The Trayvon Martin Case (updated title)

[skinsmarydu]

Rev. Al has the family on right now on MSNBC. Shame what happened to that kid, and shame on the police for not at least TRYING to find the truth sooner.

[Madison Redskin]

For those of you who have weighed in on this matter, but have not listened to the 911 tapes, I urge you to do so. The more I learn, the more pissed off I get at this fat sack of ****.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeNIDYQ5jQg

[GhostofSparta]

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

Glad the FBI is looking into this. I don't usually wish to speak ill of the police without knowing ALL the facts, but in this case **** it. The cops screwed the pooch on this one. Now there's a miniscule chance that the guy wasn't racist, and that he's just an ageist-"Those *********" being teenagers in general, not black people (or young black men) specifically. But I doubt it. Maybe the guy was attacked and there was some "self-defense involved," but again, the facts lean against him. I'm not inclined to give benefit of the doubt on self-defense when the guy is told by the cops to stay put in his house, he ignores them and leaves his house to confront the kid who he "thinks" (allegedly) may be armed, and shoots the kid after overpowering him.

Sorry dude, you don't get to decide who is and isn't allowed to visit other people in "your" gated community. And if he feels guilty about this? Good, I hope he does. He killed a high schooler because he didn't think (or more likely, feel) that he belonged there.

[Destino]

For those of you who have weighed in on this matter, but have not listened to the 911 tapes, I urge you to do so. The more I learn, the more pissed off I get at this fat sack of ****.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeNIDYQ5jQg

Hard to believe the shooter was yelling help when the pained pleading screams end right after the gun shot. But remember the police CORRECTED witnesses that claimed they heard a child screaming.

[Madison Redskin]

I'd give the cops a pass if they said the investigation was open, but they seemed to have concluded rather quickly that the shooter was innocent because he said he felt threatened. I am glad to know if I create a situation (and ignore 911 dispatcher's advice) and cap someone in the face, it's all cool if I tell the police I felt threatened.

I smell incompetent police.

[repo_4]

While I agree there is alot of stuff here that looks funny from the outside, the police and FBI need to have a chance to look into it. Just because the police have not already arrested him does not mean that they will not. There needs to be enough real, factual evidence to get an arrest warrant issued (I am sure I am getting ready to be pounced on for this post already). Now, does it look like the police are letting this guy slide? Absolutely. But that is just my opinion. And I also would be upset if this had happened to my family. But until all of the FACTS are released (not from a news source) I have to wait and still believe in the system. There seems to be alot of rushing to judgement here. Just remember what happened to those 4 Duke lacrosse players. He is still innocent until proven guilty. Should they find him guilty, a lethal dose it should be...

Edit, if the police have already determined that there isnt enough evidence to charge and arrest I am glad the FBI is involved.

[twa]

ignoring advice nor shooting someone means you did something illegal
the fact he was injured certainly helps his story....but there are numerous question needing answered before the shooter should be on the street.

need more than what I've seen and heard, but certainly don't mind the FBI or state boys going over the case
Des @ 17 I thought I was bulletproof and took on many twice my weight with little provocation

[Barney B]

I smell incompetent police.

The guy had an arrest on his record for assaulting a police officer. The record has since been expunged.

Maybe he has friends in high places?

edit: pure speculation, though.

[Prosperity]

Trayvon Martin's "Murder"

I'm not so convinced it was murder

[Destino]

ignoring advice nor shooting someone means you did something illegal
the fact he was injured certainly helps his story....but there are numerous question needing answered before the shooter should be on the street.

need more than what I've seen and heard, but certainly don't mind the FBI or state boys going over the case
Des @ 17 I thought I was bulletproof and took on many twice my weight with little provocation

I don't disagree but I doubt you ran at large guys for asking you if you lived around here. A person that volatile would have a history IMO. The point is he initiated the confrontation that ended in him shooting a kid on a candy run. There is a tape of what sounds like a young person screaming help that stops after a gun shot.

[Teller]

Trayvon Martin's "Murder"

I'm not so convinced it was murder

I respect not making a judgment before all the facts are in or known. But what's your gut on this?

[Rdskn4Lyf21]

"Despite being told by the dispatcher not to chase him, Zimmerman went after Martin."

Zimmerman went to instigate and killed him. Seems pretty simple. Definitely racism....

*He had a long history of calling in about black males. He was just looking for an opportunity to get one himself.

[skinsfan_1215]

I respect not making a judgment before all the facts are in or known. But what's your gut on this?

Not trying to interject or speak for Prosperity, just giving my thoughts.

I think the profile you summed up last page was perfect. Cop wannabe. Not quite all there mentally. Overly suspicious. Not sure he was 100% racist or not but I think that the fact the victim was black might have prejudicially added to Zimmerman's suspicion. I think all evidence supports that up to this point. The guy ran his own unofficial armed neighborhood watch and according to CBS had 'dozens' of prior false reports. "they always get away."

At the point he decided to ignore the police and pursue Martin, he was engaged in provocation. Martin was doing nothing wrong, just walking in the neighborhood with his Skittles and tea. He was pursued and approached by Zimmerman, who held no authority, official or otherwise, over him.

My gut tells me at this point here's what goes down. Martin has no reason to listen to Zimmerman, assuming at that point he doesn't know he's armed. Maybe he tries to get away, maybe Zimmerman tries to detain him, not sure here. But at some point Martin decides to fight back. Against a stranger who has followed and confronted him for no reason whatsoever. So they scuffle. Martin strikes him. Zimmerman at that point 'defends' himself by shooting Martin.

That's basically what I envision happened. And it's a damn shame the police don't seem to be doing a very good job in this investigation.

Curious because I have not seen it anywhere... What were the extent of Zimmerman's injuries?

[Teller]

1215, if you were literally inside my head, you couldn't have described what I think any better.

And I may have been wrong to outright call the dude a racist. I think it's fair to say that he definitely has some racial prejudices though. And that's putting it mildly.

[Madison Redskin]

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/1...#storylink=cpy

Some of the highlights:

Student of criminal justice ... self appointed "captain" of the neighborhood watch ... walked patrol in his neighborhood with a gun ... called police FORTY SIX TIMES since 1/11/11 ... was told by dispatcher to stay in his home, but complains about criminals always getting away and chases down victim ... scuffle ensues in which a high pitched voice is heard screaming for help ... gunshot rings out ... victim found face down with the shooter standing over top of his body.

I don't know that race played any role in this tragedy. It sounds like the shooter was simply a wacked out vigilante.