Another famous hoodie wearer is Ted Kacynski the Unabomber.

Kid got the best of Zimmerman in a fight after Zimmerman tried to stop him, Zimmerman shot him. All the evidence shows Zimmerman started it, had no reason to go after the kid or try to stop him. He wanted to play cop. Trayvon had every right to fight back when accosted by a strange adult male after dark. Zimmerman is going down for 2nd degree murder or manslaughter.

Except that witnesses say Tryvon was laying face down and Zimmerman was sitting on Tryvon - basically straddling him. Tryvon was shot in the back, face down. If these are the facts of the eventual trial Zimmerman should be facing nothing less than 1st degree murder or capital felony or whatever the highest murder charge in Florida is.

No accidental shooting or self defense starts with a guy sitting in a parked car with a loaded gun, sees a teenager walking along the sidewalk and he - being so unbelievably suspicious of this teenager walking along - decides to get out of his parked vehicle and chase the teenager down until someone is screaming loudly for help and the screams are silenced by the gunshot.

so valhalla are you saying its ok to shoot unarmed people if they hit you because you arent strong enough to take on a teenager

No fair trial for this guy.

remy1b, you got it backwards!

A man who witnessed part of the altercation contacted authorities.

"The guy on the bottom, who had a red sweater on, was yelling to me, 'Help! Help!' and I told him to stop, and I was calling 911," said the witness, who asked to be identified only by his first name, John.

John said he locked his patio door, ran upstairs and heard at least one gun shot.

"And then, when I got upstairs and looked down, the guy who was on the top beating up the other guy, was the one laying in the grass, and I believe he was dead at that point."

Read more: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/seminole_news/022712-man-shot-and-killed-in-neighborhood-altercation#ixzz1q5QS0CIS

@Bengal...and white males have not been profiled or stereotyped in this society like Martin who was hardly a bomber of any sorts

Mary, probably not since poeple are already convicting him before they even know the facts or hear testimony.

@Vahalla Phil: Running up on someone and chasing them in the dark is aggression and entitles one to use self defense. If it would have been reasonable for Treyvon to fear Zimmerman when he was chasing him in the dark, after getting out of a car that clearly wasn't a police car, then Treyvon had the right to defend himself. Zimmerman, since he put Treyvon in that reasonable fear, can't then escalate the force when Treyvon reasonably fights back. If it was you, and some guy you didn't know jumped out of a car and started coming at you what would you do? Because it was Treyvon who had reasonable fear of ZImmerman, it was Treyvon who had the right to defend himself. ZImmerman put himself in the situation, he legally has no right to self defense.

"Another famous hoodie wearer is Ted Kacynski the Unabomber."

Another famous hoodie wearer: Me...a 42-year-old...when it rains and it is damp out. Shoot me...I'm asking for trouble.

Kris, What was Trayvon doing in a gate community after dark. Did he even live there?

It's pretty hard or impossible for the firearm to discharge by accident unless Zimmerman's finger is on the trigger. There are safeties put in place for accidents to not occur.

You have to chamber the round in the pistol, turn off the thumb safety and of course, there is a grip safety. You actually have to squeeze the grip in order for the trigger to work and fire. So..... kinda hard for the pistol to fire even if you drop it.

Still even with top notch weapons training.... its still pretty stupid to carry a pistol while patroling around as a neighborhood watch. Once you start carrying and looking for trouble, now he is acting as a vigilante and not as a neighborhood watch. There is a old saying.... better get a lawyer for every shot you make. Meaning the shot you make better be because your life is in danger.

Had-enough.

And whose to say that Trayvon didnt reach for the gun and end up discharging it himself? Perhaps the gun went off accidentally during a scuffle.

I am not sticking up for Zimmerman necessarily but I am not going to condemn a man when we dont have all the facts either.

Zimmerman probably cornered Trayvon at gun point and Trayvon thinking Zimmerman is a street thug punches Zimmerman in the nose in self defence surprises the hell out of Zimmerman as he discharges his weapon as he is falling backwards to the ground. I think they will find out that Zimmerman caused an escalation to a circumstance that would have never happened had he stood down as the dispatcher requested. He will be convicted of secondary manslaughter.

It would be pure stupidity to punch a guy with a gun. And instead of Trayvon talking to his girl friend on the phone he probably should have called 911 himself..

Some dude following him around in the darm with a gun and he doesn't call 911? I guess you can't fix stupid.

The boys stepmother-to-be lives in the neighborhood. He was there with his stepbrother-to-be, also a resident. The legally residing adult left the juveniles at her domicile. That's not illegal , given their ages. Maybe the self appointed chief of the patrol forgot to demand an updated who's who in the neighborhood.

It's his right under the second amendment. And Florida is a concealed carry state. Your statement is akin to saying it's stupid to express your first amendment rights.

Still even with top notch weapons training.... its still pretty stupid to carry a pistol while patroling around as a neighborhood watch

So far, no one posting here was actually there. Does seem to be two totally different sides to the story! Those who say Zimmerman started it and those who say Martin started it. And until the police do their job and get to the bottom of the truth, why is the black community demanding the execution of Martin? Seems like too often the black community simply wants to demand their own justice. They will refuse to admit that just possibly one of their own might have done something wrong. The news is only telling us what they want us to hear, there is no impartial news reporting anymore. We only hear what they want. Obama does need to stay out of this. It isn't any of his business! It is not for POTUS to decide guilt or innocence in a state matter that involves a member of the black community. Let the authorities do their job. Their are good and honest police officers out there and they will do just that. Just because the decision may not go the way the black community wants does not mean it is a corrupt police department. However, if it is true that Zimmerman had a bloody nose as well as the back of his head was bloody from a fall, then just maybe someone needs to look into the possibility that Martin was not some totally innocent young lad walking home from the store. Sounds like someone took a swing and made a very fatal, stupid mistake. However, there is no way this will ever fly as first degree murder. There was no planning or intent to kill.

just have to LOVE the gathering of RACISTS here... remember this - pursuit using a vehicle after being told to stop pursuit. Emerged from vehicle to confront the one being chased and then was apparently surprised when the "fight or flight" response turned into FIGHT. Chose to produce a weapon and kill the person trying to not be pursued. IF NOT FOR 911, we wouldn't know what happened. the "wannabee cop" didn't kill in self defense - he STARTED IT (and he will be made to suffer the consequences - either STATE, FEDERAL or BOTH. That's just the way it is... Once convicted, he better hope that is offered "solitary" because he will be marked in prison - not that I support it, but again, THAT'S THE WAY IT IS

Except that witnesses say Tryvon was laying face down and Zimmerman was sitting on Tryvon - basically straddling him. Tryvon was shot in the back, face down.

@Remy1b....Where did you hear this? What I've read (another post on this thread 1.12 also mentioned) is the OTHER way around. Trayvon was on top of Zimmerman beating him. When the witness returned the "guy on top" was laying in the grass and dying/dead".

Dax, he was on his way to his Dad's fiancee's house...his future step mother...she lives there.

Trayvon Martin did not live in this gated community. He was visiting his father and fathers girlfriend at the time in this gated predominantly white community. So his father should have let the HOA know his son was visiting. Obviously Trayvon dressed in not attire of the community. His father Tracey when interviewed wore a nice button down shirt tucked in his fitted jeans. Didn't dress from the projects. This is a stereo type and it will remain a stereo type. I have followed people while calling 911, if someone is suspicious as a citizen you have that right.

@Valhalla Are u a racisit???

One thing for sure is that no one posting on these boards would make an unbiased jurer. It will take a lot of searching to find a jury for this.

Blazin' fool - I can't think of a more apt name considering your comment. So anytime a black person walks into a gated community they should alert the HOA???? is this the gestapo? just put a "n" on his chest when he pulls up at the gate instead of a star of david. hoodies are athletic gear worn by EVERYONE of all races. people of all colors should be able to visit their friend or whoever living in a gated community. i guess when i go visit my friend in her upscale condo i need to alert the HOA. that is by far the dumbest thing i've ever heard. last i checked, black people were free to go wherever. there are no checkpoints here, unless you want this to be like south africa during apartheid.

Police report from THAT night. Not two days later. Not two weeks later. Not a month later. THAT NIGHT!

Hope this shows up!

where in my comment did say notify if he's black ????????????????

anytime you have guests visiting (even family) you notify the h.o.a, so they know new faces in the gated community !!!!!!!!!!!

http ://www/ sanfordfl.gov/investigation/docs/ Twin%20Lakes% Shooting% 20Initial% 20Repor t.pdf

If that first one won't get you there take the spaces out of the second one. It's an interesting report.

Blazin' fool - you implied the difference in color when you said, 'in a predominately white neighborhood.' You're implying a non-white person shows up in a predominately white neighborhood they need to contact the HOA and notify (ask for permission) them of their presence. sounds abit third reich-ish anyway, i don't know anyone of any color who notifies the HOA that they are coming into a neighborhood. most people just drive up and see their friend/family or whoever.

Martins mother is planning a civil suit against Zimmerman, can't wait until he files counter suit against her the lawyer and all those making threats and false statements like several news agencies and liberal pundits. Martins family knows 100% for sure that the voice heard on the 911 tape calling for help was Zimmerman and not her son, but went ahead claiming that it was Martin. Their lawyer hopefully gets disbarred after this for knowing providing false information, just like Mike Nifong the last time innocent people were falsely accused of a crime that Jess and Al got involved. Those two chuckleheads are batting 0 on getting the facts right on cases like this.

Plus why did it take 12 hours before Trayvon's dad to realize his son was missing, and why are all the pictures of Trayvon at least 4+ years old, there is no way they don't have a more recent photo of him. What a current pic of the 6'3" man that was on top of Zimmerman attacking him doesn't quit get the shock as the little kid photos that they are using.

Zimmerman is not guilty at all and this was self defense, but you can be sure the liberals won't stop the lies until they get their false arrest, if for no other reason than to avoid the inevitable riots that come when they don't get what they want.

Where is the outrage for the 14 who had gas poured on him and was set on fire or for the family and friends gunned down at the tire store, OH sorry those were blacks on white crimes, my bad.

FedUp & Raider: thanks for the link to that fox news article. I see that article's reporter still hasn't been able to correct their mistaken quotes even a month after they posted that article. They wrongly name the mother as "Tracy Martin" and attribute quotes to her, but Tracy Martin is the father. So who knows what else in this article quoting John is inaccurate reporting? I certainly don't know.

All I know is what I saw of live interviews with several of the witnesses. Two women in particular were interviewed live right after the incident and I watched them explain how they heard the screams for "HELP", looked out their window and saw a man sitting on top of someone who was face down, they heard a shot and the screaming instantly stopped. One of the woman I saw interviewed said the guy on top was straddling the other guy while basically sitting on top of his rear end holding his back down and she knew the one on the bottom was dead.

Now, granted of course this could have been after a physical fight and perhaps immediately preceding what these witnesses saw Tryvon may have had the upper hand in a fight and been on top of Zimmerman. Who knows? I don't know.

But from all accounts so far we know the following:

1. Zimmerman is not a cop.

2. Zimmerman was in the safety of his car and was not being chased, assaulted or even confronted.

3. Zimmerman had a 9 mil. gun with him in the car.

4. Zimmerman saw a teenager walking slowly in the rain and decided he was "suspicious".

5. Zimmerman called 911 and said twice during the call that this is a "black male" and is "suspicious" - while Zimmerman was in the safety of his car.

6. Zimmerman did not report being threatened or even approached by the teenager when he called 911.

7. Zimmerman got out of his car and began following the teenager.

8. The 911 dispatcher asked Zimmerman if he was following him, Zimmerman said yeah he was and the dispatcher told him not to follow the teenager. Zimmerman said ok.

9. At some point the teenager began to run from Zimmerman.

10. At some point several neighbors heard someone yelling "help" and several people called 911.

11. During several of the 911 calls - BEFORE TRYVON WAS SHOT - neighbors told 911 they hear someone yelling for help and they see a guy has a gun. This is key because it means the gun was out in plain sight DURING the "help" cries. These callers are afraid and don't know whats going on out there so they don't want to go outside. During the call to 911 three yells for "help" are clearly heard in the background while the caller is saying to 911 that someone has a gun. The gunshot is then heard and the screaming stops with the gunshot.

12. Tryvon, the teenager, is shot dead by Zimmerman, the man who got out of his vehicle with a loaded gun and followed and chased a teenager for reasons not yet known other than the reasons he gave to the 911 dispatcher: that this guy looks suspicious I don't know what he's doing walking kind of slow, he's a black male, hoodie, jeans, white sneakers I don't know what he's up to and he looks suspicious he's a black male - and now he's running. Thats the gist of Zimmerman's call, giving him the benefit of the doubt on the disputed parts of the call.

13. Zimmerman is not a cop.

14. Zimmerman doesn't have the right to question anyone walking down the sidewalk.

15. Zimmerman doesn't have the right to chase, follow or run after anyone who is walking down the sidewalk. Doing so makes him either a stalker or an aggressor and anyone being thus followed and chased would be therefore at risk and threatened by a mugger or whoever he thinks might be chasing him....for doing nothing other than walking.

16. There is no death penalty for someones refusal to submit to being chased by a stranger with a gun or for refusing to answer to someone when you don't even know who the heck he is or what he wants with you.

17. Even if Zimmerman were a cop or FBI or CIA or whatever - which he is not - here in the United States we have the right to remain silent when questioned by law enforcement without penalty of being shot dead on the street.

18. Apparently according to Zimmerman's story to the cops, there was a physical altercation when Zimmerman caught up to Tryvon. Zimmerman's lawyer said Zimmerman's nose was bleeding and possibly broken and he had a cut on the back of his head.

19. At some point for some unknown reason Zimmerman shot this teenager dead. Witnesses who were on the phone with 911 IMMEDIATELY BEFORE and DURING the gunshot said a guy has a gun and someone is screaming for help. They hear the gunshot, the screams instantly stop and they look outside and see Zimmerman sitting on top of the teenager who is laying face down in the grass...DEAD.

20. Tryvon had no weapon. He had a cell phone, some skittles candy and an iced tea. And he's shot dead by a man who had his loaded weapon with him while he sat safely - under no threat by anyone - in his parked car during his neighborhood watch until he decided to disregard 911's instructions and chase after the teenager.

That's about it. Oh yeah - and Zimmerman has not been charged or arrested. If the police treated this as a crime scene in anyway or took any forensic testing or evidence before letting Zimmerman go home that night it hasn't been reported. So from what we know at this point there wasn't a thorough or proper investigation at the scene of the killing.

The facts I'm sure will eventually all come out at an eventual trial. Until then I stand by my earlier comments that *if these are the facts* I can't imagine a charge less than 1st degree murder.

This unarmed teenager who was not committing any crime could beat the hell out of Zimmerman and been within his rights after being chased down, nothing indicates that happened but even if it did Zimmerman had NO LEGAL RIGHT to pull a gun and shoot an unarmed person after he followed him and chased him down. Nobody has the right to chase someone, pick a fight and then if they are losing the fight to take out a gun and shoot their victim. That's nonsense.

Now people have to tell their kid how to dress when they come visit them????? The police clearly told Zimmerman not to pursue him. Bottomline is that facts and evidence is forth coming. I hope Zimmerman has a report from a hospital who treated him for his injuries. If he was that severely injured, it would have required a visit to the hospital. As for that neighbor who came forward well over a month after the fact, does he have anyone to collaborate his account of the incident? Next, this is not a racial issue, it could have happened to any kid, white, hispanic, or black who all dress in the same fashion and wear hoodies. I am sure if Zimmerman saw a hispanic kid, who often dress the same as Trayvon, who he felt was supicious he would have had the same reaction.

Like I said, when his father was interviewed by the media he wore a nice button down shirt and fitting jeans. He wasn't wearing the baggy jeans with boxers showing and a "hoodie". The media has portrayed this look including rappers as "gangsta". When you see a young girl wearing inappropriate clothing the first portray of her she's a "slut". It's the same difference. Most people DO notify HOA if they have family visiting. Thia was were his FATHER lived, wouldn't he want his son to be safe while there visiting. I would have been letting the HOA he would be a regular face to see around this neighbor hood, so this tragedy would not happen. You don't have to tell HOA about friends stopping by, but family that would be there regularly.....I would think you would want them to know.

blazin' fool. you're just a @!$%#ing idiot!!

and lastly, again my initial comments that FedUp & Raider responded to were about the witnesses who reported seeing Tryvon laying face down and shot in the back. IF he were shot in the back or from behind then even if Zimmerman claimed he feared his life was in immediate jeopardy and thats why he fired the gun, well if Tryvon was shot from behind while on the ground that pretty much erases any and all self-defense claims of Zimmerman's.

As I said, "IF". Because, apparently unlike the police I actually would like to get to the bottom of this and know why a young teenager who was unarmed, was not accused of wrongdoing, and was walking home was killed by an armed neighborhood watchman.

FedUp & Raider: thanks for the link to that fox news article. I see that article's reporter still hasn't been able to correct their mistaken quotes even a month after they posted that article. They wrongly name the mother as "Tracy Martin" and attribute quotes to her, but Tracy Martin is the father. So who knows what else in this article quoting John is inaccurate reporting? I certainly don't know.

@Remy....for the record I didn't get that info from Fox news. If you've been watching this story closely you would have heard this eye witness account from numerous DIFFERENT sources. Granted it's been buried and NOT emphasized by ANY news outlet but nonetheless it's wasn't a Fox news exclusive report. The eye witness in question called 911 to report the FIGHTING he was witnessing. You seem to be discrediting this witness report....you might be jumping the gun there.

That's the big problem with this whole murder. The media seems to be whipping up people into a frenzy without doing any investigative reporting. Hell the FBI and DOJ have been involved for 5 days now, AND WE STILL aren't arresting Zimmerman. That's VERY telling to me. This is not as simple as many people have made it out to be.

IF he were shot in the back or from behind

@Remy....if Trayvon was shot in the back or from behind (and I've NOT heard one mention of this); I believe Zimmerman would be behind bars as we speak. There's no way police would miss that at the crime scene and therefore would NOT have allowed the self defense argument to prevail.

As I said, "IF". Because, apparently unlike the police I actually would like to get to the bottom of this and know why a young teenager who was unarmed, was not accused of wrongdoing, and was walking home was killed by an armed neighborhood watchman.

I share you're frustrations Remy, but have some faith. EVERYONE is saddened by this event. But at the end of the day I think the police will get to the bottom of this case. It's just not as straight forward as the media has portrayed it.

Nothing in my posts on this topic should give you the impression I'm discrediting any witness or that I'm jumping the gun. I'm a "stick to the facts so we can learn the truth" type of person and if you read my posts above you'll note my comments have been that *if* these are the facts then such and such.

I have no reason or desire to discredit the witness you linked me to in the foxnews article. I am reluctant to take that particular article as credible only because it so badly bumbled the names and quotes it attributed to the mother. So the article in my opinion is already questionable - but that doesn't mean the witness, John, didn't say or see what that reporter said he saw.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if there were a fight it. It wouldn't surprise me if a teenager who was being chased by a guy and confronted by him ended up punching the man or knocking him down. Especially if he saw the gun. So I have no reason to discredit the witness John's account, but from what I know he is the only one who gives a contradictory account to what the other witnesses and 911 callers say.

But again, my initial post here was about the reports and live interviews I saw of witnesses saying Tryvon was shot from behind, was laying face down in the grass dead as Zimmerman sat on top of his rear end straddling him. I posted that *IF* and I repeat *IF* those reports turn out to be facts that are proven at trial, I don't see how a charge less than 1st degree murder. If he was shot in the back while laying down or shot from behind while running away.

I am not jumping to that conclusion. I would happily accept a self defense theory if the facts turn out to prove self defense. Which cannot happen if he shot Tryvon from behind either as Tryvon was running away (causing him to fall face down in the grass) or shot him in the back while sitting on top of him holding him down in the grass. Either of those scenarios would be, imo, murder 1.

As for the feds not making an arrest at this point in time, that doesn't surprise me at all because the state's attorney had already announced PRIOR TO THE FED INVOLVEMENT that they were going to the grand jury on this on April 10th or so. Murder or manslaughter or negligent homicide are all state crimes, not federal crimes. So I personally don't read anything into the DOJ or FBI at this point in time.

What was more telling to me was the police chief's temporary stepping down press conference. In it he said he stands behind the investigation and his department. I interpreted that to mean he believes the investigations by other agencies will back up his department's initial decision not to arrest Zimmerman. So I'm curious and still waiting for the full truth and facts to come out, but I don't think people should be blindly dismissing the realities and seriousness of the facts we do already know at this point.

Zimmerman, carrying a loaded gun, pursued this unarmed teenager. He admitted to shooting him dead. All witnesses, including this "John", say at the end Tryvon was face down in the grass dead from the gunshot and they saw Zimmerman straddling him. I don't know that any of that is true - but as I said in my initial post that you responded to - IF a trial proves that Zimmerman shot Tryvon in the back either while he straddled him with Tryvon face down in the grass or shot him from behind as Tryvon ran away that would be murder.

That's not media spin. That's not sensationalizing things. That's just reality and I believe the media has been portraying those facts accurately - Zimmerman followed him with a loaded gun and in the end Tryvon was shot dead and witnesses saw him laying face down in the grass dead with Zimmerman straddling on top. There has not been an arrest. PERIOD - that is what everyone is up in arms about in the media and public. let the facts come out at trial, but why hasn't there been an arrest? Or, if those facts are wrong why hasn't the police department said so in all this time?

Remy, the witness in question called 911 himself and was interviewed by police. That info was reported by numerous sources. So it's not a Fox news "story".

But again, my initial post here was about the reports and live interviews I saw of witnesses saying Tryvon was shot from behind, was laying face down in the grass dead as Zimmerman sat on top of his rear end straddling him. I posted that *IF* and I repeat *IF* those reports turn out to be facts that are proven at trial, I don't see how a charge less than 1st degree murder.

If these reports were true Zimmerman would ALREADY be in jail...and probably facing 1st degree as you said. I guess I appear to discredit the witness report you're mentioning...sorry to disagree. Two reasons why I have a hard time believing that witness account is that being shot in back would be COMPELLING evidence to arrest Zimmerman. Secondly, I've been pretty active reading on this case and I've not heard any mention of being shot in back.

Which is exactly why there is this national uproar and outrage. Because those ARE the events as have been reported so far. And Zimmerman was not arrested. Everyone in this country - everyone - at this point deserves to know why a decision was made by the local police not to arrest Zimmerman.

You & I agree - if those are the facts there is compelling reason for the arrest and eventual prosecution. Anything short of an arrest would be unimaginable under these reported circumstances. And yet there has not yet been an arrest and so now the state's attorney and a different prosecutor and the FBI and the DOJ are reviewing the local police's decision not to arrest. And a grand jury is being called.

To date the local police have done or said NOTHING to dispute what has been reported so far. And yet seemingly from this board there are many posters who refuse to even want to question why he hasn't been arrested and seem hell bent convinced, without any evidence, that it was self defense and keep coming up with more reasons to say it was self defense even in the complete absence of a SINGLE ONE example of fact in this story to point to self defense. Not a single report yet publicly known points to anything other than Zimmerman followed an unarmed teenager, was told by 911 police not to follow him, chased him, they scuffled and Zimmerman shot Trayvon dead.

So you tell me, Raider - or at least tell yourself - why are you so inclined to believe this was handled properly by the police?

Texas: Good points thanks. I don't know about Florida but where I live we also have "felony murder" which does not have to be premeditated. Essentially it is a killing committed during the commission of a crime. It could even be an accidental shooting, say you are robbing someone and while robbing them they fight back and its a struggle and you shoot them. You didn't go there with intent to kill, you just wanted to rob them - you could still be charged and convicted with felony murder which is the equivalent of murder 1.

But I do agree with your points, makes sense for all the reasons you gave and the jury and such. As I said to Raider though, if it turns out that Trayvon was face down in the grass when he was shot in the back or he was running and shot from behind I do believe Zimmerman will be facing murder 1 or similarly named charges.

Being innocent will not be good enough,

run Zimmerman run.

I do not believe that there is any proof at all that Zimmerman broke the law,but there is a mob justice mentality out there right now and the law is starting to bend under pressure of what I consider to be organised extortion and obstruction of justice.

I do not think it will benefit Zimmerman to stay in the US any longer, the President and all the leaders calling for his head as if they know what happened should be ashamed of what they have done to this man without proof of guilt. Not one person in power has said a word about giving the man a chance.

I think if i were you Zimmerman, i would haul @ss out of here. IMHO

Look at the crowd that is America speaking not some one that don't understand right from wrong, I bet everyone of these people that think Zimmerman was right is WHITE, look at the crowd that is the real Americans seeking justice not some lame azz racist ...

I bet everyone of these people that think Zimmerman was right is WHITE,

@Rick...Don't you mean hispanic? I mean the shooter was hispanic so why would racist whitey SYMPATHIZE with a non-white minority??? What a stupid point.

And btw I don't think I've heard ONE person say Zimmerman was right. Maybe you referring to the minority of people who understand that this is a COMPLEX case. You know I find great irony in the fact that almost EVERYONE AGREES that Zimmerman was a vigilante who overstepped his bounds...AND yet so many Americans want to NOW PLAY VIGILANTE from their couch and rush to hang this guy.

Is having faith in local police, FBI, and DOJ (made up of hundreds of fellow Americans of all backgrounds) WRONG? Am I reasonably supposed to think that EVERY officer and person involved in this investigation (coroner, medical first responders, NUMEROUS police officers, FBI, etc) are RACIST and don't care bc Trayvon was black? Come on.

So you tell me, Raider - or at least tell yourself - why are you so inclined to believe this was handled properly by the police?

Like most people, investigative techniques are NOT my specialty so the jury is still out there. It seems to be taking a long time, but I believe the police are being VERY thorough due to community outrage. Look...from day one there have been numerous officers and District Attorneys POURING over every piece of evidence and witness accounts. We need to await their final report.

Lastly...since we've had the FBI and DOJ involved for a week you can know that if local police botched this...then the FBI/DOJ will make that point public.

Case closed...Person 1 willingly and knowingly defied instructions given to him by authorities and pursued Person 2. Intent to harm demonstrated.

The only thing that matters is Person 1 willingly and knowingly placed himself in the situation with the intent to bring a gun to a fist fight. The self-defense claim does not apply in this situation. Color, creed, who threw a punch doesn't matter.

I am a trained gun toting 2nd amendment lover. I know what power and responsbility comes with owning and carrying my firearms. I am trained to defuse and attempt to stop a situation by first announcing I have a firearm and announcing I am trained to use it. That step #1 in self-defense training, which he should have as a neighborhood watchman. We hear none of this occur in any of the recorded phone calls. All signs point to Person 1 having the intent to harm Person 2, and that's what ended up happening.

Hispanics have been thrown under the bus by Obama, IMO. Obama appeared angry when talking about justice for the 'person who looked like his son, if he had a son.'

Trayvon was killed in cold blood. The voice of him screaming for help was an indication that someone was attacking him, and then killed him.

Zimmerman should be in jail, not on the streets a free man.

RIP Trayvon, and condolences to his family and friends.

Arieus

I have read that Zimmerman was the person crying for help while he was on the ground being hit.

It just seems too early, IMO, for anyone to come to conclusions.

WheresCongress...how did Zimmerman end up lying on the ground calling for help? He placed himself in that situation when he exited his car and pursued the victim directly violating instructions given to him by authorities. The conclusion that can easily be drawn is that Zimmerman knowingly and willingly intended to engage Martin. In no way can that be seen as self defense.

First of all the president commented only that it was a tragic case, you have a straight A student from Miami who was in that neighborhood visiting his brother who was murdered because he was black and wearing a hoodie.

Zimmerman had he followed watch guidelines and the 911`operators advice wouldn't be looking at charges period, because Treyvon would be alive and back to school by now. Zimmerman made himself the aggressor when he followed this child for walking down the street. What exactly happened and who initiated it, we only have one of them alive to tell that story and I am not at all inclined to believe Zimmerman with the pure hatred and anger heard on the 911 calls.

This was the perfect storm waiting to happen, Zimmerman was angry about recent break ins and someone was going to pay for it. Unfortunately the boy that paid the price for these break ins was entirely innocent of any wrong doing. Last time I checked walking to a convience store for iced tea and skittles isn't illegal in any state.

This just needs to go to trial and let a jury decide on this, I don't think anyone has heard all the evidence or witnesses afterward. There is way too much conjecture here, what I have said is really the known facts. Self defense cannot be claimed when you are the aggressor, Treyvon had way more to fear obviously and he was the one who was followed down a dark street without cause. I don't see how he will be found innocent honestly, the stand your ground law does not apply, numerous republican law makers in that state have said that. So it becomes an issue of who was really defending themselves and the one without a gun, is always going to be in more danger.

For goodness sake does Zimmerman represent all hispanics? Saying Obama threw all hispanics under a bus is pure political BS coming from the right, stop it. If you really want to say that the act of one hispanic represents all of them, you better account for drug lords behavior.

Trayvon was killed in cold blood. The voice of him screaming for help was an indication that someone was attacking him, and then killed him.

@Arieus & WheresCongress, FYI....Trayvon's father has gone on record with police saying the voice calling for help on that recording was NOT his son's.

Teen age male assults a man carrying a gun. The teenager received justice already--shot dead for being a thug!

Shame on mom and dad for turning this into a lynch mob and using the race card.

The photo above. Where are all the people with the black on black crime / deaths in ... Chicago ... Obama's hometown. Just seems hypocritical.

so where is the public outcry and Rev. Sharpton over the TRIPLE shooting of a GAY black man in Riviera Beach Friday? Black on black doesn't matter? The fact that he was gay doesn't matter either? What a bunch of hypocrites!

http://www.cbs12.com/articles/beach-4736184-riviera-shooting.html

or the black female that flipped out at FAU last week and threatened to kill the WHITE students and attacked her teacher and classmates during class? White students don't matter? More hypocrisy!

http://www.cbs12.com/articles/student-4739496-threatening-kill.html

Funny how the black panthers can put out a $10,000 reward for the capture of Zimmerman and get away with it, but oh, didn't the DOJ let them get away with threatening voters at the polls? What is this country coming to?

When 2 Blaacck boys caught a white boy on fire, Obama said nothing. When Blaacckk on Blaacckk crimes occur, Obama says nothing. When Obama's Administration sells arms to Mexican Drug Cartel and an American Border Agent, Brian Terry, and hundreds of Mexicans continue to die, Obama says nothing. When Blaacck student attack public school teachers, Obama says nothing.

And, when an Hispanic man shoots a Blaacckk man, to be determined if in self-defense, Obama related to the Blaacckk man.

So, all races in American now know where they fit on Obama's 'care' list. And, yet the race that will continue to be damaged the most is the one that needs to hear that EVERYONE is responsible for what they do, IMO. This is 2012.

SANFORD, Fla. (MCT) — Members of the New Black Panther Party are offering a $10,000 reward for the "capture" of George Zimmerman, leader Mikhail Muhammad announced during a protest in Sanford Saturday.

When asked whether he was inciting violence, Muhammad replied defiantly saying: "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth."

The bounty announcement came moments after members of the group called for the mobilization of 5,000 black men to capture George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who shot Trayvon Martin last month.

Muhammad said members of his group would search for Zimmerman themselves in Maitland and Jacksonville — where the 28-year-old worked before the shooting, employees there said.

Muhammad said the group's national chairman, Dr. Malik Zulu Shabaz of Washington, D.C., is receiving donations from black entertainers and athletes. They hope to collect $1 million by next week, Muhammad said.

The party said they would not release the names of donors nor would they provide documentation to support the existence of donations.

The New Black Panthers announced the reward at a protest in Sanford on Saturday, the activist group's third protest in the past two weeks over the fatal shooting of the Miami Gardens teen.

The group called for Zimmerman's arrest and threatened to find and detain him if police were not willing to do so. But group members didn't call for the mobilization of thousands until Saturday.

Muhammed led the group in chanting "Justice for Trayvon!" and "Black Power!"

"If the government won't do the job, we'll do it," Muhammad said, leading his group of eight party members in chants like "freedom or death" and "justice for Trayvon" while making the iconic gesture of raising their fists into the air.

The party members said they are tired of the inaction of government officials — from Sanford city officials up to the governor, accusing them of lying and delaying justice.

They accused newly appointed special prosecutor Angela Corley of being an enemy of the black community.

"She has a track record of sending innocent young black men and women to prison," he said.

Seems to me some laws are being broke here but there seems to be no outrage.

ron-1902603

If what you say is true, and Obama is still silent, then Hispanics and everyone should wonder why and worry.

A lot of FACT being overlooked here. If Zimmerman is such a great guy, why didn't he seek Medical Treatment at the nearest Emergency Department for the "Gash" to his head and alleged "broken nose"? The Sanford PD should have escorted him for these serious injuies and get them documented to protect themselves. Standard forensic procedure after a struggle has ensued resulting in the death of an unarmed minor or questionable circumstances regardless of Castle Law or Stand Your Ground Law Statutes. Standard Police Pocedures may not have been followed here.TO MEEMERZ... As for POTUS? Where do you get off inferring that the President of the United States is getting involved? He made an empathetic statement to the parents and a general comment to the conversation we need to have when hate speech continues to be used in derrogatory fashion in this Country to those who are subjugated. I don't care if Zimmerman was mentoring a mother of color and her children. His state of mind in the moment will be in examination and his actions will be found questionably obsessive. His defense team has a lot of work ahead of them in Criminal and Civil Case since there is corruptible evidence or evidence that has been lost or contaminated. Evidence must be objective not subjective for the Grand Jury to consider.

Muhammad said the group's national chairman, Dr. Malik Zulu Shabaz of Washington, D.C., is receiving donations from black entertainers and athletes. They hope to collect $1 million by next week, Muhammad said.

The party said they would not release the names of donors nor would they provide documentation to support the existence of donations.

Send them to prison for tax evasion at least

Wanted Dead or Alive’ Poster for George Zimmerman

The New Black Panther Party on Thursday circulated a “wanted dead or alive” poster for George Zimmerman in the fatal shooting of black Florida teen Trayvon Martin, the citizen journalism site Allvoices.com reported.

Zimmerman — a half-white, half-Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer — has said he was acting in self-defense when he shot 17-year-old Martin one month ago. Martin was found to be carrying only an iced tea and a bag of Skittles. The case has ignited into a racial firestorm, particularly as Zimmerman has not been arrested or charged.

The “dead or alive” posters were passed out during a press conference led by Minister Mikhail Muhummud, who called himself the southern regional director for the New Black Panther Party for Self-Defense in Jacksonville, Florida.

“Murdered in cold blood,” the flyer says. “Child killer of Trayvon Martin — Wanted dead or alive.”

According to Allvoices, Muhummud called for Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee’s firing and for President Barack Obama to intervene. Lee has since “temporarily stepped down” from his post, and Obama remarked about the case Friday, saying “If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon.”

Muhummud also told the assembled crowd he was not concerned about reports of death threats against Zimmerman, saying “God dammit, he should be fearful for his life.”

As The Blaze previously reported, the New Black Liberation Militia has said it intends to perform a citizen’s arrest on Zimmerman.

Watch a portion of the press conference below. Content warning — some strong language:

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/report-new-black-panther-party-issues-wanted-dead-or-alive-poster-for-george-zimmerman/

According to Allvoices, Muhummud called for Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee’s firing and for President Barack Obama to intervene. Lee has since “temporarily stepped down” from his post, and Obama remarked about the case

I know I cant be the only one that wants Obama to step up and say this is wrong.

Zimmerman is using,

776.012 Use of force in defense of person.—A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other’s imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if:

(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony; or

(2) Under those circumstances permitted pursuant to s. 776.013.

And,

776.032 Immunity from criminal prosecution and civil action for justifiable use of force.—

(1) A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s. 776.031 is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless the person against whom force was used is a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 943.10(14), who was acting in the performance of his or her official duties and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law or the person using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person was a law enforcement officer. As used in this subsection, the term “criminal prosecution” includes arresting, detaining in custody, and charging or prosecuting the defendant.

(2) A law enforcement agency may use standard procedures for investigating the use of force as described in subsection (1), but the agency may not arrest the person for using force unless it determines that there is probable cause that the force that was used was unlawful.

(3) The court shall award reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs, compensation for loss of income, and all expenses incurred by the defendant in defense of any civil action brought by a plaintiff if the court finds that the defendant is immune from prosecution as provided in subsection (1).

And he could use this if they decide he was the aggressor.

776.041 Use of force by aggressor.—The justification described in the preceding sections of this chapter is not available to a person who:

(1) Is attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission of, a forcible felony; or

(2) Initially provokes the use of force against himself or herself, unless:
(a) Such force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that he or she has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant; or
(b) In good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force.

The law is on Zimmermans side of this.

Notice section 776.032 at the top and bottom,

(1) A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s. 776.031 is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution

As used in this subsection, the term “criminal prosecution” includes arresting, detaining in custody, and charging or prosecuting the defendant.

You know, if they would have marched in the neighborhood to stop the break ins, none of this would have occurred. Sure hope the REAL robbers are feeling guilty over his death.

Attorney Daryl Parks, in an interview by Skype with the board of the National Association of Black Journalists

Asked his sense that state officials will press charges, he said, “Oh, they will.”

Sounds like a threat.

If it walks like a duck....

I think there are a lot of people that need to end up in prison over this and I am not talking about anyone that was involved in the incident.

Attorney Daryl Parks can share a cell with Mike Nifong after this is all done, Al and Jess can go to.

@Robbob...that jackass has come to mind with me a lot lately. Another case of the race card taking the ENTIRE country's "eye off the ball"...just to satisfy some political agenda. Complete disregard for our judicial system and social harmony. I still hope that Mike Nifong ROTS IN HELL.

mygirl1, are you kidding? Ethel Rosenberg did not strap on a gun, chase down an innocent teenager to ensure he wouldn't "get away" (from what???), try to hold him against his will and then shoot him when/if he fought back. HOW COME STAND YOUR GROUND APPLIES TO THE MURDERER BUT NOT THE VICTIM???? What was Trayvon supposed to do? The guy pulled a gun on him! He couldn't run away, duh. And if you were him, would you stand there while some crazy nutcase pointed a gun at you? Bet you thought Emmet Tilley had it coming, too. Of course there is a public outcry, shame on America that there hasn't been before this.

Ahhh, so you were there? As an eyewitness you have an obligation to give information to the police.

Now, if you weren't there and are not in posession of all the facts and are ASSUMING that that is what happened, perhaps you should wait to condemn until said facts are in. That is my point. Sacco and Vanzetti were Italian immigrants wrongly accused of committing a crime and tried and convicted in the court of public opinion.

Attorney Daryl Parks, in an interview by Skype with the board of the National Association of Black Journalists, said the family and its attorneys met Thursday with officials from the U.S. Justice Department.

Just curious, is there a National Association of White Journalists?

The facts are that three witnesses have zimmerman on the ground being beaten by someone much taller and better shape. He asked for help but no one stepped in so he used his weapon to stop the assault. He has the injuries to support this. If someone half a foot taller, half my age, and in much better shape hit me from behind and got me on the ground and proceeded to punch me out, I'd draw and fire as well.

If these facts are verified this is nothing more than a withch hunt.

Sacco and Vanzetti were innocent. Neither of the Rosenbergs were. Two were executed wrongly, the other two rightly. End of story.

Ethel was later found to be innocent and that is the point...innocent until proven guilty...not tried and condemned before the fact. If Zimmerman is guilty then arrest him, charge him and take him to court. Do not presume to know the facts and condemn out of turn. That is my point.

Fifty years after her death, Ethel's brother admitted he perjured himself and falsely accused her, primarily because he was afraid of reprisals had he not done so.

So, of the four aforementioned individuals, three were falsely accused, tried and executed. Additionally, there was a massive public outcry in all the cases, publicly demanding their arrests and convictions and no real care was given to the actual truth of the matter.

jackiboy.. you need to go back to history class. Historians have gone back and the research shows that Sacco and Vanzetti were guilty. Most historians now agree that Sacco was one of the shooters and that Vanzetti was a conspirator after the fact. As for the Rosenbergs, when the KGB files were finally opened after the fall of the Soviet Union, evidence there showed that the were indeed spying for the Soviets. I was shocked since I had always thought they were innocent. Their Soviet handler, Alexandre Feklisov, says they provided little to no useful material, but they were spies.

Again, @Vahalla Phil, Treyvon didn't hit Zimmerman from behind. Zimmerman told the police that Treyvon punched him in the face when Zimmerman grabbed his arm, and Zimmerman hit his the back of his own head on the ground. Zimmerman ran up on Treyvon and grabbed his arm. Treyvon had every right to fight back, he was probably scared out of his mind. Again, put yourself in his shoes. Tell me when a strange guy jumps out of a non-police car and runs up on you you wouldn't defend yourself. And again, this is the law. Because it would have been totally reasonable for Treyvon to fear harm from Zimmerman, he had every right to defend himself. Since Zimmerman clearly started it, and since his actions were clearly unreasonable--going against 911 operator instructions--Zimmerman doesn't get to escalate to lethal force because he's getting punched when Treyvon defends himself. What Zimmerman did-putting someone in reasonable fear of imminent harm without justification--is called assault, and grabbing his arm is attempted false imprisonment and false arrest, and Treyvon has the right to defend himself. In light of all of the available facts and his own words, Zimmerman is guilty-since I don't practice law in Florida I don't know which degree of mitigated homicide he is guilty. He can blame the cops for not arresting him when it happend, if they did it would have been a local news story. Instead he is now the most hated man in America. I actually feel somewhat sorry for him, because now, in some way, he is a victim too, but of the police.

And the liberal media tried and convicted Casey Anthony....and she was ACQUITTED!

You forgot kidnapping. The boy was a minor. holding a minor against their will without the parents permission is kidnapping. The kid was under 18.

LOL. Now you're trying to suggest that Trayvon was kidnapped first?

Grasp at straws much?

You know, all these comments are really something. I am wondering if anyone realizes that a murder has been committed and the murderer should have been put in jail, went before a trial judge, and either granted or denied bail. A trial date should have been set, and we move on with legal proceedings. That did not happen, and Why Not? It should not have to take the entire country to move to make that happen. The Samford Police Department failed to act, and do their job. This case may be racially sparked, but we are all at fault. Some speak of a fair trial, or not having one at all, due to public outcry of injustice. Well, in our democratic society, it should have been regulated accordingly, based on the principles of liberty, and justice for all. The man must be apprehended, because a young man has been murdered.

Fed up...

Good one on a national association of white journalists. Probably not, just like if a white male declared that he was a victim of racial discrimination he would have to look high and low for a lawyer to represent him and still not find one

Kris - thank you. it's amazing from the comments on here how people don't read and even worse, comprehend what they read. (and we wonder why american students are fallling behind). the kid is walking down a sidewalk in the dark in the rain. some strange guy starts chasing him. what would any normal person do? run. ok let's say the trayvon hit zimmerman. what would you do if some strange guy chasing you in the dark caught up with you and grabbed you? my guess is hit them to try and get away. somehow they end up in a struggle in someone's backyard. how do you end up from the sidewalk on someone's back porch? run. if trayvon was chasing zimmerman, wouldn't zimmerman just have run back to his car? wouldn't the scuffle have ended somewhere near zimmerman's car? why would zimmerman run from trayvon if he (zimmerman) had a gun? if trayvon was on top of zimmerman beating his ass, when zimmerman shot trayvon in the chest, wouldn't trayvon have fallen on top of him? again, if trayvon was kicking this guy's ass, was he not justified considering the guy chased him down, in the dark? if the last two scenarios happened on someone's back porch, again this implies that zimmerman chased trayvon down. if this had happened near zimmerman's car or on the sidewalk, i would be inclined to think differently.

I can't let go of Sacco and Vanzetti and Julius and Ethel. Sacco was guilty, Vanzetti, well, more and more it appears he was innocent. Same for Julius and Ethel. Rather sad when a brother accuses his sister and later, fifty years later, recants and stated that the reason he accused her was because he was afraid of reprisals. This happened during the era of the 'Red Scare' and I see parallels then and what is happening today in the War on Terror.

As to the topic at hand, who knows the real truth of the matter? Weighing in before all the facts are in at this point is premature. If Zimmerman did indeed murder Tyvon then he should be charged and tried, if, however, it was a matter of self defense then no charges should be brought.

Time will tell, however, to make this into a massive Racism issue is going beyond reason and I fault those fanning the flames without having all the facts. Rodney King led to some wickedly awful times and there is no call to recreate something similar. The New Black Panthers should be censured by the President and the leaders in the black community. So far nada on that front. Perhaps later. One can always hope.

@ Dax-861131 get in an argument with your girlfriend or wife and when she tries to run away grab her arm. See who gets arrested for kidnapping you wont be be LOL you will be saying " hey buba".

mygirl - i get what you are saying about the court of public opinion, but I didn't see anything wrong with the president's comments. the fact is trayvon could have been anybody's son, black, white, yellow, purple, green, polka dotted, whatever. the point is that anybody of any race who lost their child in a shooting would want due process and that wasn't done. at the very least, zimmerman should have been detained immediately after until all the facts were gathered considering this took place out in the open and not on either of their property. then if zimmerman story had checked out, release him.

forreal: except you can't arrest someone unless you have sufficient evidence that he is guilty of a crime. He needs to be charged of a crime in order to be arrested. I don't want the police running around charging someone of a crime, especially murder, without sufficient evidence to prove that a crime had indeed taken place. Just think about the can of worms that would open. If, after further investigation and more proof coming to light that he did indeed commit a crime then he most assuredly SHOULD be arrested, but not until that magic moment.

As to kidnapping, if you grab your girlfriend's arm, toss her in the basement and hold her for ransom, then you have kidnapped her. If you take her against her will and put her someplace she can't get away from you have indeed kidnapped her. If you grab her arm you can be charged with assault. If you grab her arm and hit her then it's assault and battery. If she's bigger and stronger than you you better think twice though.

Vahalla: You make the stupidest most ignorant of morons look like geniuses. If everyone was as smart as you, we would all think downs syndrome was something to aspire too.

@mygirl1 - There is no possible claim of "Self defense". If Zimmerman had stayed exactly where he was when he first made the 911 call, none of this would have happened. "Stand your ground" does not mean "Advance and Attack" which is exactly what Zimmerman did. As soon as he started actively following, he gave up all rights and claims and became the attacker.

Oh and mygirl: A grown man with a smoking gun was standing over a dead child with a bullet hole in his body. How much @!$%#ing more evidence is needed to make an arrest? the sad truth is if Trayvon had been the one that was armed, and Zimmerman was dead, Trayvon would have been arrested on the spot and tried as an adult. Your stupidity and lack of compassion is sickening

Oh and mygirl: A grown man with a smoking gun was standing over a dead child with a bullet hole in his body. How much @!$%#ing more evidence is needed to make an arrest? the sad truth is if Trayvon had been the one that was armed, and Zimmerman was dead, Trayvon would have been arrested on the spot and tried as an adult. Your stupidity and lack of compassion is sickening

I think the people need to file a lawsuit against the government to get a white history month, we have 11 months of history that covers everyone and then 1 month that is black only history, i am all for being fair and i have no problem with a black history month,but I want my own month as well.

I've listened to the 911 tapes, I see a news photo of a child rather than a seventeen year old. I see a deliberate action from the media to keep using those photos, one showing a boy of perhaps twelve juxtaposed next to a grown man. Now, I have looked for current photos of Tyvon and can't seem to find any. If someone can direct me to contemporary photos it would be appreciated.

I am not saying that Zimmerman shouldn't face charges if indeed he did murder Tyvon without provocation.

Trayvon.

mygirl1

Now, I have looked for current photos of Tyvon and can't seem to find any. If someone can direct me to contemporary photos it would be appreciated.

They went so far as to scrub his high school website of all photos and his MySpace and Facebook accounts, and the records of why he was suspended for 5 days of school.

Trayvon was a 6'2"-6'3" football player, and Zimmerman was not as big as reported, a lot of people have put a lot of work into keeping more current photos of the two from being seen, the Pic of Zimmerman is outdated too.

Well, until and unless it is scrubbed, the Drudge report has a recent pic of Trayvon on its site today. A bit of a far cry from what the pic that has been seen all over the world reveals. This pic shows a larger person by far, not a little boy.

The one with the gold tooth?

Let me state for the record, i have nothing against gold teeth. I just like food better.

I don't trust the leftist media, particularly when Obama is in trouble in the polls.

The Sanford Police Department said officers were prohibited from arresting Zimmerman the night of the shooting because physical evidence and testimony supported his claim that he acted in self-defense. The police department gave the explanation to City Manager Norton Bonaparte, who included it in a letter to the community about the case, posted on the city's website.

Sonner says his client was injured that night with a broken nose and a serious cut on the back of his head. He said the injuries "were from Trayvon Martin, I assume."

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/24/justice/florida-teen-shooting/?hpt=ju_c2

Valhalla Phil you hit the nail on the head! Lets all focus on this and not the economy! Gee, gas prices went up again!!

"Not good enough. There needs to be photographs of Zimmerman's injuries, the name of the medical facility where he sought treatment, a written statement from the attending physician on how these injuries were likely caused."

...and blood work should have been drawn to see if Zimmerman was under the influence. It HAS to be done whenever there is a shooting like this.

That's a lie. All the evidence does NOT show Zimmerman started it. In fact we may never know who started it. There is a world of difference between verbal assault and physical assault. You can argue heatedly all day long and no crime is committed. The moment a punch is thrown, he is the instigator and the law has been broken.

Not entirely accurate Phil. Communicating threats is a crime. Look, I understand where you're coming from. You're right, this is being tried in a biased court of public opinion that is being whipped into shape by the race-baiters on the Left including the media.

Now, with that said, Zimmerman did chase down Martin. In many ways, the Stand Your Ground law would have protected Martin had he killed Zimmerman. A man approaching with a gun after following me would definitely set off my warning bells. The initial act that precipitated the violence was Zimmerman chasing down Martin.

That is textbook murder 2. I'm sad that the liberals are trying to cheapen Martin's death by using it to attack a law that should protect people like him, but that doesn't change what Zimmerman has already said he did. When he took off after Martin, he became the aggressor in the eyes of the law. Nothing more and nothing less. Zimmerman witnessed no crime therefore had no reason to follow Martin.

Even if your theory is true, it's nothing more than reasonable doubt. Zimmerman does not have the protection of the SYG law because he initiated the contact while armed which anyone would find threatening.

"The moment a punch is thrown, he is the instigator and the law has been broken"

911 Dispatcher: "Are you following him?"

GZ: "Yes"

911 Dispatcher: "We don't need you to do that."

*Martin is shot and killed by Zimmerman*

An arrest WILL be coming soon. If anything, for the crime of being a vigilante. We're not even talking about 2nd degree murder here...just this alone should have been enough for an arrest.

Oh and by the way, vigilante's attack criminals...not a single teenager walking inside a gated community, in plain sight, on the phone with his girlfriend, and with a hoodie on in the rain.

911 Dispatcher: "We don't need you to do that."

You forget that a dispatcher is NOT a police officer and has NO authority to tell him what to do

Some idiot follows me in the dark, even as I try to evade, I'm going for the kill- literally. I'm a woman. My state's law recognize that women are attacked more frequently than men. Break their nose, cheeks. Kick them. Get them down and keep kicking till they're still. I've told my daughters that, and my boys. Some one chasing you in the dark, who DOES NOT IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS LAW ENFORCEMENT, is up to no good.

Doesn't matter. True self-defense is using Equal force. Not Deadly Force...

Zimmerman used unequal, deadly force in this matter. A gun vs an unarmed kid? Yeah, that's not equal force. He had no reason to believe his life was in danger and plenty things have been brought to light that point to him being the aggressor.

He also ignored a lawful request from the 911 dispatcher to "stand down." That, also says to me, he was looking for an excuse to hassle this supposedly suspicious person.

At the very least involuntary manslaughter, but he does need to accept that he used an inappropriate amount of force that was not in keeping with self-defense and killed a young man that he was supposed to be protecting.

Phil - there is NO DOUBT, Zimmerman DID start it - as soon as he took one single step from where he was when he called 911 in the direction of Treyvon. This was the initial act of aggression, and all that followed was based on this. What Treyvon did (or did not do) once being PERSUED is not relevant.

Lets Hypothesize and say that Zimmerman was an officer of the law (which he is not), then after this incident, even in Trayvon did assault the police officer, the officer would have been detained, and then suspended from active duty pending an investigation.... and still then the officer might get off on only manslaughter, and be dishonorably discharged for using excessive deadly force on a minor.

That however is fiction, Zimmerman is not a man of the law, he gunned down a child, if thinking that is wrong make me a whining liberal, then I am proud to be one.

You don't know that. Zimmerman could have followed him and questioned him and no law was broken. If, as witnesses have said, Zimmerman was jumped from behind that points to Zimmerman questioning him, then beginning to walk away. The moment he was jumped, Zimmerman had a right to defend himself.

If I walked into a bar and needled a guy till he finally struck me, the "he made me hit him" excuse doesn't fly. Whoever started the violence is responsible. If Zimmerman threw the first punch he is quilty, if not, he is within his rights to defend himself, particularly when he is on the ground being pummeled.

"Zimmerman could have followed him and questioned him and no law was broken"

Why bother with a police force then? In fact, I'm going to write my local politician asking him to cut funding for local police. After that, I will create my own neighborhood watch program, appoint myself as the leader, go buy a Beretta 9mm, and question every person that walks down my street with a hooded sweatshirt on.

Let's see how long it takes before you read about me in the papers...

i wish ya ll would read every thing.zimmerman said he was walking back to his truck and was attacked from behind.witness said he saw travon beating zimmerman while zimmerman was yelling for help .he got his gun and stopped the beating .self defence sounds like it to me

Greg,

You're talking about the murder. I'm talking about how no arrest was made even though GZ clearly acted like a police officer (performing his own investigation) when he wasn't, and after blatantly disregarding an order from the police not to pursue the "suspicious person".

WHO the %^&* did Zimmerman think he was?! If he had just monitored Martin's whereabouts from afar and let the police do their jobs, this kid would have seen the end of the NBA All-Star game with his father, and GZ would not have to be looking over his shoulder for the rest of his days on this earth.

AQ he said he was walking bak to his truck--i take that as when the 911 dispatch,not police,told him not to pursue he turned aro0und and was returning back to his truck.thats my opinion i was not there.if that is true and he was attacked from behind like he said it was self defence.period. i hate it for the young man but if that is was happened then he got what was coming to him.if you know more than what has been reported by the 1 or 2 eyewitnesses that said travon was beating zimmerman you need to report what you know.other than that keep getting your info from racist Al and shut up.

Greg,

Of course that's what HE said. All of this is he said/she said at this time, when it needs to be examined by a judge and jury, or at least a team of investigators (which it now is).

Race has nothing to do with my mindset. I'm talking about a simple arrest, which would have prompted the local investigation of the matter. The feds are on it now, which makes me happy.

I'll be back in a little while Greg. I have to run to store quick. It's raining outside so let me put on my hooded sweatshirt. Oh wait, make that an umbrella instead. (Thanks Geraldo...you just saved my life)

It's very illogical to assume that Zimmerman did anything that the 911 dispatcher suggested. Zimmerman's claim to be returning to his vehicle, when he was attacked, conflicts with the recorded evidence. Zimmerman would like us to believe that he was screaming for help, but that claim does not make any sense at all. I can't imagine someone feeling confident enough to approach someone, whom they suspect to be trouble, cowering like a wimp when they could have just stayed in their vehicle. Nor can I buy the claim that GZ was screaming for help, unrestricted and clearly before firing his weapon. Can any of you picture an armed man screaming for help with a weapon in his possession? I sure as hell can't. Do they know for certain that the crimes that were committed in that community were done by black men, or is this just their spin to justify their actions. This is important to establish so hopefully the investigators are looking at those records as well. Where did GZ first spot Trayvon and how long did he follow him before he left his vehicle against the advice of the 911 dispatcher? Had the authorities dealt with GZ about his phone calls, they could have prevented this outcome. Dialing 911, signifies that you are in trouble and need help. GZ abused this system by calling to report garage doors open and any black person he spotted in or around that community. Did they instructed him on the proper use of 911? Did the police intentionally botch the evidence? There is a very good indication that this is exactly what they did.

Really??? You don't condone but...... So your upset Al And Jesse are there because it's not fair the family of Martin have advocates but the Hispanics don't ! And you don't care if their black or white ....ect..... No sympathy for anyone but yourself and or your pet causes, no one can care about things but you. I sometimes save my tears for a more private time and my brother never cries. Seems to me those who say they are not racist and don't care about race really do on a hyper level. Since I don't know you or what you have in your heart I will just kick back and observe to see.

sharpton and jackson yea race advocates.hmmmm let me think about the Duke lacrosse rape charge they went to AND STILL NO APOLLIGY FOR THAT RUSH TO JUDGEMENT.and they said she was a good person too.i think she is in jail for trying to kill her boyfriend..AL and JESSE sure know how to pick em

Yes.....Trayvon Martin had a troubled past. Just prior to this shooting he had been suspended for 10 days for behavioral problems. Obviously he lived in a rougher part of town with his mother. He was probably sent to visit (stay) with his father to get him straightened out. The pictures the media has is 12-15 years old. They are not current pictures of him. Living in a rougher neighbor hood..... then this predominately white gated community when he was approached he probably was asked if he lived there by Zimmerman. He might not have answered him. He would not have been recognized as a tenant for this gated community. His father should have let the HOA(home owner association) know his son would be a around in the area. Ol' Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson wait for a feeding frenzy like this they making $$$$$$$ on this tpye of coverage......not the Martin's. They will end up with peanuts....if that.

blazin fool - you are making assumptions that have nothing to do with the fact that zimmerman chased down a kid in the dark and shot him. do you alert the HOA when you visit your friends/family that live in gated communities?

your the idiot forreal..... he chased him but only shot him after he got into a fight with him after he quit chasing him. quit making it like this boy was innocent kid when he is/was 17 years old just got suspended from school for 10 days. oh oh lets just show pictures of him when he was 12 to the world instead of showing the thugish clothes he wears/wore today. two witness say it was zimmerman screaming for help not martin.

Wow! Very clever.

If what you said is true, he deserved to be shot. If Zimmerman was walking away and was jumped from behind, he did NOT start the violence, Martin did. What if Zimmerman didn't have a gun, would it be alright for Marting to beat him senseless?

"Valhalla Phil

If what you said is true, he deserved to be shot. If Zimmerman was walking away and was jumped from behind, he did NOT start the violence, Martin did. What if Zimmerman didn't have a gun, would it be alright for Marting to beat him senseless?"

No innocent person deserves to be shot for trying to defend themselves. Zimmerman made up some crap story about being attacked while checking a street sign to get himself out of trouble. Based on his 911 call, it's much more likely that he tried to detain Martin and Martin got the better of him. Zimmerman set events in motion. He has no right to claim self defense. Martin was the only one with that right. If this had been your kid would you be saying he deserved to be shot for fighting a creepy stranger who was following him. You should be ashamed of yourself for defending a guy who followed and terrified a teenager.

@Phil - you say "Zimmerman was walking away", when it is abundently clear that Zimmerman APPROACHED Trayvon [Zimmerman did not stay where he was when he first "observed" Trayvon]. This eliminates any "Stand your Ground" (i.e. you do not have to retreat, but there is no provision for making an advance).

Even if he simply approached Trayvon to ask "What are you doing here?" he was the agressor, and had no legal standing (aka authority) to ask such a question.

TheCPUWizard, Free speech gives Zimmerman the right to say "What are you doing here?" to Martin. What legal standing is there against asking someone this question? Martin didn't have to answer it, but Zimmerman was well within his legal rights to pose a question to someone walking down the street.

It seems to me there are a whole lot of desktop lawyers and keyboard witnesses spewing a whole lot of nonsense.

It all boils down to this - what if Trayvon were your child or grandchild, or mine? There is so much dissonance in this case and, sadly, the continuance of a death narrative of a young teen.

America should be having this conversation, that is, until we get it right and stop killing each other.

Yes, Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman must be going through hell.

That comes later.

"Mary Jones" --

Tryvon MArtin didn't get any trial, not even as much as an unfair trial.

And you're whining in behalf of a person whose claims are refuted by the hard evidence: the 911 tapes, the formal limits imposed by "Neighborhood Watch" rules, and Zimmerman's claim to have been operating under those rules, which rules prohibited hsi having a weapon, and prohibited him following after Martin.

The moment Zimmerman was armed, he ceased being "Neighborhood Watch". And the moment he began to follow Martin, he also threw off that limitation.

And even those who WROTE the law, and CONTINUE to back it, all the way up to Jeb Bush, assert that FL's "Stand Your Ground" law -- which we are seeing is lunacy in action -- DOES NOT APPLY to the circumstances, THEREFORE DOES NOT protect Zimmerman.

Those facts, and the 911 tapes, are HARD evidence, unlike Zimmerman's claim of self-defense, which claim is REFUTED by the HARD evidence.

What Zimmerman did was not protected by the law, and therefore cannot be defended on legal grounds. So instead we get UNEVIDENCED assertions in his "defense," such as the claim that he's "in hiding" because "being threatened" by people who don't know where he is so can't threaten him.

My story makes even more sense when you think why the kid wouldn't run again if able to or was he being held against his will and that's how Zimmerman got the bloody nose? We tell kids about stranger danger and maybe and it sounds just as possible that the kid was scared and tried to punch kick scratch and claw his way free while yelling for help. You ar so willing to believe Zimmerman but not the kid why is that MR Confederate??? Oh sorry I was assuming that's what your screen name meant.

Your name says it all, doesn't it? If you were walking home and a total stranger followed you, then chased you, then pulled a gun (he had to have pulled it, since even he admits he shot the boy on purpose) and pointed it at you, what would you do? Would you try to run to be shot in the back? Would you stand there waiting for him to shoot you? Can you imagine the courage it would take to try to fight back? If Trayvon got the better of Zimmerman for even a few seconds, good for him. I'm glad he got at least one punch on his murderer.

Have you looked at the photos of that 98 lb kid and that 200 lb Zimmerman?

Are you referring to the pic made several yrs ago?

Where do you get your info? He'd been suspended for tardiness but then when i was in H.s. I ditched regularly and forged signatures, yet couldn't have stolen , vandalzed or hurt anyone if you paid me.

What happened is not wrong because the kid is black, its wrong because its wrong. Everyone is over looking the most important thing in a criminal case. Can the State of Fl prove a law was broken ?

6'6" and 98lbs

lol.

isue rslvd

I think the answer to that is no.

The first police reports made NO MENTION of ANY EVIDENCE, let alone that Zimmerman sustained injuries. AFTER the attention began being focused on the issue, the police issued a statement that Zimmerman had injuries.

Merely saying a thing doesn't automagically make it true. So ask yourself:

Where is the EVIDENCE that Zimmerman had a blood nose, and a bleeding wound at the back of the head, and his shirt was wet and grass-stained on the back? Where's the shirt? Where's the photos showing his injuries?

That evidence doesn't exist because the injuries and grass-staining didn't exist.

By contrast, the 911 tapes -- HARD evidence -- substantiate two basic facts:

1. He was armed, which refutes his claim to be a "Neighborhood Watch" "captain," especially the implication that he is law-abiding, because that violates the limits imposed on "Neighborhood Watch".

2. "Neighborhood Watch" prohibits following or engaging with a "suspect," which rule Zimmerman ALSO violate.

(There was no OBJECTIVE evidence for his "suspicion": it was all in Zimmerman's head, with no EVIDENCE to back it up -- except that Martin was black.)

3. The authors of FL's "Stand Your Ground" law, and those who continue to support it, ALL assert that that law DOES NOT APPLY TO THESE CIRCUMSTANCES because it DOES NOT authorize one to chase another. Not even if one's intent is to "feel" "threatened" so one can shoot the person being pursued.

4. From the facts, it was Martin who would rightly be engaged in "Stand Your Ground" self-defense, as it was Zimmerman who initiated the encounter, and was rightly perceived as being a threat.

Otherwise, the ignorance of reality and history is appaling: there has almost always, everywhere, been a right of "self-defense IN LAW for at least hundreds of years. But that right is LIMITED, and for sound reason: humanw have been known to lie that murder was instead self-derfense. Thus, when a person kills, and makes such a claim, one does not rely SOLELY on the killer's word that it was self-defense.

The problem with the defenders of these "Stand Your Ground" laws is that they are uninformed: these laws go over the traditional line into the area of "License to Kill" -- as demonstrated in this case: all Zimmerman had to do is claim "self-defense" -- the ACTUAL HARD EVIDENCE SHOWS OTHERWISE -- and the cops did NO INVESTIGATION, and CONTINUE to IGNORE the HARD EVIIDENCE THEY THEMSELVES HAD AND HAVE.

Last but not least: The HARD EVIDENCE shows that Zimmerman was told NOT to follow Martin. And that Zimmerman AGREED NOT to follow Martin. Ant then that Zimmerman followed MARTIN ANYWAY, AGAINST HIS OWN WORD.

For that reason alone Zimmerman cannot be trusted to tell the truth.

Zimmerman can't turn himself in! He hasn't been charged with anything so what can he turn himself in for unless you think he should confess to something he doesn't think he has done.

Do you think with a bounty on his head, doesn't beg for police protection, what does?

Then again in retrospect, the cops would do the same @!$%# for him, as with a kid that was killed.

I guess that's what happens when you make the most racist group in America mad. They race riot..whith obama and sharpton at the helm.

I watch the news but I don't listen to trash sites that spread rumors to scare people. There are no race riots. That is just a fantasy made up by the right to get their base riled up against minorities.

As of this point I haven't read or heard anything about a bounty being put on Zimmerman's head and I seriously doubt there is one since anyone that wanted to could just drive by his house and shoot at him. I seriously, why waste your money on doing something that you could do quietly by yourself with letting the cops know who you are.

Poor oppressed white people. So scared of anything different.

The New Black Panthers, a black racist group, has issued a reward of $10,000 and plastered posters stating Wanted Dead or Alive of Zimmerman. Then they went on record calling for an 'eye for an eye' and stating that it wouldn't upset them if someone took Zimmerman out. Fact.

As to 'poor oppressed white people' if you want to turn this into race baiting and see a race riot, keep it up. It is time for cooler heads to prevail, this is out of hand, the media is fanning the flames and generally in issues like this someone gets hurt and it doesn't need to happen. Sharpton and Jackson are professional race baiters, they make money being race baiters. They stir the pot, get their faces on tv and rile everyone up. If Obama had a lick of sense he'd come out, call for calmness and restraint, then tell the folks to let the authorities do their job. He's got the DOJ and the FBI on this, that should be enough to satisfy those seeking 'justice' if indeed that is what they truly want. If they want blood then we have a totally different scenario.

Oh well you showed me mygirl with that news link you posted to back your claim and all. Perhaps you should check the laws and find out that it is perfectly legal to announce to the public, in wirting, that you will pay so much for some one to kill another person. After all people put a bounties out all the time and the police can't do a thing about it. Of course collecting the bounty is perfectly legal as well and that is why somebody will kill zimmerman before to long, right?

Jay: Umm, not quite. Generally the reward is offered for a tip leading to an arrest and conviction. Not too many rewards offering money to have someone killed are considered legal. Those are considered hits and generally someone offering money to have someone killed is considered guilty of attempting murder. Perhaps you can post a link proving the legality of your assertions.

Of course I could be wrong...it is the New Black Panthers doing the reward offering and they are, of course, a wonderful example of a non-racist and egalitarian group. Note as well that Zimmerman hasn't been charged with a crime so they are offering a reward to have an innocent man (until charged he is presumed innocent and in a trial it is the innocent until proven guilty theme that sets precedence)but then, this is not the America that uses the constitution as its guiding foundations anymore so all bets are off. The due process, habeus corpus, innocent until proven guilty, right to a trial by jury and right to be charged and not detained indefinitely, protections that used to be guaranteed under the fifth and sixth Amendments are no longer valid.

That's right. It wasn't Zimmerman screaming for help. It was Trayvon. Those screams end suddenly as soon as the gun goes off. It was murder. So sad for Trayvon and his family. Shouldn't have happened and if Zimmerman had stayed home where he belonged, it wouldn't have happened.

Even if Zimmerman was screaming for help - Then why would he keep screaming after the gun went off? LOL.

who screams for help while they pull out a gun and shoot?

This is another media tactic by Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson and the feeding frenzy in on. This is another "RODNEY KING" "TWANA BRAWLEY" "THE LACROSSE TEAM". This is a way for them to keep the racial tension at the breaking point. While those two pigs sit back and rake in the $$$$$$ for all this media coverage. People from the projects......just don't see it. They won't help the suppressed low income families, but this kind of coverage ......."it gives them hope".

I agree blazin fool, With your screen name that is.

You are making the same assumption that the "witness" who was interviewed on TV made. In effect, the yelling stopped after the shooting so it had to be Trayvon. Who would keep yelling after shooting someone? The only witness to the shooting stated that it was "the person in the red jacket" yelling and getting beat up. After the shots the person wearing the red jacket was standing beside the other man who was laying their already dead. The two women who were interviewed on tv are only witnesses to their phone call not to the actual crime. This is how stories like"he was shot in the back!" start There has not been enough info released to make any assumptions, it is truly unbelievable how many posters are just filling in the blanks as they see fit and posting it as fact Give the law a chance and see what happens, I'm sure that regardless of whats found there will be more inane whining and groaning.

He was surely acting like some kind of cop want to be ....

@kubla, ditto!

Bottom line - in self defense you meet an attack with equal force.

Read the Florida law, you are wrong.

"Why is some neighborhood watch guy out carrying a gun in the first place? Their job is to spot someone suspicious and call the police, not be vigilantes."

It's all about this. Even if Zimmerman were not charged with manslaughter, he should at LEAST been charged with a vigilante crime. No arrest = totally baffling.

I charge you with 3rd degree burns to the pecker!

How about just driving away like 911 told him?

Doem,

Because America is a free country?

The kid was 17.

Was he "buffed"?

The idea that this 14-YO kid punched Zimmerman so hard that Zimmerman fell backwards and hit the back of his head and bloodied his nose doesn't smell right to me.

The 17 year old young man attacked Zimmerman from behind.

I used to juggle boobs at the circus.

Well, yeah, our justice system has always been suckage. Murderes go free all the time just ask OJ and Casey Anthony.

Yea and they lock up innocent people all the time.

Yea and people act like they know what they are talking about all the time.