Ayoob apparently proposes that Zimmerman pulled his handgun, and a struggle over the weapon ensued, during which Martin grabbed the top of the firearm (the slide that moves back and forth as one fires). Zimmerman pulled the trigger, firing one round into Martin. Because Martin's hand was on the slide, holding it in place, the mechanism by which the weapon would have advanced the next round in place to be fired did not occur.
After firing, Zimmerman's weapon would have appeared to be in it's normal state, however there would be no round in the chamber to be fired.
Thanks 101,
Would someone have to be pretty strong to hold the slide like that? How much force would it take to prevent it from going back?
This scenario is also why most who carry have a round chambered. He may have drawn after being attacked, and not have been able to rack a round in.
What I don't get is how the fired cartridge case wouldn't be found in the chamber in that example. If the slide goes far back enough to eject the case, wouldn't it strip a new round off the magazine and feed it? Or at least mis-feed it?
On the other hand, when the police arrived they retrieved Zimmerman's holstered gun from his person. So he had time to put the gun in any kind of condition. I don't think we can draw any conclusion from the condition of the gun.