Source: Zimmerman says Trayvon circled his SUV, frightened him

Orlando Sentinel ^ | 3May 2012 | Rene Stutzman

[ironman]

George Zimmerman told investigators that while he was on the phone with a Sanford police dispatcher reporting Trayvon Martin as suspicious, the teenager was circling his vehicle on foot, a source familiar with the investigation told the Orlando Sentinel.

The source said Zimmerman's account of events hasn't changed in his several statements to police — in which he said he was so unnerved by the teen's behavior that he rolled up his window to avoid a confrontation. However, he never mentioned any of that while talking to the dispatcher.

The details revealed by the source provide new insight into what Zimmerman said happened in the earliest moments of his contact with Trayvon. And they may reveal the inconsistencies alluded to by prosecutors in the case.

One of those inconsistencies: Zimmerman told police Trayvon had his hand over Zimmerman's mouth during their fight on the night he shot Trayvon.

The Sentinel's source confirmed that Zimmerman's statements include that allegation. But authorities do not believe that happened, the source told the Sentinel, because on one 911 call, someone can be heard screaming for help. If it were Zimmerman, as he claims, his cries were not muffled, the source said.

Zimmerman also told police, the source told the Sentinel, that while the two were on the ground, Trayvon reached for Zimmerman's gun, and the two struggled over it.

[Trailerpark Badass]

I think that both were afraid of each other and that each other reacted to that.

People who are afraid beat it home, they don't lay in wait and suckerpunch people. Trayvon didn't like Whitey watching him as he skulked around in the shadows.

Whether that equates to the "simple thrill of it," I'll leave for you to work out for yourself.

[Jonty30]

So, why didn’t George go home?

His 911 indicated he was very much afraid of Trayvon.

An over-reaction to a situation is often due to fear.

They both over-reacted to the situation.

[anglian]

"His 911 indicated he was very much afraid of Trayvon."

Then why did he call the non-emergency number 911.

"This guy looks like he's up to no good, or he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around." I'm not sure where the scary part is.

[anglian]

"People who are afraid beat it home, they don't lay in wait and suckerpunch people."

People on the phone aren't laying in wait to suckerpunch people either. "a call from slain black teenager to a girl friend seconds before he was shot dead."

Yep. Need more Zimmerman pixie-dust.

NEXT!

[Jonty30]

As somebody pointed out, if he was on the phone with somebody, he’s not going to be paying attention to everything around him. That can give the impression, to somebody looking at you from a distance the impression that you might be on drugs.

I also think that a possible reason why Martin might have given the impression that he was up to something is that, because he didn’t live in the complex, but was just visiting and may have been looking for something familiar to remind him where he was staying.

I’ve stayed in those sort of complexes and it can be disorientating.