141-524: George Michael Zimmerman (born October 5, 1983) is an American man who fatally shot Trayvon Martin , a 17-year-old African-American, in Sanford, Florida , on February 26, 2012. On July 13, 2013, he was acquitted of second-degree murder in Florida v. George Zimmerman . After his acquittal, Zimmerman was the target of a shooting. The perpetrator was convicted of attempted murder. George Michael Zimmerman
282-463: A Marine . When Zimmerman was 15 years old, he held three part-time jobs on nights and weekends to save up for a car. Zimmerman graduated from Osbourn High School in 2001. According to the Seminole County voter records, Zimmerman registered as a Democrat in 2002. According to his brother Robert, Zimmerman voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 presidential election . Zimmerman later became
423-420: A 15-year concurrent sentence for aggravated assault stemming from the same incident. In December 2013, Zimmerman began selling paintings he had made. His first painting, of an American flag, sold for $ 100,099.99 on eBay in late December. On the auction page for the painting, Zimmerman wrote: Everyone has been asking what I have been doing with myself. I found a creative way to express myself, my emotions, and
564-547: A Missing Persons report early on February 28, and police officers arrived at his fiancée's condo with photographs of his dead son about 9:20 a.m. The Martin family alleged that Seminole County Attorney Wolfinger met personally with Sanford Chief Lee on the night of the shooting and instructed Lee not to make an arrest. Based on their accusation, the Martin family requested that the Justice Department investigate
705-494: A Twin Lakes resident around the same time a new laptop and some gold jewelry was stolen from her home. The next day, police discovered the stolen laptop in the backpack of a young black man that Zimmerman identified as the same person he had spotted peering into windows on February 2. Zimmerman had been licensed to carry a firearm since November 2009. On the evening of February 26, 2012, Zimmerman observed Martin as he returned to
846-463: A black male. Dispatcher: How old would you say he looks? Zimmerman: He's got a button on his shirt. Late teens. Dispatcher: Late teens. Okay. Zimmerman: Something's wrong with him. Yup, he's coming to check me out. He's got something in his hands. I don't know what his deal is. Dispatcher: Just let me know if he does anything, okay? Zimmerman: How long until you get an officer over here? Dispatcher: Yeah, we've got someone on
987-449: A critic of Obama. After graduating from high school, Zimmerman moved to Lake Mary, Florida , a suburb of Orlando , where he was employed by an insurance agency. Zimmerman took classes at night to obtain a license to sell insurance. It was during this time when he became friends with Lee Ann Benjamin, a real estate agent, and her husband John Donnelly, a Sanford attorney. Benjamin and Donnelly would both testify on his behalf at his trial in
1128-408: A former federal prosecutor , who was part of the task force said it was "clear that there was lots of confusion around the statute". Marion Hammer , a National Rifle Association of America (NRA) lobbyist and former NRA president who had helped write Florida's law, said the law was not about one incident and there was nothing wrong with the law. The task force eventually recommended against repealing
1269-515: A gated community Martin had visited several times before. According to his autopsy, Martin was 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) tall and weighed 158 pounds (72 kg) at the time of his death. George Michael Zimmerman was born in Manassas, Virginia , and is the son of Gladys (née Mesa) Zimmerman, born in Peru , and Robert Zimmerman Sr., a retired Virginia magistrate . At the time of
1410-639: A group calling themselves the Dream Defenders began a sit-in at the Florida State Capitol to force a special legislative session on Florida's stand-your-ground law. After 31 days, their occupation of the Capitol ended without a special session being called. A group of Martin supporters walked from Jacksonville, Florida , to Sanford to highlight what they believed were injustices concerning Florida's stand-your-ground law. The six-day walk
1551-431: A hate crime, Zimmerman said he felt free to speak his opinion "without fear of retaliation". Zimmerman criticized the government and President Obama . He believed Obama inflamed racial tensions. "He by far overstretched, overreached, even broke the law in certain aspects to where you have an innocent American being prosecuted by the federal government," Zimmerman said. According to Zimmerman's brother Robert Jr. in 2014, in
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#17327828739881692-660: A home. It's 1950, Oh, crap. I don't want to give it all out. I don't know where this kid is. Dispatcher: Okay. Do you want to just meet with them right near the mailboxes then? Zimmerman: Yeah, that's fine. Dispatcher: All right, George. I'll let them know to meet you around there okay? Zimmerman: Actually, could you have them call me and I'll tell them where I'm at? Dispatcher: Okay, yeah. That's no problem. Zimmerman: Should I give you my number or you got it? Dispatcher: Yeah, I got it [redacted] Zimmerman: Yeah, you got it. Dispatcher: Okay. No problem. I'll let them know to call you when they're in
1833-408: A judge ruled Apperson would stand trial for second-degree attempted murder along with one count of aggravated assault and one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle. Apperson was convicted of attempted murder and aggravated assault with a firearm on September 16, 2016. On October 17, 2016, Apperson was sentenced to 20 years in prison on the charge of attempted second-degree murder. He was also given
1974-536: A jury acquitted him of second-degree murder and of manslaughter charges. Martin's parents, upset that an arrest had not been made in their son's death, contacted Martin's sister-in-law, an attorney who put them in touch with Benjamin Crump , a civil rights attorney from Tallahassee, Florida . Crump took their case pro bono and retained Natalie Jackson, an attorney familiar with Sanford and Seminole County who specialized in women's and children's cases, to help with
2115-632: A leaked memo in which interim police chief Richard Myers blamed the police department spokesperson, Sgt. David Morgenstern, for having mishandled the Trayvon Martin case. Myers removed Morgenstern from that position. Benjamin Crump , the lawyer representing the interests of the Martin family, operates a law firm in Tallahassee, Florida , with his partner Daryl Parks. The firm has eight lawyers who focus on wrongful death , malpractice , personal injury and civil rights . The Martin family
2256-530: A left. Shit, he's running [background noises, possibly car door open warning chimes, heard]. Dispatcher: He's running? Which way is he running? Zimmerman: Down towards the other entrance to the neighborhood. Dispatcher: Which entrance is that that he's heading towards? Zimmerman: The back entrance ... fucking [disputed/unintelligible] Dispatcher: Are you following him? Zimmerman: Yeah. Dispatcher: Okay, we don't need you to do that. Zimmerman: Okay. Dispatcher: All right, sir, what
2397-459: A letter saying that the photo in the original tweet was marked as "sensitive" and was blocked, so he retweeted it because of the text message without seeing the photo. In December 2015, Zimmerman tweeted two photos of a topless woman he claimed was his ex-girlfriend, and accused her of cheating and of the theft of his firearm and money. He included her phone number and e-mail address on his tweet. Less than two hours later, Zimmerman's Twitter account
2538-515: A limited number of prints of a painting of the Confederate battle flag in conjunction with gun seller Andy Hallinan of Florida Gun Supply, in Inverness, Florida . Hallinan is known for saying that Muslims were not welcome at his store, and that it was "Muslim free". Michael Walsh of Yahoo! News observed, "Zimmerman's latest painting brings together three highly controversial topics with which
2679-506: A live broadcast , and wrote, "If Obama had a son..."; and another in which Zimmerman typed, in response to people who wanted him killed, that the United States understands "how it ended for the last moron that hit me" (in reference to Trayvon Martin ). In September 2015, Zimmerman retweeted a photo of Martin's slain body posted by another Twitter user, who had the caption: "Z-Man is a one man army". Several days later, Zimmerman posted
2820-582: A member of the community watch, saw Martin and reported him to the Sanford Police as suspicious. Several minutes later, an altercation happened and Zimmerman fatally shot Martin in the chest. Zimmerman was injured during the altercation with Martin. He said he shot Martin in self-defense and was not charged at the time. The police said there was no evidence to refute his claim of self-defense, and Florida's stand-your-ground law prohibited them from arresting or charging him. After national media focused on
2961-446: A personal nature with references to Krispy Kreme doughnuts, ice cream, movies, and all-night study sessions. The Miami Herald also reported that Martin was unhappy at Krop High School: in one of his tweets, he wrote, " WULD I MISS KROP?? HELL NAW FUK DA SKOOL, FUK DA LUNCH, ND MOST OF ALL FUK DA FACULTY..... IMA MISS SUM OF DA STUDENTS, MAINLY DA BABIES ;) " Critics of Martin had pointed out his tattoos, an empty marijuana bag,
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#17327828739883102-418: A photo of Martin with gold grills , and texts from his cell phone to claim he had a violent nature and that there was an effort to keep this information from the public. His email and Facebook accounts were hacked by a white supremacist , and selected tweets from his Twitter account were published on the conservative website The Daily Caller . A picture of Martin making an obscene gesture from his account
3243-411: A police officer and was taken to the hospital. Apperson maintained that Zimmerman was the aggressor and that Apperson acted in self-defense . Zimmerman also had a gun with him at the time of the incident, but Zimmerman's attorney said that "George absolutely denies having shown it, waved, displayed, pointed it." A Lake Mary police spokesperson stated that "the investigation has proven that George Zimmerman
3384-418: A previous marriage. They met when Martin was about three years old and were together for about 14 years. Stanley told CNN's Anderson Cooper that before she and Tracy Martin separated, Trayvon was with her 90% of the time, and that she went to all his football games and took care of him when he was sick. She said that Trayvon was a kind and loving person, not a 'thug' as the media portrayed him. When Martin
3525-587: A restraining order against him, citing domestic violence as the cause. Zimmerman married Shellie Dean, a licensed cosmetologist , in 2007. Two years later, they rented a townhouse in the Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Florida . Zimmerman had previously been employed at a car dealership and a mortgage audit firm. Zimmerman enrolled in Seminole State College in 2009 and was working on an associate degree in criminal justice. In December 2011 he
3666-488: A sense of humor and a preoccupation with girls and sometimes using profanity or obscene language when discussing sex in his tweets. Martin also enjoyed making jokes on Twitter about street culture and posted YouTube excerpts from films like Friday and Next Friday , which both made fun of street culture. Martin liked rap music and tweeted about Tupac Shakur , DMX , and Mystikal . He often quoted explicit song lyrics in his tweets. Martin's postings sometimes reflected
3807-554: A sworn voluntary form, with Zimmerman then complaining about the officer and writing "I want to press charges. The narrative on the front is true and correct. Officer Nickell is an incompetent officer under qualified to flip burgers," and told the officer that he would sue the Seminole County Sheriff's office. On December 4, 2019, Zimmerman sued the Martin family and others involved in the trial for $ 100 million on grounds of false evidence and abuse of process. The suit
3948-553: A volunteer Neighborhood Watch person, spotted Martin, who was 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) tall and weighed 158 pounds (72 kg) at the time of his death. Zimmerman called Sanford police to report Martin, who he said appeared "suspicious". There was an altercation between the two individuals in which Zimmerman shot Martin, killing him. Zimmerman claimed self-defense and was eventually charged in Martin's death. On June 10, 2013, Zimmerman's trial began in Sanford, and on July 13,
4089-445: Is all very unsettling. I'm sure if George Zimmerman had the opportunity to relive Sunday, February 26, he'd probably do things differently. I'm sure Trayvon would, too." On March 13, 2012, Detective Chris Serino sent a capias request to the state's attorney recommending charges of negligent manslaughter against Zimmerman, though Serino maintains he did not believe they had the evidence to support those charges and that manslaughter
4230-518: Is he running?" Noises on the tape at this point have been interpreted by some media outlets as the sound of a car door chime, possibly indicating Zimmerman opened his car door. Zimmerman followed Martin, eventually losing sight of him. The dispatcher asked Zimmerman if he was following him. When Zimmerman answered, "yeah", the dispatcher said, "We don't need you to do that." Zimmerman responded, "Okay." Zimmerman asked that police call him upon their arrival so he could provide his location. Zimmerman ended
4371-542: Is no indication that Trayvon Martin was involved in any criminal activity at the time of the encounter." The State Attorney's office initially determined there was insufficient evidence to charge Zimmerman and did not file charges based on the capias request. On March 16, Serino told the Orlando Sentinel that his investigation had turned up no reliable evidence that cast doubt on Zimmerman's account; that he had acted in self-defense. "The best evidence we have
George Zimmerman - Misplaced Pages Continue
4512-582: Is the testimony of George Zimmerman, and he says the decedent was the primary aggressor in the whole event, everything I have is adding up to what he says." On March 20, 2012, State attorney Norm Wolfinger announced that a Seminole County grand jury would be convened on April 10 to investigate the death of Martin. However, after State Attorney Angela Corey was assigned to the case by Florida Governor Rick Scott on March 22, she decided that her office would decide whether to press charges. She commented: "I always lean towards moving forward without needing
4653-486: Is your name? Zimmerman: George ... He ran. Dispatcher: All right, George, what's your last name? Zimmerman: Zimmerman. Dispatcher: And George, what's the phone number you're calling from? Zimmerman: [redacted] Dispatcher: All right, George, we do have them on the way. Do you want to meet with the officer when they get out there? Zimmerman: Yeah. Dispatcher: Alright, where you going to meet with them at? Zimmerman: If they come in through
4794-608: The Village Voice , has referred to Zimmerman's artistic endeavors as constituting " murderabilia ". In late August 2015, controversy centering on Zimmerman arose when his Twitter profile picture of a Confederate flag "backed by an American flag" (in his words) became better-known. Frequently criticized posts of his from August included one in which Zimmerman called Obama an "ignorant baboon"; one in which he posted an image of Vester Lee Flanagan, an African-American former news reporter who shot and killed two ex-coworkers during
4935-549: The Associated Press and a Jacksonville, Florida photographer Rick Wilson demanded that Zimmerman halt the sale of one of his paintings because the news agency asserted it directly copied a photo owned by the AP. The photo and painting identically show Jacksonville-based prosecutor Angela Corey (whose office prosecuted Zimmerman for the shooting death of Martin) holding her thumb and fingers together. Zimmerman apparently made up
5076-748: The Department of Defense . Before retiring to Florida in 2002, Zimmerman Sr. had served as a magistrate in Fairfax County 's 19th Judicial District. Zimmerman identifies as Hispanic on voter registration forms. Zimmerman's family was known for being devoutly religious. He was raised as a Catholic and served as an altar boy from age 7 to 17. Zimmerman attended All Saints Catholic School in Manassas before going to public high school. At age 14, Zimmerman joined an after-school Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps program because he had wanted to become
5217-545: The Miami Herald that homicide suspects are not typically tested for drugs or alcohol unless the suspect has been accused of having been driving while intoxicated. Martin's body was taken to the morgue , where he was tagged as a John Doe , as he was not carrying any identification. The mobile phone found at the shooting scene was malfunctioning to the point that the police Cellebrite data recovery device could not access it. Martin's father, Tracy Martin, called to file
5358-464: The gated community where Martin was visiting relatives at the time of the shooting. Zimmerman became suspicious of Martin and called police; Martin attacked Zimmerman and then Zimmerman shot him with a pistol he was licensed to carry. In a widely reported trial , Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder for Martin's death, but acquitted by the jury after claiming self-defense, although Martin had no weapon except his hands/fists. The incident
5499-778: The 30 days following the shooting. More than 1,000 people attended the viewing of his remains the day before his funeral, which was held on March 3 in Miami. He was buried in Dade-Memorial Park (North), in Miami. A memorial was dedicated to Martin at the Goldsboro Westside Historical Museum, a Black history museum in Sanford, in July 2013. Martin was born in 1995 in Miami, Florida , to Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, who divorced in 1999. At
5640-534: The DOJ investigation. The Sanford Police Department's lead investigator, Chris Serino, told FBI agents that he believed Zimmerman's actions were not based on Martin's race, but instead on Martin's attire, the circumstances of the encounter, and previous burglaries in the neighborhood. Zimmerman's neighbors and co-workers were interviewed as well. Neighbors who knew Zimmerman had nothing derogatory to say about him and his co-workers were complimentary of him. Serino also told
5781-465: The FBI that he had felt pressure from three officers within the department to charge Zimmerman although he "did not believe he had enough evidence at the time to file charges", and accused one of these officers of being friendly with Martin's father. He also expressed concern to the FBI about possible leaks of evidence to the media from within the department. On July 13, 2013, shortly after the trial verdict,
George Zimmerman - Misplaced Pages Continue
5922-580: The March, while other media outlets estimated the supporters to be in the hundreds. Martin's parents spoke at the event, and many of the participants at the event were Occupiers who had been evicted the night before from Union Square and returned for the March. At a White House press conference in March, President Obama was asked about the Martin shooting and said, "If I had a son he would look like Trayvon and I think they [his parents] are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with
6063-404: The Martin case. On March 5, Jackson asked Ryan Julison to help as well. A publicist , Julison initially approached several national media contacts about covering the shooting. Over the next few days and weeks, the national media started reporting on the shooting, including: Reuters , CBS This Morning , ABC World News , and CNN . The Miami Herald reported that in the 30 days following
6204-636: The Second Chance on Shoot First campaign delivered a petition with 340,000 signatures to the Citizen Safety and Protection task force asking for changes to the stand-your-ground law in Florida. Governor Rick Scott had established the task force after Martin's death to review and make recommendations about the law. Florida was the first state to pass a law that allowed an individual who felt threatened to stand their ground. Joëlle Anne Moreno,
6345-584: The Seminole County Sheriff's Office Inmate Booking record. Zimmerman's height was shown as 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m) and his weight at 200 lb (91 kg) on the Sanford Police Department Offense Report for February 26, 2012, the night of the shooting. Zimmerman and his wife moved to The Retreat at Twin Lakes in 2009. Bill Lee had been chief of the Sanford Police Department for ten months when
6486-483: The State Attorney's office for review. Lee said there was not enough evidence to arrest Zimmerman. "In this case Mr. Zimmerman has made the statement of self-defense," Lee said. "Until we can establish probable cause to dispute that, we don't have the grounds to arrest him." In response to criticisms of the investigation, Lee responded that "We are taking a beating over this" and defended the investigation. "This
6627-473: The State prosecutor's office. Wolfinger responded that the family's accusations were "outright lies" and denied that any such meeting or communication took place. Wolfinger's office reported that the Sanford police consulted with Kelly Jo Hines, the prosecutor on call the night of the shooting, but it has not been disclosed what was talked about. On March 12, 2012, Police Chief Lee turned the investigation over to
6768-703: The Trayvon Martin shooting. In April, the Sanford City Commission refused to accept Lee's resignation and stated that "Lee's spotless record showed there needed to be further review to determine if he failed in his duties." Lee was fired on June 20, 2012, by Sanford City Manager Norton Bonaparte. Lee responded by saying, "I continue to stand by the work performed by the Sanford Police Department in this tragic shooting, which has been plagued by misrepresentations and false statements for interests other than justice." On June 26, 2012,
6909-552: The Twin Lakes housing community after having walked to a nearby convenience store. At the time, Zimmerman was driving through the neighborhood on a personal errand. At approximately 7:09 p.m., Zimmerman called the Sanford police non-emergency number to report a suspicious person in the Twin Lakes community. Zimmerman said, "We've had some break-ins in my neighborhood, and there's a real suspicious guy ...". He described an unknown male "just walking around looking about" in
7050-437: The Twin Lakes residents held an organizational meeting to create a neighborhood watch program. Zimmerman was selected by neighbors as the program's coordinator, according to Wendy Dorival, Neighborhood Watch organizer for the Sanford Police Department. Zimmerman had made nearly 50 calls to police between 2004 and 2012 to report various local disturbances, such as loud parties, open garage doors, potholes, and children playing in
7191-401: The U.S. Justice Department issued a statement saying its investigation into the civil rights aspects of the case was continuing. On February 24, 2015, 35 months after it began, the civil rights investigation of the Justice Department was terminated for lack of evidence. The FBI investigation was concurrently terminated for the same reason. The Volusia County medical examiner found that Martin
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#17327828739887332-578: The United States on October 9, 2013. It parodies World War Z and the George Zimmerman murder trials. In 2013, Public Policy Polling included Zimmerman as a potential Republican Party presidential candidate in an Alaska poll testing what person the state would support in the 2016 presidential election . Tom Jensen, director of Public Policy Polling, explained in an email that his firm had included Zimmerman because of his popularity among conservatives and curiosity as to "how he would do." In
7473-434: The area and made contact with neighbors in the area and obtained statements from witnesses at the scene. The officers, who believed Zimmerman proceeded solely on foot before the attack, did not seize Zimmerman's vehicle until after his wife had moved it. Zimmerman was treated and released by paramedics while still at the scene of the incident. After placing Zimmerman in his police vehicle, Officer Smith heard Zimmerman say, "I
7614-543: The area. Zimmerman: Thanks. Dispatcher: You're welcome. Sanford Police Officer Timothy Smith arrived at the scene at approximately 7:17 p.m., between 5 and 65 seconds after the fatal shot was fired. He reported finding Zimmerman standing near Martin, who was lying face down in the grass and unresponsive. At that time, Zimmerman stated to Smith that he had shot Martin and was still armed. Smith handcuffed Zimmerman and confiscated his black Kel-Tec PF-9 9mm semi-automatic pistol. Smith observed that Zimmerman's back
7755-455: The autopsy testified that "marijuana could have no effect or some effect" on Martin's behavior. Recordings of eight calls to the police made on the night of the shooting were released by the Sanford police on March 17, 2012. The only eyewitness to the end of the confrontation stated that Martin was on top of Zimmerman and punching him, while Zimmerman was yelling for help. This witness, who identified himself as "John", stated that "the guy on
7896-558: The best players on their football team (The Wolverines) that played at Forzano Park in Miramar, Florida . Martin played for the Wolverines from ages 8 to 13 and sometimes sat out because his father benched him "because he messed up in school". While in high school, Martin volunteered at Forzano Park, working in the concession stand and sometimes staying until 8:00 or 9:00 PM before going home. Martin's former football coach said he
8037-464: The bottom, who had a red sweater on, was yelling to me, 'Help! Help!' and I told him to stop, and I was calling 911". He went on to say that when he got upstairs and looked down, "the guy who was on the top beating up the other guy, was the one laying in the grass, and I believe he was dead at that point." A 13-year-old boy walking his dog saw a man on the ground shortly before the shooting and identified him as wearing red. His mother later disputed
8178-476: The call at 7:15 p.m. After Zimmerman ended his call with police, a violent encounter took place between him and Martin. It ended with Zimmerman fatally shooting Martin 70 yards (64 m) from the rear door of the townhouse where Martin was staying. Zimmerman: He looks black. Dispatcher: Did you see what he was wearing? Zimmerman: Yeah. A dark hoodie, like a gray hoodie, and either jeans or sweatpants and white tennis shoes. He's, I don't know, he
8319-422: The case spread, thousands of protesters across the United States called for Zimmerman's arrest and a full investigation. Six weeks after the shooting, amid widespread, intense, and in some cases misleading media coverage , Zimmerman was charged with murder by a special prosecutor appointed by Governor Rick Scott . Zimmerman's trial began on June 10, 2013, in Sanford. On July 13, a jury acquitted Zimmerman of
8460-495: The charges of second degree murder and manslaughter. For three years, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) investigated Zimmerman on civil rights charges. In February 2015, the DOJ concluded there was not sufficient evidence that Zimmerman intentionally violated the civil rights of Martin, saying the Zimmerman case did not meet the "high standard" for a federal hate crime prosecution. After DOJ said it would not charge him with
8601-440: The charges were later dropped. On September 9, 2014, Zimmerman was named by police in a road rage incident in which another driver, later named by police as Matthew Apperson, claimed that Zimmerman followed and threatened him. Zimmerman later claimed in testimony that Apperson approached him over a rear tire leaking air, which Zimmerman was already aware of. He had explained this to Apperson before Apperson asked if Zimmerman knew he
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#17327828739888742-518: The death of Martin. According to Donnelly, in 2004 Zimmerman and an African-American friend opened a satellite office of Allstate Insurance , which failed a year later. In July 2005, Zimmerman was arrested after allegedly assaulting an undercover police officer who was attempting to arrest a friend of his at a bar. The charges were dropped after Zimmerman agreed to enter an alcohol education program. A month later in August, Zimmerman's former fiancée filed
8883-410: The dedication to teach students how to express their First Amendment rights while standing their ground for youth Civil Rights, according to the school. In July, President Obama made comments about the death of Martin after the acquittal of Zimmerman. He said, "I think it would be useful for us to examine some state and local laws to see ... if they are designed in such a way that they may encourage
9024-568: The defense team needed to be able to review the evidence for any indications of violent tendencies. Some of the cell phone texts the defense wanted to use showed Martin had texted about his fights, marijuana use, and guns, and that he had described himself as "gangsta". Benjamin Crump, the Martins' family attorney, said whether Martin had worn gold teeth or used an obscene gesture had nothing to do with his death. The judge eventually ruled that Martin's social media posts would not be mentioned during
9165-518: The development at the time of the shooting. Martin had been staying with his father's fiancée at The Retreat. From January 1, 2011, through February 26, 2012, police were called to The Retreat at Twin Lakes 402 times. Crimes committed at The Retreat in the year prior to Martin's death had included eight burglaries, nine thefts, and one shooting. Twin Lakes residents said there were dozens of reports of attempted break-ins, which had created an atmosphere of fear in their neighborhood. In September 2011,
9306-402: The dispatcher to do so; his reports said that all were black males. According to friends and neighbors of Zimmerman, three weeks prior to the shooting on February 26, Zimmerman called police to report a young man peering into the windows of an empty Twin Lakes home. By the time police arrived, the suspect had fled. On February 6, workers witnessed two young black men lingering in the yard of
9447-440: The entire incident and Zimmerman appeared relieved at this news. Five hours later, Zimmerman was released. The police chief said that there was no evidence to refute Zimmerman's claim of having acted in self-defense, and that under Florida's Stand Your Ground statute, the police were prohibited by law from making an arrest. The police chief also said that Zimmerman had a right to defend himself with lethal force. The day after
9588-468: The firearm or place it in a museum. Moderators on the bidding sites caught additional scam actions. On May 20, Zimmerman said he had accepted a bid of $ 250,000 for the weapon. On November 11, 2016, it was reported that Zimmerman had been kicked out of a bar in Central Florida. A deputy had been called to the bar in order to investigate a claim of battery involving a female friend of Zimmerman, and
9729-486: The gate, tell them to go straight past the club house, and uh, straight past the club house and make a left, and then they go past the mailboxes, that's my truck ... [unintelligible] Dispatcher: What address are you parked in front of? Zimmerman: I don't know. It's a cut through so I don't know the address. Dispatcher: Okay. Do you live in the area? Zimmerman: Yeah, I ... [unintelligible] Dispatcher: What's your apartment number? Zimmerman: It's
9870-609: The grand jury in a case like this, I foresee us being able to make a decision, and move on it on our own." Governor Scott asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) to investigate the shooting and Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed that the FDLE was involved and stated "no stone will be left unturned in this investigation". On March 20, 2012, the Justice Department announced that it
10011-563: The gun was "an American Firearm icon", attracted controversy. Zimmerman subsequently explained that the Justice Department had recently returned the weapon to him. He said that he had the right as owner to sell it. Zimmerman said the proceeds of the weapon would go to combating the violence against police officers by members of the Black Lives Matter movement as well as "ensure the demise of Angela Corey 's persecution career and Hillary Clinton's anti-firearm rhetoric". After selling
10152-459: The incident, Zimmerman was eventually charged and tried, but a jury acquitted him of second-degree murder and manslaughter in July 2013. Following Martin's death, rallies, marches, and protests were held across the United States. In March 2012, hundreds of students at his high school held a walkout in support of him. An online petition calling for a full investigation and prosecution of Zimmerman garnered 2.2 million signatures. Also in March,
10293-676: The justice system and the culture. After the death of Martin, the media focus on the case was instrumental in developing a national debate about racial profiling and self-defense laws , with marches and rallies held across the United States. One of the larger rallies, the "Million Hoodie March", was held in Manhattan's Union Square in New York City on March 21. People wore hoodies to symbolize their support for Martin and against profiling used against non-white youths in hoodies. According to Salon , close to five thousand people attended
10434-419: The kids in the neighborhood. On the night of the shooting, Tracy was out to dinner with his fiancée, Brandy Green, while Tracy's and Green's sons stayed at home, watching TV and playing video games. Trayvon went out, walking to a local 7-Eleven store where he bought Skittles candy and an Arizona watermelon drink. As Martin was returning from the store to the Twin Lakes neighborhood, George Zimmerman ,
10575-584: The kinds of altercations and confrontations and tragedies that we saw in the Florida case, rather than defuse potential altercations." He stated that "The African-American community is also knowledgeable that there is a history of racial disparities in the application of our criminal laws, everything from the death penalty to enforcement of our drug laws". It was during these remarks when President Obama said, "Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago." On July 19, 2014, Crenshaw High School in Los Angeles
10716-478: The lead investigator of the case, Christopher Serino, was transferred from the Sanford Police Department's investigative unit and reassigned to the patrol division at his own request. Serino said he felt pressured by several of his fellow police officers to press charges against Zimmerman, although he believed there was not enough evidence to do so. One of the officers pressuring him was a friend of Martin's father. In September 2012, Orlando TV station WFTV released
10857-470: The levels to be 1.5 nanograms /ml of THC and 7.3 nanograms/ml of THC-COOH , the main secondary metabolite of THC which stays in the system for weeks after cannabis has been smoked. Larry Kobilinsky, a professor of forensic science , stated that the THC amount was so low that it may have been ingested days earlier and played no role in Martin's behavior. While under oath, the medical examiner who performed
10998-514: The listing or any of the publicity related to it. Zimmerman reposted the firearm on another site, United Gun Group. Within minutes, the site went down because of the intense traffic prompted by the listing. As bidding proceeded, purported bidders began using fake names such as " Donald Trump " and " Tamir Rice " to place large bids on the weapon, which were interpreted as a joke. Martin Shkreli expressed genuine interest so that he could either destroy
11139-430: The manager "I didn't know you were a nigger lover." It was reported that Zimmerman's friends had also used racist slurs against other patrons. Zimmerman also claimed that Floyd L. Narcisse, a 38-year old black pastor, had hit him on the shoulder twice, although surveillance video and witness reports showed Narcisse tapping his shoulder in an attempt to speak with Zimmerman. The deputy then tried to get Zimmerman to fill out
11280-442: The media coverage surrounding Martin's death became the first story of 2012 to be featured more than the presidential race , which was underway at the time. A national debate about racial profiling and stand-your-ground laws ensued. The governor of Florida appointed a task force to examine the state's self-defense laws. Martin's life was scrutinized by the media and bloggers. The name Trayvon was tweeted more than two million times in
11421-481: The meeting, Zimmerman claimed he witnessed "disgusting behavior" while participating in a ride-along program with local police; however, the police department said later that it did not know when, if ever, Zimmerman was in that program. On February 26, 2012, Zimmerman fatally shot 17-year-old African-American high school student Trayvon Martin in The Retreat at Twin Lakes community in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman
11562-506: The mornings at the high school and then went to George T. Baker Aviation School for the rest of his school day. Martin's ninth-grade teacher, who taught him three classes of Aerospace Technology at Baker Aviation School, said he was a normal student, well-behaved, who passed all his classes. According to another teacher at Carol City, math was his favorite subject, and she said she never saw Martin show disrespect. Some students at Carol City compared Martin's death to that of Emmett Till , one of
11703-503: The nation is dealing: the deaths of young black men, the Confederate battle flag and discrimination against American Muslims." Andrew Russeth of the New York Observer appraised Zimmerman's work as likened to paint by number . Jason Edward, a contributing editor at Art+Auction , referred to the paintings as "very primitive, the sort of thing an art critic wouldn't look at twice." Christian Viveros-Fauné , an art critic for
11844-437: The nation's most infamous civil rights cases. Martin's mother had him transferred to Dr. Michael M. Krop High School, which has approximately 2,700 students, for his junior year. Fulton said that her son had an average performance in school, and she transferred him because she thought Krop High School was better and she wanted a different environment for him. While a student at Krop High School, Martin had behavioral issues. At
11985-493: The number of signatures reached 10,000, he transferred the petition to Martin's parents after Change.org contacted him. Cunningham was the media coordinator for KinderUSA and said he fell in love with social media during the Egyptian revolution and was inspired by the death of Khaled Said . He thought Martin's death could be a similar situation where the death of one person could trigger a reevaluation of society and revolutionize
12126-630: The parents did not know about the jewelry or screwdriver. Martin was not charged with any crime related to these suspensions and did not have a juvenile record. Martin, known on Twitter by the nickname "Slimm", posted thousands of tweets over a period of months, according to the Miami Herald . Martin tweeted his last message two days before he was shot in February 2012. According to the Herald , Martin's digital footprint portrayed him as having
12267-466: The picture on the news, and that she never saw him in public with them on. Another friend from Twitter who had known him since middle school said he was funny and liked to joke around and make people laugh. A professor of media law at the University of Florida , Lyrissa Lidsky, said Martin's social media posts should be taken with a grain of salt because they do not necessarily reflect what a teenager
12408-482: The police station at 7:52 p.m., according to a police video. He was interviewed by Investigator Doris Singleton and by Detective Chris Serino. Crime Scene Tech D. Smith photographed his injuries and hands and collected gunshot residue. Zimmerman's weapon was placed into evidence. His clothes were also taken as evidence after his wife arrived with a change of clothes. During the interview, detectives falsely told Zimmerman that surveillance camera footage had captured
12549-422: The program, he spent the next summer as a volunteer, helping out new students in the aviation program. According to his parents, Martin had hoped to attend the University of Miami or Florida A&M University . When Martin started high school, his goal of playing professional football was put aside in favor of a career working with airplanes. While in his freshman year at Carol City, Martin attended classes in
12690-466: The public relations services of The TASC Group to manage media attention around Martin's death and Zimmerman's subsequent trial. In an interview with New York Times columnist Charles Blow in June, Martin's mother was asked about the texts recovered from her son's cell phone, which "appeared to show a boy who used marijuana, was involved in fights and had a handgun". She said that she was skeptical about
12831-527: The quote that he added to the painting: "I have this much respect for the American judicial system." The controversy was similar to that arising from the use of an AP photo by Shepard Fairey in his composition of the Barack Obama "Hope" poster . Led by attorney John Michael Phillips , the cease and desist halted the sale of this and other paintings by Zimmerman. In August 2015, Zimmerman began selling
12972-482: The rain and said, "This guy looks like he is up to no good or he is on drugs or something." Zimmerman reported that the person had his hand in his waistband and was walking around looking at homes. He also mentioned that Martin was wearing a "dark hoodie, like a grey hoodie." On the recording, Zimmerman is heard saying, "these assholes, they always get away." About two minutes into the call, Zimmerman said, "he's running". The dispatcher asked, "He's running? Which way
13113-545: The role that social media played immediately following Martin's death set a precedent. Crump said that social media had given people who normally would not have a voice in matters like this a chance to engage in the case. O'Mara said the misinformation that was tweeted following Martin's death "caused a firestorm that wasn't a full picture". Tracy Martin said he took his son to Sanford "to disconnect and get his priorities straight". Martin had been to Twin Lakes several times before with his father and sometimes played football with
13254-484: The school. According to the officer, he later observed Martin marking up a door with "W.T.F." ("what the fuck?"). When his backpack was searched the next day by a Miami-Dade School Police officer, looking for the graffiti marker, the officer found a dozen pieces of women's jewelry, a watch, and a screwdriver that was described by the school police officer as a burglary tool. The jewelry found in his backpack included silver wedding bands and earrings with diamonds. When Martin
13395-559: The seriousness it deserves." Mitt Romney , the Republican presidential candidate at the time, said that a full inquiry was needed so that "justice could be carried out with impartiality and integrity". The Project for Excellence in Journalism reported in March that media coverage of the Martin case had become the first news story in 2012 to be reported on more than the presidential race . In June, Martin's parents and members of
13536-409: The shooting of Martin occurred. Prior to Lee becoming chief, the department had been accused of protecting relatives of police officers involved in violent incidents with black people. Trayvon Martin's case resulted in increased distrust between the police and Sanford's black community. On March 22, Chief Lee temporarily stepped down from his position because of public criticism over his handling of
13677-419: The shooting, Zimmerman performed a videotaped reenactment of the incident for police. Some observers, such as University of Florida law professor and defense attorney Michelle Jacobs and Columbia University law professor Patricia Williams, said that the police failed to fully investigate the shooting when they did not test Zimmerman for drugs or alcohol intoxication. However, Miami, Florida police experts told
13818-413: The shooting, Zimmerman was employed as an insurance fraud investigator. He had been working toward an associate degree in criminal justice at Seminole State College . In one of his interviews with the police, he said his goal was to become a judge. At the time of his arrest on April 11, 2012, Zimmerman's height was reportedly 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m) and his weight 185 lb (84 kg) , according to
13959-462: The shooting, the name Trayvon was tweeted more than two million times. On March 8, Kevin Cunningham, a social media coordinator who had read about Martin's death, created a petition on Change.org , which became the largest in the website's history a few weeks later with 2.2 million signatures. Cunningham said he started the online petition demanding that authorities prosecute Zimmerman, and when
14100-566: The statute, saying Florida residents had a right to defend themselves with deadly force without a duty to retreat if they feel threatened. Stand-your-ground laws were not used as a legal defense in the trial of George Zimmerman and had no legal role in his eventual acquittal. In March 2012, Martin's parents created the Trayvon Martin Foundation, which is dedicated to helping families that have lost children to gun violence. Martin's parents and their legal team enlisted
14241-440: The street. Following break-ins in the neighborhood in 2011, Zimmerman's calls to police increasingly focused on reporting people he suspected of criminal activity. During the months leading up to the February 26, 2012, shooting, Zimmerman called the police several times to report people he believed to be suspicious. On each of the calls, Zimmerman offered information about the race of the suspects only when specifically asked by
14382-447: The survey, Zimmerman received 2% of support among Alaskans. Killing of Trayvon Martin On the evening of February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida , United States, George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin , a 17-year-old African-American, who was visiting his father. Zimmerman, a 28-year-old multiracial man who identifies as Hispanic, was a neighborhood watch coordinator for
14523-408: The symbols that represent my experiences. My art work allows me to reflect, providing a therapeutic outlet, and allows me to remain indoors :-) I hope you enjoy owning this piece as much as I enjoyed creating it. Your friend, George Zimmerman. It was later reported that the American flag painting was copied without attribution from a stock image taken from Shutterstock . In January 2014,
14664-515: The testimony. She claimed that police pressured him into choosing the color that the man was wearing and that her son could not see any details in the dark. She also stated that police waited five days before requesting to question her son and said that the lead homicide investigator told her that he did not believe the shooting was self-defense. Trayvon Martin Trayvon Benjamin Martin (February 5, 1995 – February 26, 2012)
14805-495: The time of his death. Physicians who reviewed the official autopsy report for the Orlando Sentinel stated in their opinion that Martin lived from 20 seconds to several minutes after he was shot, and that Martin likely remained conscious "for a little time, anyway". The autopsy report stated that Martin had trace levels of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana , in his blood and urine. The toxicology report found
14946-561: The time of the shooting, Fulton was a program coordinator for the Miami Dade Housing Authority, and Tracy Martin was a truck driver; they lived near each other in Miami Gardens. Martin's older maternal half-brother, Jahavaris Fulton, was a college student at the time (who would later testify in the Zimmerman trial). After being divorced, Martin's father married Alicia Stanley, who had two daughters from
15087-557: The time of the shooting, Martin was a junior at Krop High School. Martin's cousin Stephen Martin, who had been in a park telling jokes with Trayvon the night before his death, said that he and Trayvon had been like brothers growing up. He recalled that Trayvon had been very skilled at assembling, repairing, and riding pocket bikes and dirt bikes . Miriam Martin, Trayvon's aunt and Stephen's mother, said her nephew had often stayed over to visit her family. She also said that Trayvon
15228-468: The time of the shooting, he was serving a ten-day suspension for having a marijuana pipe and an empty bag containing marijuana residue. He had been suspended twice before, for tardiness and truancy and marking up a door with graffiti. The suspension for graffiti was in October 2011, when Martin was observed by a school police officer on a security camera "hiding and being suspicious" in a restricted area of
15369-524: The trial, although his marijuana use could be. The defense did not present any of this information to the jury, and it was not entered into evidence. Friends of Martin, who had known him from Highland Oaks Middle School and Carol City High School and corresponded with him over Twitter, said Martin was not prone to violence. One friend said he was the "walk away" type of guy: "he'd rather walk away than fight." She also said that she had never seen Martin's purported grills and did not know he had them until she saw
15510-408: The trial. His weight was discussed by Fox News and similar media with speculation as to how it might affect the jury's perceptions. On July 17, 2013, four days after the trial verdict, Zimmerman and another man helped rescue a family of four from their vehicle after a single-car accident in Sanford. In 2013, Zimmerman's estranged wife called 911 to report that Zimmerman had assaulted her father and
15651-412: The truthfulness of those claims and did not know if they were real or not. She wanted the world to remember him "as just an average teenager, somebody that was struggling through life, but nevertheless had a life". Politicians, celebrities, musicians, civil rights leaders, and citizens all expressed their opinions on every form of media following the acquittal of Zimmerman. Four days after the acquittal,
15792-432: The way. Just let me know if this guy does anything else. Zimmerman: Okay. These assholes, they always get away. When you come to the clubhouse, you come straight in and make a left. Actually, you would go past the clubhouse. Dispatcher: So it's on the lefthand side from the clubhouse? Zimmerman: No, you go in straight through the entrance and then you make a left ... uh, you go straight in, don't turn, and make
15933-446: The weapon, Zimmerman said that he had chosen to sell it directly as a result of Clinton "stumping around for a false campaign for the Trayvon Martin Foundation" and accused her of lying about the events of the shooting. Though the auction was set to take place May 12, the weapon listing was removed before the auction was scheduled to begin. The original auction site, GunBroker.com , released a statement stating that they wanted no part in
16074-425: The year following the trial, Zimmerman was both homeless and jobless. Robert Jr. said that, while he believed his brother's "state of mind" was better, Zimmerman was "a very traumatized person because he has had his liberty taken away from him". Between the shooting of Trayvon Martin and the trial, Zimmerman gained 100 to 125 pounds (45–57 kg) in about a 16-month period. He weighed over 300 pounds (136 kg) at
16215-536: Was "wrong for killing that little black boy". Zimmerman lost Apperson after the two stopped at a gas station and Zimmerman drove off. On May 11, 2015, Apperson shot at Zimmerman while the two were driving in separate cars on a street in Lake Mary. Zimmerman was grazed by glass and metal shards when the bullet broke through his passenger-side window and was stopped by the metal window frame, causing minor facial injuries from flying glass and debris. Zimmerman flagged down
16356-417: Was a 17-year-old African-American from Miami Gardens, Florida , who was fatally shot in Sanford, Florida , by George Zimmerman , a 28-year-old Hispanic American. Martin had accompanied his father to visit his father's fiancée at her townhouse at The Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford. On the evening of February 26, Martin was walking back to the fiancée's house from a nearby convenience store. Zimmerman,
16497-403: Was a shy child and always walked with his hoodie and headphones on listening to music. Martin attended both Norland Middle School and Highland Oaks Middle School in north Miami-Dade County, Florida . He attended Miami Carol City High School in Miami Gardens for his freshman and sophomore years before he transferred to Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School in north Miami-Dade in 2011. At
16638-481: Was allowed to participate in a school graduation ceremony, although he was a course credit shy of his degree. He was completing that credit at the time of the shooting. Zimmerman was employed as an insurance underwriter. In early 2011, Zimmerman participated in a citizen forum at the Sanford City Hall to protest against the beating of a black homeless man by the son of a white Sanford police officer. During
16779-420: Was also represented by Natalie Jackson , an Orlando civil rights attorney. The Retreat at Twin Lakes is a 260-unit, gated, townhome community in Sanford, Florida. The population of the development at the time of the shooting was about 49% non-Hispanic white, 23% Hispanic (of any race), 20% black, and 5% Asian, according to Census figures. Both George Zimmerman and Tracy Martin's fiancée were renting homes in
16920-409: Was asked by the officer if the jewelry belonged to his family or a girlfriend, he said a friend had given it to him. When asked for the name of the friend, Martin declined to provide it. The school police impounded the jewelry and sent photographs of it to detectives at Miami-Dade to investigate it further. No evidence surfaced at that time that the jewelry was stolen. An attorney for Martin's family said
17061-445: Was born on October 5, 1983, in Manassas, Virginia . He is the third of four children, and his siblings include a brother, Robert Jr., and two sisters, Grace and Dawn. His mother, Gladys Cristina ( née Mesa) Zimmerman, was born in Peru . His maternal great-grandfather was of Afro-Peruvian descent. His father, Robert Zimmerman Sr., is a U.S. Army veteran with a military career of 22 years, first as an Army sergeant and then 10 years at
17202-467: Was called the "Walk for Dignity" and ended with a community forum being held and a dedication of the Trayvon Martin memorial at the Goldsboro Westside Historical Museum in Sanford. In Los Angeles, California , an area of a garden at Crenshaw High School was dedicated to Martin in celebration of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr. 's " I Have a Dream " speech. A march was also held at
17343-538: Was dismissed by a judge in February 2022, who found no evidence to support any of Zimmerman's claims. On February 18, 2020, Zimmerman filed a defamation lawsuit for $ 265 million against Pete Buttigieg and Elizabeth Warren . The suit was dismissed in February 2021, the judge said Zimmerman "failed to sufficiently allege an essential element of defamation." Zimmerman was satirized in the South Park episode " World War Zimmerman ", which premiered on Comedy Central in
17484-533: Was fond of wearing a hoodie: "it could be 100 degrees outside and he always had his hoodie on." Martin had wanted to fly or repair airplanes, and in mid-2009 enrolled in "Experience Aviation", a seven-week program in Opa-locka, Florida , run by award-winning aviator Barrington Irving . According to Irving, Martin was a polite youth "[who] reminded me of myself because I had a strong interest in football until I fell in love with aviation." After Martin graduated from
17625-536: Was just staring ... Dispatcher: Okay, he's just walking around the area ... Zimmerman: ... looking at all the houses. Dispatcher: Okay ... Zimmerman: Now he's just staring at me. Dispatcher: Okay. You said it's 1111 Retreat View? Or 111? Zimmerman: That's the clubhouse ... Dispatcher: That's the clubhouse. Do you know what the – he's near the clubhouse right now? Zimmerman: Yeah, now he's coming towards me. Dispatcher: Okay. Zimmerman: He's got his hand in his waistband. And he's
17766-426: Was killed by an injury resulting from a single gunshot to the chest, fired at "intermediate range" between 1 and 18 inches (2.5 and 45.7 centimetres), according to a forensic expert. An FDLE analysis of Martin's body and clothes described the distance as "a contact shot". The autopsy also found that Martin had one small abrasion on his left ring finger below the knuckle. No other injuries were found on Martin's body at
17907-487: Was like in person. She said a person's online persona may not reflect a true image of who they are, especially with young people. University of Florida criminal law professor Kenneth Nunn said when he was concerned about a person's character, he would look at anything, including what Martin's behavioral traits have been or may have been over time. At a banquet for Associated Press Broadcasters in Florida, Benjamin Crump, and Mark O'Mara, Zimmerman's defense attorney, both said
18048-433: Was nine years old, he pulled his father, who had been immobilized by burns to the legs, out of a fire in their apartment, saving his life. Martin enjoyed sports video games . He washed cars, babysat, and cut grass to earn his own money. Martin had played football at the park since he was five years old and his team was coached in part by his father. Another of Martin's former football coaches said Martin had been one of
18189-499: Was not the shooter." On May 15, 2015, Apperson was jailed in Sanford, Florida with a bond of $ 35,000. While free on bond, Apperson was accused, convicted and jailed for disorderly conduct, which revoked his bond. Lake Mary PD "learned that Apperson has exhibited unusual behaviors in which he had recently been admitted to a mental institution. It appears that Apperson has a fixation on Zimmerman and has displayed some signs of paranoia, anxiety, and bipolar disorder." On September 22, 2015,
18330-469: Was only included in the capias in order for the prosecutor's office to continue with their own investigation. The capias states, "the encounter between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin was ultimately avoidable by Zimmerman, if Zimmerman had remained in his vehicle and waited the arrival of law enforcement or conversely if he had identified himself to Martin as a concerned citizen and initiated dialog in an effort to dispel each party's concern.... There
18471-449: Was opening investigations into the incident. The FBI opened a parallel investigation into whether Martin's civil rights were violated, interviewed witnesses, and looked into Zimmerman's background. On July 12, 2012, reports of some of the more than 30 interviews conducted by the FBI were released by Special Prosecutor Angela Corey to Zimmerman's attorney, who released them to the public. The released reports do not draw any conclusions in
18612-591: Was reviewed by the Department of Justice for potential civil rights violations, but no additional charges were filed. Trayvon Benjamin Martin was the son of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, who were divorced in 1999. He was a junior at Dr. Michael M. Krop High School and lived with his mother and older brother in Miami Gardens , Florida. On the day he was fatally shot, he and his father were visiting his father's fiancée and her son at her town home in Sanford, Florida. She lived in The Retreat at Twin Lakes ,
18753-451: Was reviewing surveillance footage with the manager when Zimmerman began yelling at a waitress. According to the manager, this was one of several incidents started by Zimmerman, and that he wanted him removed for trespassing. The female employee told the police that she had attempted to collect the group's bill, before Zimmerman snatched the credit card from her hand and began yelling at her. The deputies stated that before Zimmerman left, he told
18894-507: Was scheduled to hold a "peace walk and peace talk" hosted by Martin's parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin. On May 13, 2017, Martin posthumously received a bachelor's degree in aeronautical science from Florida Memorial University "in honor of the steps he took during his young life toward becoming a pilot". Martin's parents accepted the award for their son. In January 2017, Martin's parents (under Penguin Random House ) published
19035-436: Was subsequently taken into custody, treated for head injuries, and questioned for five hours. The police chief said that Zimmerman was released because there was no evidence to refute Zimmerman's claim of having acted in self-defense. Under Florida's stand-your-ground statute, the police were prohibited by law from making an arrest. The police chief said that Zimmerman had a right to defend himself with lethal force. As news of
19176-404: Was suspended by its administration, according to their policy against posting another person's private and confidential information, including e-mail addresses, phone numbers and familiar photos. Zimmerman's tweet included a statement against Muslims. On May 11, 2016, Zimmerman posted what was planned to be the auction of the firearm he used to shoot Martin. The post, in which Zimmerman wrote that
19317-638: Was the neighborhood watch coordinator in his gated community; Martin was temporarily staying there at the time. The Twin Lakes Neighborhood Watch program was not registered with the National Neighborhood Watch Program , but was administered by the local police department. Following an earlier call from Zimmerman, police arrived within two minutes of a gunshot during an altercation in which Zimmerman fatally shot Martin, who did not possess any weapons. Zimmerman
19458-419: Was threatening her with a gun. Zimmerman was not charged over the incident. In November of that same year, Zimmerman was charged with felony aggravated assault after he allegedly pointed a shotgun at his girlfriend during a domestic violence incident. The case was later dropped. In January 2015, Zimmerman was again charged with domestic assault after allegedly throwing a wine bottle at a different girlfriend. Again
19599-544: Was wet and covered with grass, and he was bleeding from the nose and the back of his head. Ricardo Ayala, the second officer to arrive that night, noticed Officer Smith had Zimmerman in custody, then observed Martin lying face down in the grass and attempted to get a response from him. At this time, Sgt. Anthony Raimondo arrived and together with Ayala began CPR . Paramedics from Sanford Fire and Rescue arrived and continued CPR, finally declaring Martin dead at 7:30 p.m. Other officers who had arrived by this time secured
19740-478: Was widely circulated, while pictures from his account of Martin with a birthday cake, fishing with his father, and dressed in a prom suit were not. The website Gawker obtained a screenshot of Martin's email account inbox before it was deleted, showing emails referring to SAT exams and scholarship opportunities. During Zimmerman's trial, the judge granted defense lawyers access to Martin's cell phone, social media posts, and Facebook and Twitter accounts, saying that
19881-497: Was yelling for someone to help me, but no one would help me." Zimmerman was then transported to the Sanford Police Department where he was questioned by investigators for approximately five hours. The police determined that Zimmerman yelled for help at least 14 times in a 38-second span. The question of who was calling for help has been disputed since then by others and remains inconclusive (see § Background yells for help in 9-1-1 calls below) . Zimmerman arrived at
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