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

[Bump]

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)

[go bowe]

Originally Posted by Brock

He was walking back to his SUV when the kid attacked him from behind.

Yeah....right....

but but but, that's the guy's story so that proves it doesn't it?

[Radar Chief]

Originally Posted by Brock

He was walking back to his SUV when the kid attacked him from behind.

Yeah....right....

Are they saying this is Zimmerman’s story or that they have a witness, witnesses?

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Are they saying this is Zimmerman’s story or that they have a witness, witnesses?

That is Zimmerman's account.

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by Brock

That is Zimmerman's account.

And we know he is a lying dog. Get the rope, we ride at dawn.

[go bowe]

Originally Posted by Radar Chief

Are they saying this is Zimmerman’s story or that they have a witness, witnesses?

based on what i've read so far, it's zimmerman's story...

so far there doesn't seem to be any corroboration regarding the claimed attack by martin...

lawyer says wait til the grand jury convenes and then all the facts will be laid out etc.

should be interesting so stay tuned...

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by Brock

That is Zimmerman's account.

No, it is not.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by HonestChieffan

And we know he is a lying dog. Get the rope, we ride at dawn.

I bet you think you said something really original and profound there.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by go bowe

based on what i've read so far, it's zimmerman's story...

Can you show a link to where Zimmerman says that is what happened?

I have only seen this as being a witnesses account , not actually Zimmerman's.

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

No, it is not.

Read the story. Yes, it is.

The Orlando Sentinel reported Monday that police said Zimmerman has described and re-enacted the events this way:

Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain, was walking back to his SUV when Martin approached him from behind. The two exchanged words, and Martin decked him with a punch to the nose and began beating him. He told police he shot Martin in self-defense.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

How could his own actions be the main cause of his death? He was walking home from buying a bag of skittles. He was minding his own business. He noticed someone following him and he tried to get away. He ran. He was pursued, stalked and confronted.

Oh cool. Case closed then.

I guess no need to discuss anything.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by Brock

Read the story. Yes, it is.

Thanks, you mind throwing a link..I guess i can try the orlando sentinnel but a link would be handy.

[HonestChieffan]

Originally Posted by Brock

I bet you think you said something really original and profound there.

Justice must be served. The trial by public opinion has been held. No need for delays. The bastard must be punished, swift and sure. The martyred boy demands that an eye for an eye be implemented.

And to show our solidarity against the murdering scum, get your hoodie....



Or a high quality beefy tee

[Brock]

Originally Posted by Pawnmower

Thanks, you mind throwing a link..I guess i can try the orlando sentinnel but a link would be handy.

It's in the link HCF posted a few posts before mine.

[Pawnmower]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

Wow. I just need details on what happened after he was told not to persue the guy by the 911 operator, and what led to the confrontation.

You probably saw this, but he was never specifically told NOT to pursue Martin. He was told something like ' we do not need you to do that.'

[HonestChieffan]

More lies.

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/...black-teenager

(Orlando Sentinel) — With a single punch, Trayvon Martin decked the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who eventually shot and killed the unarmed 17-year-old, then Trayvon climbed on top of George Zimmerman and slammed his head into the sidewalk several times, leaving him bloody and battered, authorities have revealed to the Orlando Sentinel.

That is the account Zimmerman gave police, and much of it has been corroborated by witnesses, authorities say.

Zimmerman has not spoken publicly about what happened, but that night, Feb. 26, and in later meetings he described and re-enacted for police what he says happened.

In his version of events, he had turned around and was walking back to his SUV when Trayvon approached him from behind, the two exchanged words then Trayvon punched him in the nose, sending him to the ground, and began beating him.

Zimmerman told police he shot the teenager in self-defense.