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)

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by R8ers

Answer me.... How many times will you let T pound your head into the concrete before you shoot?

Trayvon doesn't confront Zimmerman if Zimmerman follows BASIC protocol.

Why do you act like that was the beginning of the story? I don't have a problem with Zimmerman shooting Trayvon in self defense. I have a problem with a guy who seeks out confrontations and then hides behind self defense when the other guy throws the first punch.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by R8ers

Answer me.... How many times will you let T pound your head into the concrete before you shoot?

Answer it KC WTF?

[RedNeckRaider]

Originally Posted by R8ers

You didn't hurt my feeling , you just reassured what I have known all along... You are a big mouthed tough guy acting pussy libtard with a small man syndrome.

Whatever makes your world work lol I don't walk around with a gun looking to be a badass. I don't think Zimmerman is a hero. If anyone has a little man syndrome it is you~

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Trayvon doesn't confront Zimmerman if Zimmerman follows BASIC protocol.

Why do you act like that was the beginning of the story? I don't have a problem with Zimmerman shooting Trayvon in self defense. I have a problem with a guy who seeks out confrontations and then hides behind self defense when the other guy throws the first punch.

iF HE HAD punched Z I would have a problem if he killed T.

The report says T jumped him and pounded his head into the concrete, that changes everything... It goes from simple assault which is a low class misdemeanor to Felony assault which gets you time.

Now tell me, How many times are you going to let him poud your head in the concrete before you shoot? One after babyfood?

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by BucEyedPea

You forgot to mention that there had been break-ins recently in that neighborhood.

I've mentioned it several times. Zimmerman never identified himself as Neighborhood Watch or as a concerned citizen. So Trayvon had no idea who Zimmerman was either.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

I've mentioned it several times. Zimmerman never identified himself as Neighborhood Watch or as a concerned citizen. So Trayvon had no idea who Zimmerman was either.

He doesn't have to...




Now tell me, How many times are you going to let him pound your head in the concrete before you shoot? One after babyfood?

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by R8ers

iF HE HAD punched Z I would have a problem if he killed T.

The report says T jumped him and pounded his head into the concrete, that changes everything... It goes from simple assault which is a low class misdemeanor to Felony assault which gets you time.

Now tell me, How many times are you going to let him poud your head in the concrete before you shoot? One after babyfood?

How many times do I have to tell you. I have no problem with Zimmerman shooting in self defense. I have a problem with Zimmerman creating situations where he would have to use a gun in self defense.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

How many times do I have to tell you. I have no problem with Zimmerman shooting in self defense. I have a problem with Zimmerman creating situations where he would have to use a gun in self defense.

Answer the question then

Now tell me, How many times are you going to let him pound your head in the concrete before you shoot? One after babyfood?

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by R8ers

He doesn't have to...




Now tell me, How many times are you going to let him pound your head in the concrete before you shoot? One after babyfood?

So because he isn't legally obligated to, that excuses him when he acts stupid and reckless. Especially when you're packing a firearm.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by R8ers

Answer the question then

Now tell me, How many times are you going to let him pound your head in the concrete before you shoot? One after babyfood?

Seriously. What isn't getting through in your head?

I don't have a problem with him shooting Trayvon Martin in self defense and believe Zimmerman will be cleared of charges. Why do you continue to ask a question I already agree with you on?

[R8RFAN]

If that sonofabitch would have got his ass punched in the nose and got pissed and killed that kid I would be in disgust but I think Z was scared to death and actually feared for his life when his head was being pounded. Why else would he take a kill shot? I think he took any shot and was fearing his brains would be leaking soon.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Seriously. What isn't getting through in your head?

I don't have a problem with him shooting Trayvon Martin in self defense and believe Zimmerman will be cleared of charges. Why do you continue to ask a question I already agree with you on?

I just want to know at what point does it change from getting your ass kicked to possibly losing your life...

[KChiefer]

Originally Posted by R8ers

How did he know T was unarmed?

Does it matter? Z knew that what he was doing could start a conflict that would be better handled by the police whether Tray was armed or not.

The fact remains, you're accusing someone of having small man syndrome while backing the idea that people have the right to shakedown every Tom, Dick, and Harry that they come across, and if it doesn't go the way of an episode of Dragnet where the punk gets slammed against the wall, the watchman can kill someone. That is the definition of small-man syndrome -- you can kick my ass for accosting you, but I will shoot you, so I have the right to accost you.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by R8ers

If that sonofabitch would have got his ass punched in the nose and got pissed and killed that kid I would be in disgust but I think Z was scared to death and actually feared for his life when his head was being pounded. Why else would he take a kill shot? I think he took any shot and was fearing his brains would be leaking soon.

Of course that's what he's doing. Shooting him was the only option he had at that point. I don't care about the shooting.

Again, you continue to insist that the situation started by Trayvon coming out of the blue and jumping Zimmerman, as if Zimmerman was some innocent guy minding his own business. The police themselves stated that: "The encounter between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin was ultimately avoidable by Zimmerman, if Zimmerman had remained in his vehicle and awaited the arrival of law enforcement, or conversely, if he had identified himself to Martin as a concerned citizen and initiated dialog in an effort to dispel each party's concern," the report says.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/...ort/55046944/1

Zimmerman had been ranting about other people and pulling this vigilante shit for a while. This time, he found a guy who fought back. I'm sorry, I defend his actions but am disgusted at his behaviors that created a situation that should have never happened. If he follows basic protocol, his face doesn't get bashed in and Trayvon Martin doesn't get shot. And a guy as obsessive about police work as he is knew the rules, but instead chose to ignore them and take matters into his own hands.

[R8RFAN]

Put yourself in the situation....

I am basically a rent a cop, I just got my carry license and I have been dreaming of being a cop, I am kinda nerdy.
I see this kid that looks suspicious, I get in my car, follow him trying to be a hero and look out for the neighbors homes. I call the cops, they tell me not to pursue but I do not have to take orders from a 911 operator, adrenaline pumping now, he is walking faster and I lose site of him, I go back to my car and then he confronts me, Busts me in the face, then dives on me and beats me then grabs my head and starts pounding it into the concrete, head splits open, I am scared, and I can't see.. I know my gun is on my hip, I pull it out and fire... This is what I think happened