Unarmed boy shot and killed by neighborhood watch captain...

[orangecrush]

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/seminole_news/030712-Father-of-teen-shot-in-Sanford-to-speak

 

http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/news/seminole_news/030812-family-of-slain-teen-want-answers

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/03/08/us-crime-florida-neighborhoodwatch-idUSBRE82709M20120308

[Tigz]

I don't know if it is stereotype or not....but this thing needs to be seriously investigated, and those tapes need to be made public (or at least to the family).

[blackberry74]

A private citizen confronts a boy trying to go into his own house, shoots him dead, and is simply questioned & released? The police aren't being forthcoming with the boy's family and they have to resort to hiring a lawyer & having press conferences and such to try to pressure them into it when they're in the midst of their grief? This story has really made me angry.

Edited March 8, 2012 by blackberry74

[Tigz]

I think it needs to be investigated by an outside agency.

[Nemeweh]

A private citizen confronts a boy trying to go into his own house, shoots him dead, and is simply questioned & released? The police aren't being forthcoming with the boy's family and they have to resort to hiring a lawyer & having press conferences and such to try to pressure them into it when they're in the midst of their grief? This story has really made me angry.

 

 

Yup. Exactly.

[orangecrush]

From what I have heard, 911 told the shooter not to confront the kid. I think the guy was in his car and got out to say something to the kid, anyway.

 

The police got there quickly. It seems as if the neighborhood watch guy was overzealous.

 

I don't think the kid would be dead if the shooter had let the police do their jobs.

 

I also think that the 911 call will clear up some stuff too.

[Frankz]

This is a heart-breaking story. I hate it when bad things happen to innocent people. I am assuming that he went to buy skittles and not commit any crimes, imagine how his family must feel at this point ! I hope that he is judged swiftly for this and not just questioned and released.

What do you think?

[mk_378]

This happened about a month ago. The shooter was just questioned and released. He did decide to move to a different neighborhood.

 

There is no reason for a civilian patrol in a car to get out and engage in a fight with a pedestrian on the sidewalk. There was no traffic, if he felt threatened by the kid he should have driven away.

Edited March 8, 2012 by mk_378

[Bad Doctor Frost]

How does a thing like this even happen? I mean, Jesus H.

[sirrowan]

A private citizen confronts a boy trying to go into his own house, shoots him dead, and is simply questioned & released? The police aren't being forthcoming with the boy's family and they have to resort to hiring a lawyer & having press conferences and such to try to pressure them into it when they're in the midst of their grief? This story has really made me angry.

 

 

Yup. Exactly.

I totally agree.

 

The neighborhood guy instigated this issue. I'm wondering if he's right in the head?

[orangecrush]

This happened about a month ago. The shooter was just questioned and released. He did decide to move to a different neighborhood.

 

There is no reason for a civilian patrol in a car to get out and engage in a fight with a pedestrian on the sidewalk. There was no traffic, if he felt threatened by the kid he should have driven away.

 

 

This happened around 10 days ago. The shooter was questioned, right after this happened. The police released him the same day.

[orangecrush]

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/family-teen-fatally-shot-neighborhood-watch-leader/nLNq9/

 

On Thursday, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee confirmed to WFTV that the dispatcher told Zimmerman to wait for officers to arrive.

 

However, before police arrived, Zimmerman shot and killed Martin during a scuffle, investigators said.

 

In the recording, Zimmerman said: "They always get away," which could prove the family's case that he was out to get their son that day.

[orangecrush]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/08/family-of-trayvon-martin-_n_1332756.html

 

"Right now we're all on pins and needles," Tracy Martin said. "When I asked the police why there's been no arrest, they told me they respected [Zimmerman's] background, that he studied criminal justice for four years and that he was squeaky clean."

 

He continued: "My question to them was, did they run my child's background check? They said yes. I asked them what they came up with, and they said nothing. So I asked if Zimmerman having a clean record, did that give him the right to shoot and kill an unarmed kid?"

[sirrowan]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/08/family-of-trayvon-martin-_n_1332756.html

 

"Right now we're all on pins and needles," Tracy Martin said. "When I asked the police why there's been no arrest, they told me they respected [Zimmerman's] background, that he studied criminal justice for four years and that he was squeaky clean."

 

He continued: "My question to them was, did they run my child's background check? They said yes. I asked them what they came up with, and they said nothing. So I asked if Zimmerman having a clean record, did that give him the right to shoot and kill an unarmed kid?"

Sooooooo he studied criminal justice so that makes it okay? To me that just makes it worse on him. He wasn't ignorant of his actions. Perhaps he isn't a police officer for a reason? Like maybe didn't pass the psych test? Don't they give potential po's a psych test that they must pass?

[mdw2006]

A private citizen confronts a boy trying to go into his own house, shoots him dead, and is simply questioned & released? The police aren't being forthcoming with the boy's family and they have to resort to hiring a lawyer & having press conferences and such to try to pressure them into it when they're in the midst of their grief? This story has really made me angry.

 

 

Agreed, if this happened to my child I would be all up in their butts.

[blackberry74]

http://www.wftv.com/news/news/family-teen-fatally-shot-neighborhood-watch-leader/nLNq9/

 

On Thursday, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee confirmed to WFTV that the dispatcher told Zimmerman to wait for officers to arrive.

 

However, before police arrived, Zimmerman shot and killed Martin during a scuffle, investigators said.

 

In the recording, Zimmerman said: "They always get away," which could prove the family's case that he was out to get their son that day.

 

They do, huh? "They" have certainly gotten away with murder thus far in this case.

 

This is about to get my pressure up.

[orangecrush]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/family-wants-answers-in-teens-death-after-encounter-with-neighborhood-watch-leader/2012/03/08/gIQAPkJSzR_story.html

 

 

 

Zimmerman has been interviewed three times and is cooperating. He is claiming self-defense, even though he was following Martin, said Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee.

 

“There is some physical evidence and some testimony that would corroborate some of that story,” Lee said.

 

The 911 tapes haven’t been released because it has critical information and detectives don’t want it to influence the testimony of prospective witnesses, the police chief said.

 

It seems as if the police are trying to make sure they have all the facts, before charging this guy.

 

Why would he follow someone and confront them after the police said not to? That puts the entire situation on his head.

[orangecrush]

 

 

They do, huh? "They" have certainly gotten away with murder thus far in this case.

 

This is about to get my pressure up.

 

Breathing gets your pressure up. What are you at now? Defcon 3?

[sirrowan]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/family-wants-answers-in-teens-death-after-encounter-with-neighborhood-watch-leader/2012/03/08/gIQAPkJSzR_story.html

 

 

 

Zimmerman has been interviewed three times and is cooperating. He is claiming self-defense, even though he was following Martin, said Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee.

 

“There is some physical evidence and some testimony that would corroborate some of that story,” Lee said.

 

The 911 tapes haven’t been released because it has critical information and detectives don’t want it to influence the testimony of prospective witnesses, the police chief said.

 

It seems as if the police are trying to make sure they have all the facts, before charging this guy.

 

Why would he follow someone and confront them after the police said not to? That puts the entire situation on his head.

 

Right!!!!

[Islandgal]

This..LWB

 

Why is this kid suspicious in the first place? I think a stereotype must have been placed on the kid,

 

I hope the family that has to now bury their kid who went out to buy skittles files a civil suit against him

Edited March 9, 2012 by Islandgal

[iH8cra]

I'd like to know more details. No information is given about what happened between the 17 year old and the neighborhood watch guy.

 

As far as not getting out of the car, what is the point of a neighborhood watch then?

 

I think it would be wise to withhold judgment pending details. People are having emotional reactions now IMHO.

 

Furthermore, why did this story start out with the fact that the 17-year-old was black and the neighborhood watch guy was white? I can't see where this played any part in the story. It's sad that a 17-year-old was killed, not that a black 17-year-old was killed by a white man. [/rolling eyes at media]

[mdw2006]

I'd like to know more details. No information is given about what happened between the 17 year old and the neighborhood watch guy.

 

As far as not getting out of the car, what is the point of a neighborhood watch then?

 

I think it would be wise to withhold judgment pending details. People are having emotional reactions now IMHO.

 

Furthermore, why did this story start out with the fact that the 17-year-old was black and the neighborhood watch guy was white? I can't see where this played any part in the story. It's sad that a 17-year-old was killed, not that a black 17-year-old was killed by a white man. [/rolling eyes at media]

 

I wouldn't care if they where both white, or black or purple, yellow or green.

 

I want to know why this guy shot an unarmed boy, even if he came at him throwing a punch he had no right to shot him, put up his fists to defend himself sure, but kill him no.

[orangecrush]

 

As far as not getting out of the car, what is the point of a neighborhood watch then?

 

 

 

 

 

To watch. Hence, the name.

 

Neighborhood watch groups in Florida are simply citizens. Members of these groups are told to report any suspicious activity to the police and not to engage suspects. This guy disobeyed what the dispatcher told him to do and what watch groups are told to do.

 

He should not have gotten out of his car to bother someone strolling on a sidewalk. It's not like he saw this kid breaking into a house or trying to attack someone.

[orangecrush]

 

I wouldn't care if they where both white, or black or purple, yellow or green.

 

I want to know why this guy shot an unarmed boy, even if he came at him throwing a punch he had no right to shot him, put up his fists to defend himself sure, but kill him no.

 

 

If some creeper in a car were following me home and then got out of his car to hassle me on the sidewalk, he would be lucky if a punch was all he got.

 

If this guy had done this to a woman, I think he would be in jail now.

[Islandgal]

I'm calling it...

 

murder..

 

no additional information needed

 

 

I wish a fool would hassle me in my own neighborhood....

Edited March 9, 2012 by Islandgal