Maybe I’m missing something, so I need an explanation. Prior to that, let me say that I have no doubts that the race-baiters will take full advantage of this situation. A neighborhood watch volunteer witnesses a 17 year old black male walking down the street, witnesses no crime but still calls 911. Neighborhood Watch volunteers are NEVER supposed to tail or confront suspects, under any circumstances. The 911 operator tells Zimmerman “we don’t need you to follow him”, but Zimmerman does anyway. At some point after following Martin, Zimmerman then exits the vehicle and confronts him (at least verbally, and it is possible a weapon was displayed, no one knows). This is the same Zimmerman who called 911 almost 50 times over the previous year, and that is relevant as it should give an idea of his mindstate. No one knows what happens next and it is quite possible Martin initiated the physical confrontation that the witness saw. Would anyone here (much less a high school kid) not be on edge and spooked after being followed in a vehicle and then approached by an unknown adult male? It is also quite possible that the weapon was not displayed until Zimmerman was scared for his life and getting hit. But make no mistake, Zimmerman saw no crime committed and went out looking for trouble by following this kid out of his driveway. It was a case of extreme stupidity and it also was a case of him profiling an innocent kid who had committed no crime. What a mess this is, and it’s a shame that someone ended up dead. It is also a shame that this will be used for political motives, as it already has.
“At some point after following Martin, Zimmerman then exits the vehicle and confronts him (at least verbally, and it is possible a weapon was displayed, no one knows). This is the same Zimmerman who called 911 almost 50 times over the previous year”
I read that Zimmerman was returning to his vehicle when the final confrontation started. Where did you find that Zimmerman confronted Martin face to face? I haven’t seen ANY reports of that happening.
Also, I thought the 911 calls were 50 over 6 years...
He did not call 911 50 times in one year. I don’t know where you are getting that misinformation.
Maybe you could start by reading through some of the threads posted on FreeRepublic over the past couple of days. If you look at what people have already documented, I'm pretty sure you'll find that you're mistaken on many of your contentions.
Z had ever right to be in hiw own neighborhood...he had every right to be vigilant...he was under no obligation to back off or stop following someone who is not from the neighborhood, wears a face concealing hood, and was of a similar description as other perps....
that said, there is such a thing as common sense and appropriate caution...Z didn't show much of that but then again, either did the victim...
Well, I can help you out with a few factual corrections to your account below.
A neighborhood watch volunteer witnesses a 17 year old black male walking down the street, witnesses no crime but still calls 911.
He did not call 911. He called the police non-emergency number.
Neighborhood Watch volunteers are NEVER supposed to tail or confront suspects, under any circumstances. The 911 operator tells Zimmerman “we don’t need you to follow him”, but Zimmerman does anyway. At some point after following Martin, Zimmerman then exits the vehicle and confronts him (at least verbally, and it is possible a weapon was displayed, no one knows).
We do not know that he followed Martin. After saying "okay" to the operator he remained on the phone for almost two more minutes, and stated that he did not know where "this kid" went. We certainly know that he was outside his car several minutes after the call, presumably trying to spot Martin again to see where he had gone. Neighborhood watchers are supposed to try to observe from a safe distance, and there is no evidence he tried to do anything else.
This is the same Zimmerman who called 911 almost 50 times over the previous year, and that is relevant as it should give an idea of his mindstate.
No, he didn't. He called police, most of the calls to the non-emergency number, 44 times in the last eight years. This has been widely mis-reported, but the call records are all online.
No one knows what happens next and it is quite possible Martin initiated the physical confrontation that the witness saw.
That is certainly possible. It is also possible that Martin initiated the confrontation. His girlfriend's account is that the conversation began with Martin asking "What are you following me for?" Is it not also plausible that when he said this, Zimmerman was surprised to come face to face with him?
Would anyone here (much less a high school kid) not be on edge and spooked after being followed in a vehicle and then approached by an unknown adult male?
Well, you know, I've thought a lot about that, and as much as we all want Zimmerman to be more reasonable in his actions, I'd like you to think about this: 1) Martin did not live in that neighborhood. He was a guest. 2) He first saw Zimmerman inside the neighborhood, which is gated, in a vehicle. The reasonable assumption is that Zimmerman lived there. 3) There were Neighborhood Watch signs posted at the entrance. 4) Martin's girlfriend reports that Zimmerman asked "What are you doing here?"
At this point, shouldn't it be quite clear to any reasonable person what was going on? Wouldn't the conversation be easily and peacefully ended by simply saying "I am visiting my dad in that house over there."
I don't think we are making any wild assumptions by concluding that he never said that. None of this, of course, proves that Martin was the aggressor. It only proves we don't know. We also know that "following" is not a crime, and neither is asking a question, and I think we have to concede the possibility at least, that Martin showed some poor judgment. That doesn't mean he deserved to die, and it also isn't blaming the victim.
It is also quite possible that the weapon was not displayed until Zimmerman was scared for his life and getting hit.
Yes, I kind of doubt that it was, since Zimmerman was screaming for help for at least 45 seconds before shooting.
But make no mistake, Zimmerman saw no crime committed and went out looking for trouble by following this kid out of his driveway.
That is wild speculation which is not supported by any of the facts. I want you to consider a couple more facts, because they have been bothering me a bit.
Zimmerman first spotted Martin around the clubhouse. At a normal walking pace, that is about three minutes from the house Martin was staying at. Zimmerman was on the phone for just over four minutes. He could have been inside his house before Zimmerman hung up the phone. It was no more than three minutes after that that phone call ended that Martin was shot. Yet the shooting took place only about 200 feet from where Zimmerman parked his car while on the phone with police.
I keep reading these speculations about some "pursuit" or "chase" and accounts of Martin "running," but somehow, after seven minutes of running, he ended up in almost the exact spot where Zimmerman had lost sight of him while still on the phone with police.
I'm not trying to prove anything here - but those times and locations are facts, and I am just trying to make sense of them.
It was a case of extreme stupidity and it also was a case of him profiling an innocent kid who had committed no crime. What a mess this is, and it’s a shame that someone ended up dead. It is also a shame that this will be used for political motives, as it already has.
Well, I don't think it's nearly as cut and dried as you seem to think, but I certainly agree it is a shame and a tragedy all the way around.