Posted on 03/21/2012 8:54:46 AM PDT by marktwain
Police in Florida have released audio tapes of 911 calls regarding the killing of an unarmed black teenager by a white neighborhood watch volunteer.
George Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin during a confrontation inside Zimmerman's gated community in Sanford, Florida last month. Zimmerman claimed it was in self-defense, but Martin did not have a gun.
Following accusations that the shooting was racially motivated, the Justice Department announced Monday that it would investigate the shooting.
"He committed no crime. My son wasn’t doing anything but walking on the sidewalk," Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton said on the "Today Show," adding that she thinks Zimmerman targeted him because of "the color of his skin."
The first 911 call was that of Zimmerman calling to report a "suspicious" person:
911 Tapes of George Zimmerman Killing Trayvon Martin Released Share This Story article image Submitted by Mark Berman Opposing Views on Mar 20, 2012
Police in Florida have released audio tapes of 911 calls regarding the killing of an unarmed black teenager by a white neighborhood watch volunteer.
George Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin during a confrontation inside Zimmerman's gated community in Sanford, Florida last month. Zimmerman claimed it was in self-defense, but Martin did not have a gun.
Following accusations that the shooting was racially motivated, the Justice Department announced Monday that it would investigate the shooting.
"He committed no crime. My son wasn’t doing anything but walking on the sidewalk," Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton said on the "Today Show," adding that she thinks Zimmerman targeted him because of "the color of his skin."
The first 911 call was that of Zimmerman calling to report a "suspicious" person:
Another call is from a woman who said something is going on outside her house -- a person screaming for help. It can be heard in the background of the call. Presumably it is Martin:
911 Tapes of George Zimmerman Killing Trayvon Martin Released Share This Story article image Submitted by Mark Berman Opposing Views on Mar 20, 2012
Police in Florida have released audio tapes of 911 calls regarding the killing of an unarmed black teenager by a white neighborhood watch volunteer.
George Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin during a confrontation inside Zimmerman's gated community in Sanford, Florida last month. Zimmerman claimed it was in self-defense, but Martin did not have a gun.
Following accusations that the shooting was racially motivated, the Justice Department announced Monday that it would investigate the shooting.
"He committed no crime. My son wasn’t doing anything but walking on the sidewalk," Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton said on the "Today Show," adding that she thinks Zimmerman targeted him because of "the color of his skin."
The first 911 call was that of Zimmerman calling to report a "suspicious" person:
Another call is from a woman who said something is going on outside her house -- a person screaming for help. It can be heard in the background of the call. Presumably it is Martin:
Martin and Zimmerman:
Sorry, but from what I have seen, looks like an overzealous wanna be cop, confronted someone for simply walking the street, and created a confrontation.
I sure as hell am not jumping to Zimmerman’s defense on this one, and think anyone who is, with what is known at this point is a fool.
Reminds me of the case where the idiot gun owner shot a kid in the back and killed him for playing doorbell ding and dash. Same damned arguments being used by those who tried to defend that idiot as well, oh he was a big kid, blah blah blah.
Reality is, like it or not, not every gun owner is remotely responsible or smart. What was a neighborhood watch volunteer doing confronting anyone, he reported it to the cops, and move on, but this guy clearly did not do that... From what I can see he attempted to directly confront the guy.
It’ll be interesting to see how this ends up, but I have a strong feeling Zimmerman is not a victim, but probably got too big for his britches, decided to confront the guy and when things didn’t go his way, shot him.
But I feel anyone jumping blindly to Zimmerman’s defence with what has been released so far, is a fool. We’ll see what the facts bring, but at present, he sure doesn’t look like some innocent victim to me.
As long as we are imagining things, let us imagine it from Zimmerman's perspective.
Your community has been hit by a rash of burglaries committed by young black males. You see one wandering around and you call the police as you have done 46 times before during the last several months.
The young black man goes out of your sight from where you can drive, so you leave the car to keep him in sight. The police are on their way, and you know it.
You walk up to the young man who asks “why are you following me?” You ask what are you doing?. He replies and you turn to go. Suddenly, you are knocked down and your face smashed into the pavement. You manage to turn over and he grabs your head and smashes the back of it into the concrete. You scream for help. Your shirt rides up and he sees your gun. He grabs for it and you struggle. You manage to shoot him, and then the police arrive.
Exactly, Zimmerman is no innocent victim, and those trying to paint him as such are fools.
This rings completely of wanna be cop who tried to bite off more than he could chew, and when it didn’t go his way, he shot the guy.
Sorry, but Zimmerman lost any chance at self defense when he directly confronted the guy... He created the confrontation. This smacks of neighborhood watch guy who thinks hes a cop, and anyone who’s dealt with these folks knows exactly what I’m talking about, there is always one...
Except this one bit off more than he could chew, and when it didn’t go his way, shot a guy. There is no self defense here because Zimmerman created the situation of his own accord, calling him a victim is nonsense.
“Sorry, but Zimmerman lost any chance at self defense when he directly confronted the guy... He created the confrontation.”
Are you seriously saying that a resident cannot walk up to a stranger in the community and ask him why he is there?
If that is what you are saying, it simply is not true.
Zimmerman had as much right to be in that public space as Martin did.
Zimmerman had a right to be there, he didn’t have the right to confront Martin. Zimmerman’s actions directly created the confrontation, you think otherwise you are a fool.
You assume the altercation began with Martin, it didn’t it began with Zimmerman shadowing him, getting out of his car, and confronting him. To claim self defense when you instigated the confrontation is silliness.
He didn’t just say, Hey you, what are you doing? He got out of his car, walked right up to him and confronted him. In fact he had to be so damned close that they could physically touch each other for any altercation to occur. Zimmerman doesn’t have a leg to stand on in a Self Defense argument in my mind.
I think Zimmerman not only confronted Martin, but likely was the first person to make physical contact as well. However either way, claiming stand your ground when you violate someone elses is nonsense.. Zimmerman is no victim, he’s a fool who bit off more than he could chew and then killed a guy when it didn’t go how he wanted.
He clearly created the situation, so to claim self defense is nonsense.
Or German.
I don't know if this was a racial issue or a "person don't belong in here parts issue" which is apply in a lot of places as there places "outsiders" just don't usually belong.
There was probable cause to ask the question. What escalated the question to a physical altercation is the question.
There wasn't probable cause unless someone with Martin's description was seen breaking into dwellings. Sanford's 30% black. This isn't The Hamptons. Young Black Males aren't out of the ordinary there. There may or may not be reasonable suspicion for a cop to stop and question this person. There is no cause for George Zimmerman to himself detain Martin.
Zimmerman could have talked to him, but if he was aggressive and had bad intentions (possible), Martin had full reason to defend himself. If Zimmerman was the aggressor and got more than he bargained for in response, then he has 'imperfect' self defense at best which is usually a one way ticket to getting dinged for manslaughter. The only way I see Zimmerman possibly beating a manslaughter ding is if he said simply he wanted to talk to him and Martin charged and attacked him. Based on the limited facts I've seen, I don't see that.
As much as I effing despise the race pimps, they may be right on this one thing.
Great question.
Last I heard they were trying to sue the bus company (deep white pockets).
So he was suspended. Happened to me before too. So what. What does that have to do with this?
He could have asked what he was doing from a distance. Look, if you come into close contact space (ie - your reach), after getting out of your care, with what could very well be interpreted as bad intentions, I'm not going to respond politely. I have no idea who you are. You could be a robber.
I'm going to first try and get out of dodge, like Martin probably did. If I can't get out of dodge, I'm going to use appropriate force to stop the threat beyond all certainty.
It doesn’t matter who was WINNING the fist fight - only who initiated the confrontation and escalated it into violence.
And I say his fat ass shouldn’t be getting into fist fights while armed if he is going to, once losing the fight, pull his gun and kill a kid who went to the store to get candy.
He was armed and despite good advice not to, he sought out and confronted a “suspiciously” black young man with the spoken intention of ‘not letting him get away’.
Well Treyvon Martin did not “get away”.
Zimmerman liked to call 9-1-1. A lot. He also apparently liked to use racial slurs, and was recorded doing so on one of his SEVERAL calls to 9-1-1. None of his previous calls to 9-1-1 resulted in arrest. Had he waited for the ACTUAL police in this incident - no arrest would have been made.
He probably was a punk a$$ kid with attitude is what it has to do with it.
Of course, maybe he wasn't.
Maybe you were.
There is not yet enough info to make informed decisions as to who's at fault.
Once, a coworker of mine was jumped by another guy near our office as he was walking down the street. Apparently, he got the best of the guy who jumped him, and as the police pulled up, the guy who jumped him began yelling for help. And the police started to arrest this coworker.
Luckily, the whole incident occurred in front of a restaurant filled with witnesses who ran outside to let the police know who the real aggressor was.
IOW, just because someone is yelling for help, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t the aggressor. IMHO, Zimmerman, in his own mind, probably thought he was defending his neighborhood and himself. He probably couldn’t see how his actions indicated otherwise.
I hate to break it to ya', but at 5'9", 140 lbs., you weren't all that thin. Which is a good thing. My brother was 5'9" and 120 lbs. and couldn't gain weight. One of my sons weighed 116 lbs. at 5'9". Now he's closer to 5'11" and weighs a whopping 120 lbs. but probably wishes he weighed 140 lbs. He does play sports, too. Martin was known as "Slimm"; he probably was very thin.
There's no denying this situation is a tragedy and that wouldn't change even if Trayvon had a gun or knife. Trayvon had his whole life ahead of him and this shouldn't have happened; regardless of who is at fault here. The point I am trying to make is with Sharpton's insertion in the matter and the media feeding frenzy that has ensued, nothing should be taken at face value here.
Y’all get with the program. He’s white if he’s a perp, Hispanic if he’s a victim. Get your racial social consciousness adjusted.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.