The Killing of Treyvon Martin

**HOOKS** · 03-19-2012, 04:28 AM

I am certain many of you have heard of this case; if not, here's a quick summary:

Treyvon Martin, a 17 year-old black kid, was walking to his father's fiancé's house from the local 7/11 to get his brother Skittles.

George Zimmerman (above picture from a prior 2005 arrest), a 28 year-old white (and according to his family, part-Hispanic) man, called the police when he saw Treyvon, saying he looked suspicious.

When Treyvon saw Zimmerman and ran away, Zimmerman gave chase, against the orders of the police dispatcher. A few minutes later, Treyvon was shot dead by Zimmerman. Zimmerman has not been arrested or charged.

9-1-1 calls and an article on the case: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/0...dade-teen.html

Zimmerman claims self-defense. The family believes it is a case of racial profiling. I am curious to see what your thoughts are on the matter.

**Prime** · 03-19-2012, 04:34 AM

I heard about this this morning and heard the 911 call from the neighbour, where the shot is fired after a few minutes of someone screaming for help.

Why would the guy screaming for hlep be the guy with the gun?

seems dodgy to me.

**Foolish Mortal** · 03-19-2012, 04:50 AM

In these neighborhood watch programs, one of the first things police instruct members is do not under any circumstances confront any suspicious persons.

Even after the 911 operator specifically told Zimmerman him to back off from following Martin, he did so anyway. It seems pretty clear that Zimmerman was looking for trouble.

**Ray G.** · 03-19-2012, 04:53 AM

Awful. I can't see any reason why Zimmerman (who is apparently hispanic, not that it should matter) shouldn't be charged with at least manslaughter, probably murder.

**dasNdanger** · 03-19-2012, 04:58 AM

Racial profiling, pure and simple. Zimmerman: "These assholes. they always get away."

The only information Zimmerman had at his disposal was visual information. So tell me, was he referring to teenage boys in general as 'these assholes'? Or people just walking down the street as 'these assholes'? Or...what? He made a rush to judgment, but why? Because he presumed that this kid was up to no good based solely on his appearance, the obvious part of it being the color of his skin.

Zimmerman is the only asshole here, and a murdering one, as well.

das

**Foolish Mortal** · 03-19-2012, 05:04 AM

And some people are going to ask: "Well why did Martin run away?"

If I'm walking along at night, minding my business and see some dude in an unmarked car following me, then getting out of the car WITH A GUN, I'm running.

**Pidge** · 03-19-2012, 05:07 AM

Originally Posted by Foolish Mortal

In these neighborhood watch programs, one of the first things police instruct members is do not under any circumstances confront any suspicious persons.

Even after the 911 operator specifically told Zimmerman him to back off from following Martin, he did so anyway. It seems pretty clear that Zimmerman was looking for trouble.

I agree, it seems he was just looking for an excuse to go after someone. Like Das says below the comment "These assholes. They always get away" should be pretty damning evidence towards the fact that he was just looking for trouble.

Originally Posted by dasNdanger

Racial profiling, pure and simple. Zimmerman: "These assholes. they always get away."

That was what sealed it for me on the 911 call. Also, it's disgusting that he just assumed he was on drugs or something because he was walking in the rain looking around with a hoodie on. This guy should be charged. Absolutely.

It's heartbreaking hearing him cry for help in the 911 call.

**dasNdanger** · 03-19-2012, 05:09 AM

Originally Posted by Prime

I heard about this this morning and heard the 911 call from the neighbour, where the shot is fired after a few minutes of someone screaming for help.

Why would the guy screaming for hlep be the guy with the gun?

seems dodgy to me.

As I understand it, he went against police instruction and confronted the kid (perhaps tried to restrain him, but I'm not sure about that), and the kid fought back, thus the self-defense. But since Zimmerman aggravated the situation, then why is no one saying that Treyvon acted in self-defense, as well? It's totally screwed up. I will give the cops (for now) the benefit of the doubt that, perhaps, they don't want to make an arrest until they have hard, convictible evidence. This is going to be a he said/he said case, but the problem is one of the 'hes' is dead.

Just a horrible thing.

das

**Foolish Mortal** · 03-19-2012, 05:14 AM

Zimmerman will be charged once the investigation finishes. Mainly because there is nothing to indicate that Martin was doing anything wrong for Zimmerman to have reason to confront him.

**HOOKS** · 03-19-2012, 05:17 AM

Originally Posted by dasNdanger

As I understand it, he went against police instruction and confronted the kid (perhaps tried to restrain him, but I'm not sure about that), and the kid fought back, thus the self-defense. But since Zimmerman aggravated the situation, then why is no one saying that Treyvon acted in self-defense, as well? It's totally screwed up. I will give the cops (for now) the benefit of the doubt that, perhaps, they don't want to make an arrest until they have hard, convictible evidence. This is going to be a he said/he said case, but the problem is one of the 'hes' is dead.

Just a horrible thing.

das

If Treyvon shot Zimmerman, he would have been detained on the spot.