Neighborhood watch captain shoots innocent black youth and doesn't even get arrested

[Bump]

This is some ****ED UP SHIT, they aren't sure if the racist neighborhood watch idiot should be arrested? If anything, local gangs might take notice of this and start shooting up that neighborhood or just random white neighborhoods. I could never live in the south, it's ridiculous. The guy shoots an innocent teen walking to the store to buy skittles. Should be life in prison, that's cold blood man.

http://news.yahoo.com/family-florida...044537742.html




ORLANDO, Florida (Reuters) - The family of a 17-year-old African-American boy shot to death last month in his gated Florida community by a white Neighborhood Watch captain wants to see the captain arrested, the family's lawyer said on Wednesday.

Trayvon Martin was shot dead after he took a break from watching NBA All-Star game television coverage to walk 10 minutes to a convenience store to buy snacks including Skittles candy requested by his 13-year-old brother, Chad, the family's lawyer Ben Crump said.

"He was a good kid," Crump said in an interview, adding that the family would issue a call for the Watch captain's arrest at a news conference on Thursday. "On his way home, a Neighborhood Watch loose cannon shot and killed him."

[Related: Fla. teen avoids deportation]

Trayvon, who lived in Miami with his mother, had been visiting his father and stepmother in a gated townhome community called The Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, 20 miles north of Orlando.

As Trayvon returned to the townhome, Sanford police received a 911 call reporting a suspicious person.

Although names are blacked out on the police report, Crump and media reports at the time of the shooting identified the caller as George Zimmerman who is listed in the community's newsletter as the Neighborhood Watch captain.

Without waiting for police to arrive, Crump said, Zimmerman confronted Trayvon, who was on the sidewalk near his home. By the time police got there, Trayvon was dead of a single gunshot to the chest.

"What do the police find in his pocket? Skittles," Crump said. "A can of Arizona ice tea in his jacket pocket and Skittles in his front pocket for his brother Chad."

Zimmerman could not be reached for comment on Wednesday evening at a phone number listed for him on the community's newsletter.

Crump said the family was concerned that police might decide to consider the shooting as self defense, and that police have ignored the family's request for a copy of the original 911 call, which they think will shed light on the incidents.

"If the 911 protocol across the country held to form here, they told him not to get involved. He disobeyed that order," said Ryan Julison, a spokesman for the family.

"He (Zimmerman) didn't have to get out of his car," said Crump, who has prepared a public records lawsuit to file on Thursday if the family doesn't get the 911 tape. "If he never gets out of his car, there is no reason for self-defense. Trayvon only has skittles. He has the gun."

Since Trayvon, a high school junior who wanted to be a pilot, was black and Zimmerman is white, Crump said race is "the 600 pound elephant in the room."

"Why is this kid suspicious in the first place? I think a stereotype must have been placed on the kid," Crump said.

(Editing By Cynthia Johnston and Peter Bohan)

[notorious]

If we just banned all firearms this would have never happened.

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by notorious

If we just banned all firearms this would have never happened.

Really. I mean, he was carrying a GUN. You just know it was eventually going to shoot someone.

[jspchief]

It has nothing to do with guns.

It has to do with idiots who think they can take the law into their own hands.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Really. I mean, he was carrying a GUN. You just know it was eventually going to shoot someone.

Guns are dangerous. I don't trust mine.


That why I keep them in a Liberty safe. You never know when they will decide to shoot me and everyone in my family.

[jspchief]

So far, it appears a few pro gun people are trying harder to make this an anti gun debate than anyone else.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by jspchief

So far, it appears a few pro gun people are trying harder to make this an anti gun debate than anyone else.

Nah, the thread needed burst.


We really don't know what happened, so arguing is a pretty futile exercise.



Nobody has asked the hard question: He was a good kid, so why in the hell would he attack someone?

This is the hard part to swallow.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by notorious

Nah, the thread needed burst.


We really don't know what happened, so arguing is a pretty futile exercise.



Nobody has asked the hard question: He was a good kid, so why in the hell would he attack someone?

This is the hard part to swallow.

Exactly, why would he attack anyone, unless he was scared, provoked, or attacked, or even just felt he was being attacked?

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Brock

Exactly, why would he attack anyone, unless he was scared, provoked, or attacked, or even just felt he was being attacked?

Exactly. Here's a kid running between houses to get away from a stranger that's been following him. His concern is confirmed by the phone conversation he's having with his girlfriend as its happening.

And suddenly he's the attacker?

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by notorious

Nobody has asked the hard question: He was a good kid, so why in the hell would he attack someone?

I read he was on a multi day suspension from school....but I haven't been able to find out what for.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by jspchief

And suddenly he's the attacker?

You make it sound like freddy kruger was chasing someone with a knife...

A man approached him and asked him what he was doing in the neighborhood. At some point, he punched the man in the face and got on top of him.

If the man did not do anything other than ask him what he was doing, then hell yes, he 'suddenly' became the attacker when he throws a punch...

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

You make it sound like freddy kruger was chasing someone with a knife....

No, it was wannabe Harry Callahan chasing him with a gun.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by Brock

No, it was wannabe Harry Callahan chasing him with a gun.

There is absolutely no evidence he had his gun drawn until after being punched in the face/wrestled to the ground...

bzzzzt

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by jspchief

It has to do with idiots who think they can take the law into their own hands.

People can take the law into their own hands. Only an idiot doesn't avail themselves to their rights.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

There is absolutely no evidence he had his gun drawn until after being punched in the face/wrestled to the ground...

bzzzzt

There's no evidence he didn't either.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

You make it sound like freddy kruger was chasing someone with a knife...

A man approached him and asked him what he was doing in the neighborhood. At some point, he punched the man in the face and got on top of him.

If the man did not do anything other than ask him what he was doing, then hell yes, he 'suddenly' became the attacker when he throws a punch...

His girlfriend has stated that he was scared. She also stated that it sounded like he was pushed or physically contacted.

As a kid being followed by a stranger in the dark. Being chased when you run between homes to get away from the stranger. He doesn't have to be Freddy Kreuger. It's reasonable for a person to be scared enough to defend themselves. He tried to get away, and couldn't so he resorted to defense. Fight or flight instinct.

At no time did Zimmerman identify himself or make it clear what his purpose/intent was. I'm sure he didn't think it was necessary because he thought he was apprehending a criminal.