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Subscribe to RSSHours after Florida Special Prosecutor Angela Corey announced that George Zimmerman had been charged with second degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, Martin's parents told NBC's Brian Williams that Zimmerman's arrest helps fulfill their goal of bringing their son's shooter to justice.
Updated at 7:09 a.m. ET: George Zimmerman is in custody in Florida and will be charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, authorities announced Wednesday. His attorney said he would plead not guilty.
"We did not come to this decision lightly," Angela Corey, the special prosecutor appointed by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to re-examine the case, said at a news conference in Jacksonville.
Read the criminal information (.pdf)
Corey had previously said she wouldn't present the case to a grand jury, which took first-degree murder off the table. Second-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'Mara — who took the case late Wednesday after Zimmerman's previous attorneys withdrew — said Zimmerman would plead not guilty and that he would seek Zimmerman's release on bond. Zimmerman was scheduled for an initial hearing Thursday at 1:30 p.m. ET.
Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey announces that she will seek a second-degree murder charge against George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports.
"I think he's troubled by the fact the state decided to charge him," O'Mara said. "I would think anyone charged with second-degree murder would be scared."
Corey said she decided last week to seek the charge but needed several days to make sure all details were in order. She said she had informed Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton.
'A heart has no color'
In a brief statement in Washington at a news conference at a gathering of the National Action Network, Fulton said: "We just wanted an arrest, and we got it, and I say thank you. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus."
"I just want to speak from my heart to your heart, because a heart has no color. It’s not black, it’s not white. It’s red. And I want to say thank you from my heart to your heart," Fulton added, according to NBC News.
Trayvon Martin's mom: I believe killing was an 'accident'
(The National Action Network is a project of the Rev. Al Sharpton, host of MSNBC-TV's "PoliticsNation," who has played a prominent role in advocating for charges against Zimmerman.)
“I think they decided to review it based on public pressure," Sharpton said, according to NBC Miami. "Had there not been pressure there would not have been a second look."
“Tonight maybe America can come together and say only the facts should matter when you’re dealing with a loss of life," he added. "This is not a night for celebration. This is a night that should not have happened in the first place."
On NBC's Rock Center Wednesday evening, Fulton said that she found Corey professional.
"I believe there is a human side to her," she said. "I believe she looked at the evidence, spoke with the witnesses and determined what (Zimmerman) should be charged with."
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Kerry Sanders and Pete Williams of NBC News and NBC station WESH of Orlando, Fla., contributed to this report by M. Alex Johnson of msnbc.com. Follow M. Alex Johnson on Twitter and Facebook. |
Ben Crump, the attorney for Martin's parents, said the decision was about "justice, justice and only justice." He said it was important that Zimmerman have a fair trial, even though "we believe in our hearts that he was wrong to kill Trayvon Martin."
Corey refused to discuss details of the case, saying she was committed to protecting the interests of both Martin and Zimmerman.
"So much information on this case has gotten released that should never have been released," she said.
Zimmerman, 28, arrived in a police caravan at the Seminole County jail about 8:20 p.m. ET. Under Florida law, he must be taken before a judge within 24 hours of his return to the county, where he has acknowledged he shot and killed Martin, 17, in the town of Sanford on Feb. 26. Corey wouldn't say where he was being held to protect his safety.
Scott, who appointed Corey after Seminole County authorities declined to bring charges, said in a statement that the matter "is now in the hands of the judicial system and I am confident justice will prevail."
Attorney doubts fair trial
Zimmerman, whose father is white and whose mother is Peruvian, says he shot Martin, who was black, in self-defense after following him in a gated community in Sanford. Police questioned Zimmerman but decided against pressing charges.
The lack of an arrest or charges had sparked protests nationwide, with critics alleging that Zimmerman confronted Martin because of his race. Zimmerman's supporters deny that.
Trayvon Martin's parents say they're thankful there was an arrest but that 'this is just the beginning.' NBC's Ron Allen reports.
The decision whether to arrest Zimmerman was delayed for several weeks because Zimmerman had indicated that he would argue self-defense under Florida's so-called Stand Your Ground law, which shields subjects from prosecution if a judge determines that the shooting was justified to protect life or property.
Corey called the law "a tough affirmative defense to overcome," but she said, "If 'Stand Your Ground' becomes an issue, we will fight that affirmative defense."
O'Mara, Zimmerman's attorney, told reporters that he didn't think Zimmerman could get a fair hearing "today" because "the emotions are just running high in Central Florida."
"I am hoping the hatred settles down," he said.
A federal civil rights investigation is also under way, but U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday that the Justice Department had to meet a "high bar" to bring any charges.
The main federal role is to "support the state in its ongoing investigation," Holder told reporters Wednesday morning in Washington. At the same time, he said, the Justice Department is conducting its "own thorough and parallel investigation" to try to resolve the case "in as fair and complete a way and as quickly as we can."
More on the Travyon Martin case from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- NBC: George Zimmerman in custody, charged with second-degree murder
- Vote: Do you agree with the decision to charge George Zimmerman?
- Trayvon Martin timeline: Key events in the Sanford, Fla., shooting case
- AG Eric Holder: People 'rightly concerned' about Trayvon Martin death
- Trayvon Martin's parents on arrest: "Thank you, Lord"
Leave a Comment:
I can't wait for Sean Hannity to take the stand....Zimmerman called him and it will come out in court what was said...I think Hannity jumped a little to far into his own mess. Too funny...
I'm sure Zimmerman is watching the news from somewhere...he'd be better off turning himself in.
No matter what, there cannot be a good end to this thing.
Just depends on if a full story comes out as to just what Martin has been doing since he stop playing football three years ago.
The football pictures look very nice, even after 3 years.
Maybe we can talk about the drugs in his backpack.
Maybe they can talk about his friends back in Miami.
Maybe they can talk about what his father was worried about.
You're right. The penalty for posession of a baggie that used to have pot in it, having unsavory friends, and worrying your parents should be death by a gunshot wound to the chest. How long is the statute of limitations on that? I may have to turn myself in.
When you are on top of a man beating him and he has a gun you will probably get shot. If it goes to trial it will be a hung jury. Will not be able to find 12 that agree.
Well Rev. HATE and his mob got there wish....nothing but mob justice by him and the HATE network MSNBC!!!
Ur a moron.
No just a black man using his own mind not following the mob.
I can't help but feel sorry for George Zimmerman, simply because if he is going to be tried by a jury of his peers, and everyone already knows that he has been found guilty by almost everyone in the nation, he doesn't have a chance. Too bad for everyone who feels he is innocent but the blacks will have a ball with this trial. They already have made a fool out of the state of Florida and the rest of the US. What a sad state of affairs our country is in. May God bless America!!
I already found him Innocent. Hope I'm on the Jury.
Well, at least he's getting charged with something. I still think it's outrageous that he wont be charged with first degree murder and trialed in front of a grand jury because that's exactly what he commited, murder of the first degree. More than that really considering he murdered that boy because he was black.
I hope he'll spend the rest of his life in prison.
And all you tools rallying for Zimmerman: Shame on you for coming to the rescue of a racist murderer, shame on you.
Is he really all that? HE is a racist? I wish all racists would volunteer their time to tutor minority children on the weekends. The racism came into play when those not involved in the altercation saw a black young man dead and a "white" man holding a gun oh but wait he's white-Hispanic oh but wait he's white-xyz (I forget today's second race) and decided it happened because the young man is black. Now that is racism.
A murderer? No that distinction cannot be made until it is decided in court. Yes, he did kill this young man but the use of self defense (that is the claim but has not been determined as fact) does not equal murder.
Tools rallying for Zimmerman? Nope; I hoped to see an actual investigation into the matter and for what happens afterwords to be based on the results of that investigation. I despise the fact that this young man has been portrayed as an thug based on his age and skin color but I also despise that Zimmerman has been portrayed as a racist because of his skin color.
This entire case is a lose-lose. For those who think he is guilty nothing less than a guilty verdict on a count of murder will be acceptable. For those that support him, any conviction will be tainted by the thought of pandering and politicising. The blame for all of this lies with the media for falling all over themselves just to get ratings. Too bad there isn't a way to hold the media accountable for their blatant abuse of the system with twisted and tainted "reporting" that skews the facts, diverts focus to matters that may or may not be part of any crime that may or may not have been committed, and feeding the fires of racial tensions. Also, any and every politician that used their access to the media as a platform to spout off on this issue without having all of the facts of the case should be removed from office.
Better late than never,. MUCH better.
171 deleted, MP-3038261 ending a sporadic history of racism by slamming 'a bunch of N-Words', 'The N-word Martin', and 'the N-Word Community'. Banned.
Folks, you can turn off your profanity filter here and write the word '@!$%#' without it being a Code of Honor violation. [Doesn't seem like people do it that often, but you can.]
Many people are quick to jump to conclusions, but fail to grasp the real issue. My hope is that the Special prosecutor will bring second degree or manslaughter charges and that there will be a trial on the merits. It is not about "convicting" Zimmerman through prejudgment. The issue is that charges were not filed in the first place. Had Zimmerman been Black and the victim white or white/Hispanic, there is no doubt that charges would have been leveled and that Zimmerman would have been in custody.
The issue is a double standard of "justice" and corruptive influence. Zimmerman's father's connections with a senior judge who intervened to dissuade the state attorney to decline prosecution was a miscarriage of justice and an unacceptable subversion of the criminal justice system. There is no hope of establishing a "fair" system of justice if some people are never even required to stand trail and be held accountable for their actions because of their race or their political connections. If the Special Prosecutor files charges, it will be a step in the right direction.
However, we all remember Casey Anthony and realize that the guilty can still escape punishment even when their conduct is obvious and evident. At least that is the standard in Florida.
The sad thing about this. People don't even see his father had something to do with this. When I heard he assaulted a cop and got away with it. You knew right then, he knows someone in the legal system. White or black would have not got away with doing that.
About bloody time.
Forget "black vs white/latino" - Its about a 17 year old kid that got killed.
George never was(and never will be) a cop. Neighborhood watch is something COMPLETELY different. Observe and report - be the eyes and ears of the police force.
UR an idiot.
Does not matter - nobody should have to get attacked and beaten and not be allowed to defend themself. An EYE WITNESS reported Martin on top of Zimmerman pounding him - and Martin was shot in the front not the back. Zimmerman will be exonerated.
If I follow you for blocks while you walking home. I have on no officer uniform, I don't tell you who I am. I just show up right behind you. I make you feel threatened, what you going to do. Let me hurt you and sit there? You're looking at this as a race thing. Don't matter who is on top of who. You have a right to defend yourself if threatened. This man was far from where he lived. Would have never seen this boy if he was home. Was even far from his car from where this happened. Fighting in a woman's backyard with the boy.
Lots of you seem to forget someone did see it. She was scared to go outside to help. She was on the phone scared and explaining what was happening and you could hear. Zimmerman reminds me of the guy that killed the girl that died on vacation. They said the boy was great never did anything. Til he killed another girl. Its going to take him getting off and killing another person for you to see what it is.
I cannot believe that a decision to charge a man with a crime was made by politcal pressure from a small vocal mob, rather than known facts. This is bad news .... Zimmerman will be acquited because there is NO evidence that he acted unlawfully, small groups of uneducated thugs who don't understand the law will be ooutraged, the liberal medial will lead them like a flock of sheep, they'll riot, damage other poeple property and wind up getting themselves hurt and arrested. Bad move all around.
Course, this headline comes from the disgraceful so called news organization (NBC) that was caught red handed doctoring the tape. So, take it with a grain of salt. This once good (not great)news outlet has gone to bed with the leftwing and is now untrustworthy. They should be fined heavily.
"Doctoring" the tape? Please. They just broadcasted highlights for time's sake. They didn't add or change anything on it. I don't believe any of the other news organizations have broadcasted the entire time, uninterrupted, in its entirety either.
But the tape controversy doesn't matter. It's just a distraction. Zimmerman still shot and killed Martin regardless of the tape's existence or how it was or wasn't edited.
Yeah and I am going to believe everything FOX says because they are so fair & balanced right? What an idiot you are!
I won't be surprised if we find out George Zimmerman is now in Peru, his mother's homeland. All we want is justice, whatever that might be. One shot and so many lives changed and one young man dead. George Zimmerman started a chain reaction that has had an impact on most of America. Too bad he didn't stay at home and play video games or watch some television.
About f'n time. Innocent or guilty, at least he will have been tried like anyone who shoots and kills another human being should be.
It’s time for this to be investigated to the fullest. That kid lost his life and the only thing people want to see is justice be served. If he's innocent that will come out but if he's guilty then if you do the crime you should do the time. If Zimmerman would have have when 911 told him to he would be in a better situation Hard headed.
Well it seems as though, if you're black and you don't like what is going on, you get Jesse and Al to bring in some of your folks, then parade up and down the road with a catchy little chant, and get all the sheeples to see your side of the way of the lynch mob mentality and get an innocent man convicted of murder. OH the price we pay for oppression.
Well said...
Well said...
Oh the price we "blacks" paid in the South of the 50's & 60's when Whites lynched Blacks and were allowed to beat the case because their white peers refused to indict. Don't make it seem like Blacks have no right to be suspect of the justice in a southern state when it comes to a black kid/man being gunned down by a white or half white man! History of this country shows how that justice has worked out for us.
I compare this to making a cake. All of you think you have what it takes to make a wonderful tasting cake. You all think you are the best bakers, but NONE of you have the right ingredients. Some of you think you have the right stuff, but are short a few things where as most of you don't even have half of the right stuff to make your cake. So to make a long story short, ALL of your cakes will taste like crap, look like crap, bake like crap, and be just plain crappy! Just like all of your remarks and comments. None of you have the right information (ingredients) for this case but you all think you know how to judge either of these people. You know what that make you??? Idiots!! lol, complete media following idiots! lmao!! Thanks for the laugh morons:)
Atleastimlegal,after reading your post I think you're the one who is "short a few ingredients".And I'm not talking about baking a cake!
Wow Daz, I feel I should pay for this sort of entertainment. Thank you.
This is ALL anybody that supports Trayvon wanted. For him to be arrested & charged and let the Jury & the Courts decide whether he was right or wrong in how he handled the situation. To kill a person and be allowed to go home with the Murder weapon was just so outrageous it is beyond words. Now lets hope he is a Man who thinks he was right and he surrenders rather than his continuing to be out of Florida and his having to be extradited back. I wouldn't be surprised if he failed to turn himself in and his supporters claim he is running cause he doesn't think he can get a fair trial even though the same folks in that county have supported him and the Police let him go free.
Unlike some of the folks who have posted on the vine, I don't know if Zimmerman is guilty or innocent but two things I do know. He has already been tried in the media and in many peoples minds, even though in this country we are suppose to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Second, I think regardless of the evidence, the prosecuter had no choice in the matter but to bring up chargers. Maybe in court the truth will come out.
Wonder when Obama and Holder are going to go after the New Black Panther Party? They've put a bounty on Zimmerman's head, called for race wars and rioting in the streets....but silence from D.C.
maybe they will come after you ucantmakeitup. After all when you tell lies about powerful people you've put your own neck on the chopping block.
The guy that posted it already got arrested. Don't know how he would have paid for it without any money. All blacks know the new black panthers are nuts. They are crazy like bombers, they would kill any race that's how nuts they are.
Just in case any of you have forgotten in The USA you are presumed Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. I do not know who was the aggressor in this case. I was not there to see what happened. Neither were any of you! Zimmerman may prove to be guilty or Innocent but it is not our place to decide. However, The media has certainly tried and convicted Zimmermen in the court of public opinion!. The New Black Panthers have posted a large reward for his death. Even President Obama and Attorney General Holder believe he is guilty. When did all this become the norm rather than the exception?
I guess this is the new OJ Simpson trial.
One race for one side, the other race for the other side.
Man-1. Zimm should not get any less. He is the one who instigated the whole thing. It was all his doing in the first place. A young man died because of his doing. Zimm acted as a vigilante.
BS
Guilty.....way guilty.......if a man followed me , with no uniform on, with no marked car, I would have defended myself.....he took a 9mm to a convenience store? He is a want to be policeman with no education.he was told by police that he wasn't needed in following the boy, they were on their way..he probably broke his own nose.....guilty!
Another idiot
No one seems to see that. Would you let someone you don't know, that's not a cop come after you? You're going to be scared as hell for you're life.
All the people who asked us to wait on the facts. Now for a Procecutor to file charges there must be fact of crimminal activity by Mr. Zimmerman. After he is arrested I will wait for the Trial.
Buy another friggin car toyota3. You are a racists pig! You are the problem with society. He will be convicted even if the evidence proves him innocent BECAUSE!!!!!!!! " IF OBAMA HAD A SON HE WOULD LOOK LIKE TREYVON" Our wonderful president decided zimmermans fate as soon as he pushed his way into the situation to stir the race card and stomp for votes. Oh, and did I mension you're an IDIOT!