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)

[Comrade Crapski]

I wish this aerial view showed where the 7-11 is. Or an arrow pointing in it's direction.

http://content.clearchannel.com/cc-c...1333536101.jpg

[InChiefsHell]

So he was shot about 300 feet from home...and they didn't know about it for 3 days? W...T...F??

[Comrade Crapski]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHell

So he was shot about 300 feet from home...and they didn't know about it for 3 days? W...T...F??

I think it gives us a pretty good idea of the type of adult supervision, parental guidance, love this kid received.

[R8RFAN]

Originally Posted by KChiefer

Yeah, if you can't CCW on the street then where? I wondered that after reading his post and looked it up. Apparently most states, many by federal law, say you can't in churches, schools, hospitals, fed buildings, amusement parks, work, and bars. I see why people shouldn't carry in those places, but if the reason for carrying is protection, can't you be attacked in those prohibited places(SCHOOLS)?

Still, it does seem weird to me to arm the neighborhood watch. I doubt that most watchmen are armed in the US. That would be a lot like a militia.

Should be able to carry in all of those places... because the person that shoots up one of those places won't give a damn if they are told they can't have one there or not... Only the law abiding citizen will choose to obey the law..

[chiefzilla1501]

A

Originally Posted by Tom.Jay61

I think it gives us a pretty good idea of the type of adult supervision, parental guidance, love this kid received.

His dad called the police the next morning.. Don't be overdramatic.

[Dayze]

Originally Posted by KChiefer

Yeah, if you can't CCW on the street then where? I wondered that after reading his post and looked it up. Apparently most states, many by federal law, say you can't in churches, schools, hospitals, fed buildings, amusement parks, work, and bars. I see why people shouldn't carry in those places, but if the reason for carrying is protection, can't you be attacked in those prohibited places(SCHOOLS)?

Still, it does seem weird to me to arm the neighborhood watch. I doubt that most watchmen are armed in the US. That would be a lot like a militia.

these are called Kill Zones as criminals, or wacked out legally carrying individuals, don't give a darn about where they can and cannot carry.

if I'm carrying, I will not go to these places.

[King_Chief_Fan]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

A

His dad called the police the next morning.. Don't be overdramatic.

dont be stupid.....the next morning?

[chiefzilla1501]

E

Originally Posted by patteeu

It looks like it's pretty much on Zimmerman's path back to his car to me (if the 70 yard distance mentioned in other posts is right, Zimmerman is only 10 or 15 yards off a direct path back to his car). Certainly close enough that he could have been headed back to his car when he saw Martin coming back toward him.

We're short on evidence here. That's probably why the prosecuting authority decided that they didn't have a case.

He ended up in a courtyard between 2 houses. Which. Was not a direct path to his car based on the 911 call and being in the courtyard at all sure changes the story from monitoring to retain a visual to following him to get closer to the action. And it begs a fair question of how believable Zimmerman's story is that he was minding his own business after the 911 call. Until trayvon confronted him.

As I'vesaid before.. Seems to me both guys initiated something to end up on that spot of the map.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by King_Chief_Fan

dont be stupid.....the next morning?

Nobody' saying he's parent of the year.. But a 17 year old not coming home until later..it's not unusual. Let's not twist this into a ridiculous story that his parents didn't care,

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by Tom.Jay61

I wish this aerial view showed where the 7-11 is. Or an arrow pointing in it's direction.

http://content.clearchannel.com/cc-c...1333536101.jpg

This picture says the 7-11 is quite a ways to the west of that map along the road that runs across the north side of the neighborhood.

[King_Chief_Fan]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Nobody' saying he's parent of the year.. But a 17 year old not coming home until later..it's not unusual. Let's not twist this into a ridiculous story that his parents didn't care,

you have done a nice job of making this Mr. Z's issue.

This thread starts with title of shoots innocent black youth...Now is that confirmed or is this a twist to make this a ridiculous story.

[patteeu]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

E

He ended up in a courtyard between 2 houses. Which. Was not a direct path to his car based on the 911 call and being in the courtyard at all sure changes the story from monitoring to retain a visual to following him to get closer to the action. And it begs a fair question of how believable Zimmerman's story is that he was minding his own business after the 911 call. Until trayvon confronted him.

As I'vesaid before.. Seems to me both guys initiated something to end up on that spot of the map.

You have to go through the courtyard just a few yards north of the site of the shooting to get to the truck if you take a direct path. It seems like you're either misreading the map or exaggerating the distance off the direct path.

[frankotank]

Originally Posted by R8ers

Should be able to carry in all of those places... because the person that shoots up one of those places won't give a damn if they are told they can't have one there or not... Only the law abiding citizen will choose to obey the law..

well.....I'll admit that technically I don't obey all the laws when it comes to this.
OK...we're talking about churches, schools, hospitals, fed buildings, amusement parks, work, and bars.
all of these places have been the location of some wacko shooting people at random. especially schools and churches. I do agree, you should be able to carry anywhere. the only one I think is a little squirrelly is bars. but if you are indeed obeying the law then you ain't getting smashed and carrying. the one that I DO always obey is fed buildings. you don't want that kind of trouble. I ain't saying I carry into a school. but it's interesting how many school shootings there have been huh? wish somebody had been there with a CCW and a gun.
do I carry...at a high school football game for instance? you know what.....ain't none a yo damn bidness that's what! if I did, I'd be breaking the law. if I didn't, and the shizzle went down, I couldn't protect my people.

I don't lose any sleep over the decisions I make when it comes to my CCW choices.

EDIT - oh....by the way....work. really? I can't carry at work! most can't carry at work. man I hope some disgruntled ex-employee don't come in here shooting! we'll all be totally helpless. but hey, at least I'm following personnells stupid ****ing made up rule that basically goes against my rights as an American citizen. right? Nunya D.

[frankotank]

Originally Posted by Dayze

these are called Kill Zones as criminals, or wacked out legally carrying individuals, don't give a darn about where they can and cannot carry.

if I'm carrying, I will not go to these places.

oh Dayze......

[frankotank]

hey where's Bump? I'm curious what his thoughts are on this.
His first sentence in the thread is
"This is some ****ED UP SHIT, they aren't sure if the racist neighborhood watch idiot should be arrested?"
and with the media being what they are....I totally get that mindset. now that we know the media is really ****ed up.....we actually do know a little more now that when the post first hit....if only that the media lies....
Bump - do you still feel that way?