman has just made a racial slur, but the audio is not clear. Dispatcher: Are you following him? Zimmerman: Yeah Dispatcher: Ok, we don't need you to do that. Zimmerman: Ok Dispatcher: Alright sir what is your name? Zimmerman: George...He ran. Dispatcher: Alright George what's your last name? A clicking or knocking sound can be heard here Zimmerman: Zimmerman Dispatcher: And George what's the phone number you're calling from? Clicking or knocking sound is heard again Zimmerman: [redacted] Dispatcher: Alright George we do have them on the way, do you want to meet with the officer when they get out there? Zimmerman: Yeah. Dispatcher: Alright, where you going to meet with them at? For the remainder of the recording, Zimmerman sounds distracted. The knocking sound occurs several times during the final exchange with the dispatcher Zimmerman: If they come in through the gate, tell them to go straight past the club house, and uh, straight past the club house and make a left, and then they go past the mailboxes,[Note 2, 4th picture] that's my truck...[unintelligible] Dispatcher: What address are you parked in front of? Zimmerman: I don't know, it's a cut through so I don't know the address.[Note 2, 6th & 7th pictures] Dispatcher: Okay do you live in the area? Zimmerman: Yeah, I...[unintelligible] Dispatcher: What's your apartment number? Zimmerman: It's a home it's 1950,[Note 2, 3rd picture] oh crap I don't want to give it all out, I don't know where this kid is. Dispatcher: Okay do you want to just meet with them right near the mailboxes then? Zimmerman: Yeah that's fine. Dispatcher: Alright George, I'll let them know to meet you around there okay? Zimmerman: Actually could you have them call me and I'll tell them where I'm at? Dispatcher: Okay, yeah that's no problem. Zimmerman: Should I give you my number or you got it? Dispatcher: Yeah I got it [redacted] Zimmerman: Yeah you got it. Dispatcher: Okay no problem, I'll let them know to call you when you're in the area. Zimmerman: Thanks. Dispatcher: You're welcome.

Martin cell phone call from girlfriend

Around the time of the incident, Martin was talking on his cellphone to his girlfriend, according to her and confirmed by phone company records. She called at 7:12 pm She was interviewed by an attorney who has made a statement for her, and her parents requested her anonymity.

According to the attorney's statement, Martin's girlfriend said that he 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 pushed. She attempted to call him back immediately, but was unable to reach him.

Sanford Police arrival and initial investigation

See also: Investigation of the death of Trayvon Martin

Timothy Smith, the first officer to arrive at the scene, reported finding Zimmerman standing near Martin, who was lying face down in the grass and unresponsive. At that time, Zimmerman stated to Smith that he had shot Martin and was still armed. Smith handcuffed Zimmerman and removed his weapon from him. Smith observed that Zimmerman's back was wet and covered with grass and he was bleeding from the nose and the back of his head.

Ricardo Ayala, the second officer to arrive that night observed Martin lying face down in the grass and attempted to get a response from him. At this time, Sgt. Anthony Raimondo arrived and together with Ayala began CPR. Paramedics from Sanford Fire and Rescue arrived and continued CPR, finally declaring him dead at 7:30 pm

Other officers who had arrived by this time secured the crime scene and made contact with neighbors in the area and obtained statements from witnesses at the scene. Zimmerman was treated and released by paramedics while still at the scene of the incident. After placing Zimmerman in his police vehicle, Officer Smith heard Zimmerman say, "I was yelling for someone to help me, but no one would help me." Zimmerman was then transported to the Sanford Police Department where he was questioned by investigators.

Martin's body was taken to the morgue where he was tagged as a John Doe as he was not carrying any identification. Martin's father, Tracy Martin, called to file a Missing Persons report early on February 27 and police officers arrived at his fiancée's condo with photographs of his dead son before 8 am.

Witness accounts

A witness to the confrontation just following the shooting stated that Martin was on top of Zimmerman and punching him, while Zimmerman was yelling for help. This witness, who identified himself as "John", stated that "the guy on the bottom, who had a red sweater on, was yelling to me, 'Help! Help!' and I told him to stop, and I was calling 911". He went on to say that when he got upstairs and looked down, "the guy who was on the top beating up the other guy, was the one laying in the grass, and I believe he was dead at that point.".

A 13-year-old boy walking his dog saw a man on the ground shortly before the shooting and identified him as wearing red. His mother later disputed the testimony and claimed that the police pressured him into choosing what color the man was wearing, and that her son couldn't see any details in the dark. She also stated that the police waited five days before requesting to even question her son and said the lead homicide investigator told her he didn't believe the shooting was self defense.

Mary Cutcher and her roommate, Selma Mora Lamilla, appeared on AC 360 and Cutcher stated that she believes "there was no punching, no hitting going on at the time, no wrestling" just prior to the shooting, and admitted that she neither saw the shooting nor the preceding altercation. Cutcher and her roommate 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 straddling Martin on the ground. Mary Cutcher phoned police after the fatal shooting and said the black man was standing over another man, although Trayvon Martin was already dead. According to the Orlando Sentinel article, "Police spokesman Sgt. Dave Morgenstern [on March 15] issued a statement disputing Cutcher's version of events, calling her statements to WFTV "inconsistent with her sworn testimony to police." However, Cutcher and her roommate maintain that their account of the incident to the police did not agree with Zimmerman's, and they demanded the police retract that incorrect statement.

On March 29, 2012, an eyewitness referred to as a male said that he saw two men on the ground scuffling, then heard the shooting, and saw Zimmerman walk away with no blood on him. The witness later appeared on CNN AC360 referred to as a female, giving more details on her account. She pointed out that she heard an argument between a younger and an older voice. The whole time she witnessed the incident the scuffling happened on the grass. She said that the larger man, who walked away after the gunshot, was on top, and that it was too dark to see blood on his face.

A witness who arrived shortly after the shooting revealed photos he took that night that showed "blood trickling down the back of Zimmerman's head from two cuts. It also shows a possible contusion forming on the crown of his head". In revealing the photo to ABC News in mid-April, he noted he heard but didn't see the scuffle, but was one of the first to arrive, and was the first to talk to Zimmerman after the shooting.

Martin's mother says the shouting for help heard on some of the 9-1-1 calls is her son's voice. Zimmerman's father says his son was the one calling out. The former is relied upon in Corey's Affidavit of probable cause for second degree murder. The latter is not mentioned.

Sanford police station

After arriving at the police station, Zimmerman was turned over to the custody of investigations and placed in an interview room where he was interviewed by Investigator D. Singleton.

The gun, a black Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm semi-automatic pistol that was confiscated from Zimmerman at the scene, was placed into evidence. While in custody at the police station, Zimmerman was not administered a drug or alcohol test. However, Peter V. Bella, a retired Chicago Police forensic investigator, stated in his opinion in an article for the Washington Times, "Except for DUIs, police cannot test suspects for drugs or alcohol, unless the accused demands or consents to it, or they get a warrant". The lead homicide investigator on the case, Chris Serino, recommended charging Zimmerman with manslaughter. Serino filed an affidavit the night of the incident, saying he was unconvinced by Zimmerman's account, but was informed by State Attorney Wolfinger's office that there was not enough evidence to obtain a conviction. Zimmerman was eventually released without charges. TheGrio.com reported that Wolfinger met with police leaders on the night of the shooting while Zimmerman was still in police custody, but Wolfinger said that meeting did not occur.

George Zimmerman's account of events

According to early media reports, that night, and in later meetings, Zimmerman described in detail, and re-enacted for police, what he says took place:

He was on his way to the store to do some errands when he spotted Trayvon Martin walking through his neighborhood. He followed Martin, but lost track of him. He was returning to his SUV when Martin approached him from the left rear and confronted him. Martin asked him, "Do you have a problem?" He replied "No", and Martin then said, "Well, you do now" or something similar, while Zimmerman reached for his cell phone. Martin then punched him in the face, knocking him down, and began beating his head against the ground. Zimmerman called out for help, while being beaten, before shooting Martin once in the chest at close range, in self-defense.

Surveillance video

ABC News obtained a surveillance video of Zimmerman walking unassisted into the Sanford police station after the shooting. An officer is seen pausing to look at the back of Zimmerman's head, but ABC originally claimed that no abrasions or blood can be seen in the video. The Daily Caller disputed this claim, and posted a still from the ABC video which it said shows what may be an injury on the back of Zimmerman's head. MSNBC reported, "We were able to zoom into the back of his head and there is some sort of abrasion..." Zimmerman's brother, Robert Zimmerman Jr., told CNN that medical records will prove that his brother was attacked and that his nose was broken by Martin. Jorge Rodríguez, Zimmerman's next-door neighbor, told Reuters that when he saw Zimmerman the day after the incident, "he had two big, butterfly bandages on the back of his head, and another big bandage...on the bridge of his nose." Rodríguez's wife Audria also said she saw the bandages and a third neighbor, who spoke only on condition of anonymity, agreed with the Rodríguez couple's account. "I saw two bandages on the back of his head, and his nose was all swollen up," said the witness, who had watched from a nearby second-floor window. ABC later reported that it had "re-digitized" the video, and that this version showed "what appear to be a pair of gashes or welts on George Zimmerman's head."

Phone recordings

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, after which the voice immediately stopped. Later reports indicate that gun was fired only once. Zimmerman told police at the scene that he had cried 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 get her to change her testimony to their assertion that it was Zimmerman calling for help.

Two experts on forensic voice analysis, contacted by the Orlando Sentinel, concluded independently that the screams in the background of the 9-1-1 recordings were not from Zimmerman, though they did not have any voice samples from Martin. The reliability, and ultimately the admissibility in court, of voiceprint analysis in this instance is disputed.

Ongoing investigation

Zimmerman was originally not charged with any crime. He asserted the right of self-defense and investigators said they could find no evidence disproving that assertion. The State Attorney's office and Police Chief Lee said they 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."

On March 20, 2012, State attorney Norm Wolfinger announced that a Seminole County grand jury would be convened on April 10, 2012, to investigate the death of Martin. However, State attorney Angela Corey, who was assigned to the case by Governor Rick Scott, stated that her office, not a grand jury, will decide whether to press charges in the shooting death of Martin. Angela Corey stated that, "I always lean towards moving forward without needing the grand jury in a case like this, I foresee us being able to make a decision, and move on it on our own." Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) is involved and "no stone will be left unturned in this investigation."

Federal investigation

On March 20, the Justice Department announced that it was opening investigations into the incident. The state governor, Rick Scott, has asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the shooting.

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," and, "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon."

The FBI opened a parallel investigation into whether Martin's civil rights were violated, and interviewed witnesses and looked into Zimmerman's background.

Court proceedings

Zimmerman was taken into custody on April 11, 2012, after being charged with second-degree murder in the Florida courts.

Charges

On April 11, Florida State Attorney Angela Corey, the special prosecutor, announced that George Zimmerman had been charged with second-degree murder. In Florida, that charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment and a minimum sentence of 25 years. She reported that Zimmerman had turned himself in to law enforcement and was arrested and placed in custody.

Pre-trial

During an April 12 hearing, prosecutors presented an affidavit of probable cause alleging that Zimmerman had followed and confronted Martin. Judge Mark E. Herr ruled that there was probable cause for the case to continue. Zimmerman's lawyer Mark O'Mara requested that the court documents including witness statements and other information be sealed. The court granted the request. Zimmerman's arraignment is scheduled for May 29, in front of Circuit Court Judge Jessica Recksiedler.

Mark O'Mara, George Zimmerman's attorney asked for a new judge on April 16, 2012, citing a potential conflict of interest with the current judge Jessica Recksiedler. On April 18, 2012, Judge Recksiedler approved a motion to disqualify herself from the case. In her decision she said that while the findings on each basis were "legally insufficient" for disqualification, "the cumulative effect of the events and the totality of the circumstances provides a legally sufficient basis for this court to grant the motion to disqualify." Judge Kenneth Lester, Jr., was appointed by the chief judge to preside over the Zimmerman case.

A motion was filed April 16, 2012, in Seminole County Circuit Court that asks for records in Zimmerman's file to be unsealed. A group of news organizations in Florida, including the Associated Press and The Miami Herald, challenged efforts to seal records in the criminal case of Zimmerman. Records such as full police reports, autopsy reports and transcripts of witness interviews are normally public under Florida law. "The closure order and the manner in which it was entered are contrary to law," the news organizations said in the motion.

A bail hearing was held on April 20 and the Judge ruled that Zimmerman can be released on a $150,000 bond. Zimmerman was released on bail from jail at 12:05 a.m. April 23, 2012. He was fitted with an electronic monitoring device which can reveal his whereabouts in real time. On April 23, 2012, Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara waived Zimmerman's right to appear at an arraignment and entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Public response

An undated family photo of Trayvon Martin wearing a hoodie was displayed by protesters and sold by merchants on hoodies, T-shirts and keychains, prompting the family to trademark slogans using his name.

Supporters of Trayvon Martin rally in Union Square during a "Million Hoodie March" in Manhattan on March 21.

Over 2.2 million signatures were collected on a Change.org petition, created by Martin's mother, calling for Zimmerman's arrest. It was the website's largest petition ever.

Since Martin was killed while wearing a hoodie, donning a hoodie was seen as a sign of protest, and many cities across the U.S. staged "Million Hoodie Marches" or "hundred hoodie marches". Additionally, some professional athletes, including Carmelo Anthony and the entire Miami Heat roster, tweeted photos of themselves wearing hoodies. Fox News Channel host Geraldo Rivera encouraged young people of color to stop wearing gangsta style clothing; like hoodies. He later apologized for any offense, and for stepping on the message, but defended what he had said as practical and potentially life-saving.

Additionally, Bags of Skittles candy and cans of Arizona Iced Tea were used as protest symbols. Martin was returning from a 7-Eleven convenience store with these items when he was shot.

Walkouts were staged by students at over a dozen Florida high schools.

Thousands of people attended rallies around the country to demand Zimmerman's arrest, including a gathering on March 22 in Union Square of civil rights leaders including Al Sharpton, Martin Luther King III, Dick Gregory, and others. Members of the Occupy movement marched in solidarity during the "Million Hoodie March".

Speaking on the day of the Zimmerman arrest, Al Sharpton said: "45 days ago, Travon Martin was murdered. No arrest was made. The Chief of Police in Sanford announced after his review of the evidence there would be no arrest. An outcry from all over this country came."

A number of high-profile citizens have made public comments or released statements calling for a full investigation, including President Barack Obama, Reverend Al Sharpton, and Reverend Jesse Jackson.

According to Zimmerman's father, George Zimmerman received death threats and moved out of his home in the wake of the controversy. The New Black Panther Party offered a $10,000 reward for the "capture" of George Zimmerman; this was condemned by the city of Sanford.

Film director Spike Lee retweeted to his 200,000 Twitter followers an erroneous Sanford, Florida address, purported to be Zimmerman's, which forced a family out of their home to avoid harassment after they received hate mail and unwanted visits from reporters. Lee was criticized for his retweet and he later issued an apology.

Many legal experts have criticized the affidavit of probable cause that was used to obtain the indictment of Zimmerman stating that it was legally deficient.

Alleged race issues

Allegations against Zimmerman

The shooting prompted allegations that Zimmerman was motivated by racism. Critics disparaged what they perceived to be Zimmerman racially profiling Martin, and a selectively edited phone call that aired on NBC's Today show incorrectly implied that Zimmerman had volunteered the race of Martin to police officers without being specifically asked.

Defense of Zimmerman's character

In an open letter, Zimmerman's father, Robert Zimmerman, defended his son against allegations that his actions were racially motivated, stating that Zimmerman was 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". According to his family, some of Zimmerman's relatives are black. Zimmerman's former lawyer Craig Sonner stated that Zimmerman is not a racist, and that he had mentored black youths in the past. Joe Oliver, a former television news reporter who is acquainted with Zimmerman, 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."

An anonymous letter to the NAACP, signed "A Concerned Zimmerman Family Member", said that Zimmerman was one of the few that stepped up to take any action to protest the 2010 beating of a black homeless man by the son of a Sanford police officer. Zimmerman reportedly distributed flyers in the black community trying to get others to step up too, and helped organize a city hall meeting to protest the incident. Zimmerman's reported efforts on behalf of the black homeless man were confirmed by Zimmerman's father.

Allegations against the Sanford police

For not arresting Zimmerman, the Sanford police have faced heavy criticism, protests, and allegations of racial bias. 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. 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 9-1-1 did instruct Zimmerman not to pursue Martin, those instructions are only recommendations that do not carry the force of law.

On March 21, 2012, 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; however, the vote is advisory only. The following day, Lee announced that he had temporarily stepped down from his position as chief of police, stating "my involvement in this matter is overshadowing the process." Lee further stated, "I do this in the hopes of restoring some semblance of calm to a city which has been in turmoil for several weeks."

"Stand your ground" laws

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 does not have to retreat before using deadly force if he reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm, in most circumstances. In almost all states, such laws protect people in their own homes; Florida's version extends the no-retreat doctrine to vehicles and public places. In at least 17 states, including Florida, there is no duty to retreat before using force. After the shooting, media reports had indicated that Zimmerman would most likely use the "Stand Your Ground" provision in Florida's self-defense law. 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 [Zimmerman] said 'I'm following him', he lost his defense." However, the same article goes on to state, "Peaden and Baxley said they didn't know all the facts of the case, so their interpretations of what happened could change if new information arises during the investigation."

On March 19, 2012, Florida authorities announced they had picked 17 people to head up a task force to review the Florida statute that deals with justifiable use of force, including the stand your ground provision. It was decided that the group would hear arguments and testimony from residents at public meetings across the state and pass along recommendations to the governor and the legislature.

Media coverage

Trayvon's father Tracy Martin, family attorney Benjamin Crump and mother Sybrina Fulton, at the 'Million Hoodies' protest in Union Square, New York

For the first 10 days after Martin's death, the story was covered by only the Florida media. On March 8, 2012, CBS News, acting on a tip it received from the network's local bureau in Atlanta, Georgia, obtained an exclusive interview with Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton that was broadcast on CBS This Morning. Benjamin Crump, the family's attorney, who had been retained to pursue legal action and to persuade the news media to cover the case, arranged for the interview to take place.

Also on March 8, The Huffington Post, The Young Turks, and TheGrio.com, which is affiliated with NBC News, started to cover the case. On March 9, 2012, ABC World News featured the story on their nightly broadcast. CNN first reported on the case on March 12, 2012, and by the end of that week, radio hosts and bloggers were also reporting on the story. National coverage started to increase the week of March 12 and intensified after March 16, when tapes of 9-1-1 calls were released to the public. Having the 9-1-1 calls, which the police had previously declined to release, gave radio and TV reporters more material to report on. An editorial by the president of IFC described how Martin became a "missing white girl" (a cause célèbre for modern media), saying that minorities were under-reported in American news, and "if not for several black journalists, including Trymaine Lee of The Huffington Post, Ta-Nehisi Coates of The Atlantic, Charles M. Blow of The New York Times, and Reverend Al Sharpton of MSNBC, it is doubtful anyone would know who Trayvon Martin is and was."

The Project for Excellence in Journalism has reported that media coverage of the Trayvon Martin case became the first story in 2012 to be featured more than the presidential race. According to the Project, the varying types of media have focused on the case in different ways. An article in the Tampa Bay Times wrote that, "on Twitter, people are outraged at Zimmerman and want justice, while on cable news and talk radio people are discussing the state's laws for self-defense and gun control and on blogs the focus has been on race."

Accusations of media bias

Selective publication

The Associated Press reported that the most widely used photos—showing Martin as a "baby-faced boy" and Zimmerman as a "beefy-looking figure"—were outdated and "may have helped shape initial public perceptions of the deadly shooting."

Reporting on 9-1-1 calls

The special prosecutor's April 11 affidavit of probable cause says that Zimmerman said "punks" (not "coons"). According to the Associated Press, the alleged racial slur "fed growing outrage over the police department's initial decision not to arrest Zimmerman".

Against NBC

NBC News ran a segment with Zimmerman's 9-1-1 call which removed part of Zimmerman's statement and the dispatcher's question. NBC then merged Zimmerman's answer into the previous statement. On the recording played by NBC, Zimmerman was heard saying, "This guy looks like he's up to no good. He looks black." In the original 9-1-1 recording, Zimmerman said: "This guy looks like he's up to no good. Or he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking about." The 9-1-1 operator then asked: "OK, and this guy, is he black, white or Hispanic?" Zimmerman answered, "He looks black."

The Washington Post wrote that NBC's alteration "would more readily paint Zimmerman as a racial profiler. In reality's version, Zimmerman simply answered a question about the race of the person whom he was reporting to the police. Nothing prejudicial at all in responding to such an inquiry... it's a falsehood with repercussions... To portray that exchange in a way that wrongs Zimmerman is high editorial malpractice..." NBC apologized for "an error made in the production process that we deeply regret", The New York Times reported that a producer involved in the editing of the audio was fired.

Timeline of events

• February 26, 2012
  • 7:09 pm – Zimmerman's call to Sanford police begins
  • 7:12 pm – Trayvon's girlfriend calls him
  • 7:13 pm – Zimmerman's call to Sanford police ends
  • 7:16 pm – Trayvon call to girlfriend goes dead; 9-1-1 calls from the neighors begin
  • 7:17 pm – First officer arrives on scene
  • 7:30 pm – Martin pronounced dead at the scene by paramedic
  • 7:52 pm – Zimmerman arrival at police station recorded on video
  • Roughly 10:00 pm – Zimmerman released (duration described as "about two hours")
• February 27
  • 3:07 am – Timestamp on Sanford Police Department (SPD) Initial Report
  • Martin reported missing by father
  • SPD informs father of Trayvon's death before 8 am
  • SPD publicly identifies Zimmerman and Martin
• March 1
  • Police Chief Bill Lee attends emergency Homeowner's Association meeting to discuss shooting
• March 8
  • Trayvon's father holds press conference criticizing SPD investigation
• March 12
  • Chief Lee comments: "there is no evidence to dispute Zimmerman's assertion that he shot Martin out of self-defense"
• March 13
  • SPD announces case turned over to State Attorney
  • NAACP letter to U.S. Department of Justice
• March 16
  • The New York Times publishes opinion piece "The Curious Case of Trayvon Martin"
  • Audio of eight calls to 9-1-1 released
• March 20
  • U.S. Department of Justice announces investigation
• March 22
  • Bill Lee temporarily steps aside as Chief of Police
  • State attorney Norman Wolfinger recuses himself from the case and Florida Gov. Rick Scott appoints Angela B. Corey, the state attorney for the Jacksonville area, to take over the case
• March 23
  • A lawyer for Zimmerman, Craig Sonner, announces that his client acted in self-defense
• March 29
  • Special prosecutor Angela B. Corey announces that she will not comment on the Trayvon Martin case until further notice
• April 5
  • Florida State Sen. Chris Smith convenes task force to examine possible changes to the state's self-defense laws
• April 9
  • Special prosecutor Corey decides against a grand jury for the case, eliminating the possibility of a first-degree murder charge
• April 10
  • State Attorney Angela Corey says she'll announce charges within 72 hours
• April 11
  • State Attorney Angela Corey announces that George Zimmerman is charged with 2nd degree murder
  • George Zimmerman turns himself in to the police and is taken into custody shortly after Corey's announcement
• April 23
  • George Zimmerman is released on bail at 12:05 a.m.

External links

• Zimmerman Probable Cause Affidavit - 2nd Degree Murder Scribd
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• Video: George Zimmerman at Police Station after the shooting ABC News
• George Zimmerman police call reporting Trayvon Martin Orlando Sentinel
• Trayvon Martin collected news and commentary at The New York Times
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• Trayvon Martin collected news and commentary at the Orlando Sentinel
• Trayvon Martin collected news and commentary at The Guardian