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Subscribe to RSSFellow neighborhood watch volunteer Frank Taaffe comes to the defense of George Zimmerman, who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin while patrolling his gated Florida community. WTVJ-TV's Jeff Burnside reports.
SANFORD, Fla. - A neighbor of George Zimmerman and fellow neighborhood watch captain in their Florida gated community came to his defense Tuesday, saying Zimmerman shot Miami teenager Trayvon Martin after numerous burglaries at The Retreat at Twin Lakes.
Frank Taaffe pointed out the circumstances that he believes led his 28-year-old neighbor to react the way he did on the night of Feb. 26: Eight burglaries within 15 months, most done by young black males, he said.
"The stage was already set. It was a perfect storm,” Taaffe said.
NBCMiami.com could not immediately confirm the burglary statistic Taaffe cited in a phone call to Sanford Police Tuesday night.
Martin, 17, picked up Skittles and iced tea from a 7-Eleven that Sunday, then headed back toward his father’s girlfriend's home on a rainy, drizzly night. Martin put on his hoodie and ran to take cover. Zimmerman spotted him, got out of his car and followed him.
In Trayvon Martin's final phone call with his own girlfriend, according to Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump, he could be heard saying ,“Why are you following me?” with Zimmerman replying, “What are you doing around here?”
Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, the parents of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed Florida teen shot dead by a neighborhood watch volunteer, tell TODAY's Matt Lauer they want justice for their son and want the shooter, George Zimmerman, arrested.
Their confrontation ended with Martin getting shot in the chest.
“This guy looks like he’s up to no good,” Zimmerman said in a 911 call. Asked by a dispatcher if he was white, Hispanic or black, he replied, "He looks black." Zimmerman's father has said that his son is Hispanic, grew up in a multiracial family, and is not racist.
Twin Lakes’ population is ethnically mixed. A few residents said there is tension within the gated community, but Taaffe insisted Tuesday that Zimmerman was acting out of concern for the safety of the area.
More from NBCMiami.com: A neighbor comes to Zimmerman's defense
"George is a congenial, amiable, admirable person,” he said. "He had a passion and a care for this neighborhood to ensure the safety of everybody here. And, furthermore, George is no Rambo."
Taaffe said that Zimmerman was appointed as a watch captain, despite reports that he appointed himself to the post.
theGrio: Protesters demand repeal of Zimmerman's gun permit
He said he believes his neighbor acted in self-defense, which is what Zimmerman told police. He conceded, however, that the boiling tensions may have been affecting Zimmerman.
At a NAACP forum Wednesday residents of Sanford, Fla., listed their grievances about police treatment of young black men. Neighbors of George Zimmerman, the man who shot unarmed black teen Trayvon Martin, have asked him to move out of his townhouse. NBC's Ron Allen reports.
“I think any time you use a weapon, there are certain anger issues working,” Taaffe said. “I think he had fed-up issues. He was mad as hell and wasn't going to take it anymore.”
Zimmerman has not been charged, despite growing calls for his arrest.
Lawyer: Trayvon Martin fearful in final call
"It’s really sad that he's already been convicted in the public media and has already been sentenced to the gas chamber,” Taaffe said. “Let's let justice do its job."
Robert Zimmerman, George's father, told The Orlando Sentinel last week in an emotional interview that his family has received death threats. On claims that his son stalked and killed an innocent black teenager, Robert Zimmerman told The Sentinel, "They're lies."
State Rep. Dennis Baxley, a co-sponsor of the "Stand Your Ground" bill, explains why the law would not have authorized George Zimmerman to "pursue and confront" Trayvon Martin.
"George is going to suffer for years and years," he said.
Taaffe told NBCMiami.com that nothing changes the fact that Martin’s death is “devastating.”
”It's a tragic event – we can’t bring that boy back,” he said. “I wish we could.”
Editor’s note: A clarification was made to this story on March 28, 2012. An earlier version of the story truncated George Zimmerman’s quotes to a 911 operator in a way that may have changed the meaning. See correction here.
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Let's look at the facts:
1. Zimmerman pursued Trayvon even after 911 told him not too.
2. Zimmerman used racial slurs recorded on the 911 tape.
3. Trayvon was unarmed
4. Trayvon was heard screaming for help on other 911 recordings
5. Zimmerman pulled the trigger that killed Tryvon.
If Zimmerman felt threatened, why did he pursue even after being told not to?
If it wasn't racially motivated, then why did he use racial slurs on the 911 recording describing Trayvon
if it was self defense, then why was Zimmerman not the one screaming for help before he fired the shot that killed Trayvon?
How can Zimmerman claim self defense, when he chased down Trayvon with a firearm, and Trayvon was unarmed?
Zimmerman needs to be arrested for Manslaughter at the minimum, 1st Degree murder at the maximum. he purposely chased down Trayvon with a firearm and killed him.
Additionally, if Zimmerman did confront Martin (as it appears almost certain), them Martin had every right to defend himself. The witness that saw Martin atop Zimmerman probably saw Martin defending himself. Once Zimmerman was about to get his @ss kicked, he used the gun he had no business carrying as part of the neighborhood watch.
Yeah, according to the stupid Florida law, Trayvon would have been just as justified in using deadly force on ZIMMERMAN, since he obviously felt threatened by a man he didn't know, who followed him slowly from a car, and then got out and approached him at night.
Before anyone decides to kill another person walking around in a multi-racial, gated community and is black, white, brown, etc. think about this: That brain that I'm about to wipe out just may be the brain that might find a cure for my cancer one day.
Doesn't take a Rambo to shoot a 17 yr old kid in the chest, apparently all it takes is a Florida redneck and a gun.
He was mad as hell, and ready to shoot someone, as long as they fit the profile of the alleged burglars - young, male, and black.
This guy also had made many calls to 911 about suspicious persons in the months leading up to the shooting - and the people he was complaining about were all black. No, he's not racist at all (eye-roll)
Phil, at what time during the tape was Trayvon "belligerent"? And why shouldn't he be wearing a hoodie when it was raining outside? I didn't know that wearing a hoodie automatically puts someone in criminal status. Also, if you are fearful of someone and you are in a car--would you EXIT that car with your 9mm? Does that sound like the actions of someone who was afraid of the boy?
these dead kids never be at wrong! they always innocent!!!
I think Zimmerman should be publicly executed. We'll ask questions later.
Zimmerman is a cop wannabe.
From the Orlando Sentinel:
Trayvon Martin: Who is crime-watch volunteer George Zimmerman?
Zimmerman expressed an interest in law enforcement when he applied to theSeminole County Sheriff's Officecitizens' law-enforcement academy in 2008, and has demonstrated that, although he's not a cop, he is willing to take action that resembles policing.
In 2003, records show, he pursued a 24-year-old Lake Mary man he had seen shoplift a 24-inch TV from an Albertsons supermarket, following the suspect's car until a deputy arrived. The next year, he followed a man who he claimed had spit at him while driving.
His description of his self-defense doesn't make sense to me:
Zimmerman said he had stepped out of his truck to check the name of the street he was on when Trayvon attacked him from behind as he walked back to his truck, police said. He said he feared for his life and fired the semiautomatic handgun he was licensed to carry because he feared for his life.
This man went after this child and an innocent life was lost . This child had a lot of life to live. He was a good child with a bright future. The gunman was the hunter and the child was the prey I think this is very obvious. This man has problems and needs to be taken off the street so this does not happen again to some innocent victim. Now this mom and dad are grieving for their son. This could of all been avoided if this men would of done what he was told to do and not proceed with his obsession to play lawman.
Hey, just because you are angry, and fed up, that does not give you the right to murder a kid! He was just a kid running back from the store in the rain with his hoodie up. Souds like the kid was trying to prevent trouble, yet he was gunned down by an angry man!The shooters father says George will suffer for years and years? Good! A guilty mind will always suffer!
This is ridiculous, Zimmerman needs arrested, tried in a court of law, if found guilty, sentenced to the maximum sentence as a warning to other wannabe vigilantes.
The "there have been a lot of burglaries" doesn't hold water either. Even if Trayvon had been up to no good. Burglary carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in Florida, NOT the death penalty. Zimmerman should face Murder charges and face the exact same penalty.
Wow...He's just making excuses. Your damn right he's already been convicted by the media! He shot someone that he was told not to follow (by the police - not to mention adding a racial slur in the conversation) and shot him even after he yelled for help! He deserves to be behind bars w/out any chance of bail!
So becausehe's Hispanic he can"t be a racist? So does that mean only white people can be racist?
Also it's been proven that he has had problem with black males before and has had problems with the law.
He was told by the cops not follow Trayvon. Instead he choose to follow Trayvon anyway. He said Trayvon looked like he was on drugs. How could he have seen that if he was following behind Trayvon in the dark. Plus Trayvon had his hood up.
Clearly when the 911 tape is played you can her Trayvon crying for help. Now if Zimmerman was acting in self defense why was Trayvon the one crying for help?
And then after the shooting when Zimmerman called 911 and the police told him to stay on the property why did Zimmerman get in his car and drive off?
So this is the "admirable, amiable, congenial" person Mr. Taaffe is talking about?
This guy chased this kid down...there was no stand your ground BS...you gun toting crazies share the blame here...
Have they drawn up a map of the events yet?
I see no problem with explaining who you are to a police officer but since when are you required to explain who you are to strangers? I guess young black males are still required to do this. Is this 2012 or "old south" 1912, I'm starting to get confused.
This does not explain why Zimmerman acted with a gun. It's called murder 1.
No one has mentioned the crime that was committed by Trayvon Martin! What was it that he did that was worth his life being ended by this gun happy murderer?
Zimmerman had the gun, he followed Trayvon and started an altercation and then shot him to death!
Again what was it that Trayvon did that deserved a bullet in his chest? Is it a crime NOW to walk near a gated neighborhood?
Would a person that happen to walk near a gated neighborhood need to be armed to protect him or herself from people like Zimmerman?
Because as i see it, If Trayvon had a gun he could have defended his self and killed Zimmerman, afterall it was Zimmerman that started the altercation.
Again? What crime did Trayvon commit?
TRUTH - not crap
Thank you and GOD BLESS AMERICA
Oh and by the way, young black boys watch out for Frank Taaffe, if he is defending this murderer, he will do the same to an innocent black boy.
Did not the 911 operator tell Zimmerman to stay away from this "suspect"?
You can hear Trayvon screaming for help just before this wannabe cop executed him.
Murder is murder even in Florida. Zimmerman must to be tried for murder or you will have demonstrations and riots like you have never seen before.
Perhaps not a "Rambo" but definitely a wannabe COP
"he's no Rambo" - true, Rambo did NOT kill anyone as a result of racial prejudice and/or personal satisfaction. In fact, Rambo restrained himself even as he was being pursued by 100s of law enforcement intended in killing him. Now, that we got that out of the way, what matters are the facts, not the spin.
Using words like "fu***g coons" or "these a*****les always get away" "...and he's black" "he has hoodie" "he's on drugs or something" - all amount to racial prejudice, no matter how we slice it. Add to that the fact that Zimmerman was armed and actually following the victim and you have a pre-set state of mind in which Zimmerman was in fact intending to kill. Otherwise, he would have done as requested by the dispatcher: "we don't need you to do that" (follow the victim) - Zimmerman said "ok" - he lied, he intended to kill the victim, plain and simple.
Now, he has been free for nearly a month, preparing is fake testimony no doubt. But, tapes don't lie and he will have to pay for his premeditated act or murder. IF the punishment doesn't fir the crime all hell will break loose, and with plenty of justification I am afraid.
I don't get the shooter claiming self defense. Un-armed Trayvon was killed defending himself from an armed stalker.
I guess since he's dead he can't use that, but the shooter can.
It is sad that some people think that by rationalizing everything is OK. The bottom line is that Zimmerman had NO right to shoot anyone. He is not and never was a police officer. When told by the police dispatcher to back off, he should have done that. He had no authority to confront Trayvon. To make an assumption that this person was guilty and had to be shot because other people had committed crimes is ridiculous thinking. Should the same reasoning be applied here that since Zimmerman possibly committed a crime by killing an innocent person, he should pay the price as well? Neighborhood watch captains obviously should be vetted and put through vigorous training before being allowed to serve in this capacity. The "Stand by Your Grounds" law also doesn't help this situation either. A by-product of this law are situations like this one. A innocent person gets killed senselessly. To many of us, feel a life is precious and it should not be taken away for unreasonable causes. Hopefully the neighborhood watch programs are put under the microscope and re-configured to benefit all and not used as a means to release frustration on another human being. also, the Sanford Police Department needs to be re-trained or replaced so that they can work better for ALL of the people in the neighborhood(s) which they are paid to serve. This horrific situation should serve as a wakeup call for all involved. Guns cannot and should not be used to solve all problems. We have seen over and over again that guns in the wrong hands have caused many tragedies that never should have happened. In order to be a civil society, there needs to be a balance between the importance of human life and the right to bare arms.
The first thing I saw in this article, and what I keep hearing is that Zimmerman comes from a multiracial family so race couldn't have been the motive.... Then, the neighbor comes to his "defense" and agrees with THAT sentiment...only to add a "by the way" by adding that there HAVE been 8 burglaries in a year and half ALL BY BLACK MALES.... So, it WAS racial profiling... If he cared so much about his community, why doesn't he know all who live there? This is an example of how people lose a sense of themselves as soon as they feel that they've moved up or are better than the next... He feared for his life, so he STALKED the kid??? Come on!!!! If this isn't about a BUNCH OF CRAPOLA!!! IT'S THE NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH...NOT THE NEIGHBORHOOD POLICE...NOT NEIGHBORHOOD VIGILANTES! He is supposed TO WATCH AND CALL IN ANY SUSPICIOUS BEHAVIOR..NOT ENGAGE! If this man walks away, it'll only prove how far this country truly HAS NOT come in interracial dealings and mental evolution... SMH