walking while black - Trayvon Martin

[Lady Cop]

Are 911 operators police? I thought they weren't.

no, but dispatch was speaking for the officers who were en route.

[username]

Are 911 operators police? I thought they weren't.

no, but dispatch was speaking for the officers who were en route.

Check. I was just curious. Regardless, he should have followed the instructions. This situation is really pissing me off. I saw a clip of the mom on t.v. this morning; I felt so bad for her.

[Lady Cop]

DOJ/Feds are in, this is good.

Sanford, Florida (CNN) -- Federal prosecutors and the FBI have opened an investigation into the killing of an unarmed teen by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Florida.

The death drew protesters Monday to the courthouse in Seminole County, north of Orlando, to demand justice for Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old who was shot and killed last month while walking back to his father's fiancee's house in Sanford.

The African-American teen's parents said Monday that they believed race was a factor in their son's death, and the Congressional Black Caucus had called for a federal investigation, saying local police have shown "blatant disregard for justice."

Late Monday, the Justice Department said it would dispatch officials to Sanford to investigate and "to address tension in the community."

"The department will conduct a thorough and independent review of all of the evidence and take appropriate action at the conclusion of the investigation," Justice Department spokeswoman Xochitl Hinojosa said in a written statement. "The department also is providing assistance to and cooperating with the state officials in their investigation into the incident."

[SIXFOOTERsez]

Maybe they will call this a Hate Crime, if the DOJ chick can speak english

[Lady Cop]

A grand jury will also help investigate the death of the unarmed African-American teenager by Zimmerman, who is Latino.


Sanford, Florida (CNN) -- A girl who overheard part of an incident involving Florida teenager Trayvon Martin can help prove he was killed "in cold blood," an attorney for Martin's family said Tuesday.

The girl, who was dating the 17-year-old, "completely blows (George) Zimmerman's absurd self-defense claim out of the water," Benjamin Crump said at a news conference.

He said the girl -- who does not wish to be identified -- "connects the dots" to describe what happened that day.

Martin was shot and killed while walking to his father's fiancee's house in Sanford after a trip to a nearby convenience store February 26.

Although she did not hear the shooting, minutes earlier Martin told her someone was following him, and that he was trying to get away, Crump said.

The girl heard someone ask Martin what he was doing, and heard Martin ask why the person was following him, Crump said. The girl then got the impression that there was an altercation in which the earpiece fell out of Martin's ear and the phone went out, Crump said.

The girl believed that someone had pushed Martin based on what she she heard and the fact that his voice changed.

The girl provided a recording to Crump which he will share with authorities, he said.

However, Crump said the Martin family does not trust the Sanford Police Department to investigate because of "the previous lies that they feel they've been told" by the department.

[Middle Finger]

I heard on the news there wasn't enough evidence to arrest him. I don't quite understand that, really ...

because he is claiming self-defense, and it's hard to prove otherwise.
what might hang him is that he was carrying and was not supposed to be in that neighborhood watch capacity. HE HAD NO POLICE POWERS.

That ticks me off ... I would think that since we have an unarmed citizen doing nothing wrong, and the shooter approaching and confronting, that he would be deemed reckless and irresponsible in regard to firearm use.

[Middle Finger]

I heard on the news there wasn't enough evidence to arrest him. I don't quite understand that, really ...

because he is claiming self-defense, and it's hard to prove otherwise.
what might hang him is that he was carrying and was not supposed to be in that neighborhood watch capacity. HE HAD NO POLICE POWERS.

But, if he eludes arrest, this tells me that:

You can shoot/kill an unarmed person and simply claim self-defense.

Oh, and make sure there aren't any witnesses.

Just your word versus the dead guys word.

I just caught on TV that since FL extended the castle/home self defense law to extend to you anywhere, if there aren't witnesses, it is very difficult to prove it wasn't in self-defense ... and that is why many of these cases are not even prosecuted and if they are, see acquittals.

[Middle Finger]

zimmerman is a cop wannabe. but a real cop would have made every effort not to use deadly force. there is a use of force continuum that every cops knows, and you only use what is necessary. he probably could have held the kid down until the real police arrived. although it seems there was a scuffle between them. still, there are other ways to overcome a suspect. and wait for the real police! dispatch TOLD HIM TO STAND DOWN AND WAIT! the guy was so anxious to be a hero.

Exactly ... you have to ask, was his only choice in that matter to shoot? I can't believe anyone actually thinks the answer is "yes."

[Lady Cop]

what is a problem here is the 2005 stand your ground law in fla. i was still working down there at the time. we all predicted the wild west and blood in the streets, but this may test the damn law. it didn't cause the mayhem i expected.

thing is, the law is not applicable here although some defense guy may cite it. he was CHASING the kid with makes it something much different.

discussion here:

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/20/us/florida...?hpt=hp_c1

[Middle Finger]

I see there was a phone conversation with the girl ... that looks even worse for the shooter! Even if he was in line when pursuing ... he couldn't have at least drawn his weapon and said "freeze!" or whatever? He had to fight and shoot?

[Mommabear]

I was living in Sunrise, FL when the stand your ground law went into effect. I like the law. I don’t understand how anybody should be expected to retreat when you are being threatened. I think you should have the right to use whatever force is necessary to keep yourself and your family safe, whether that is to retreat, avoid, or shoot. I personally can’t see me retreating if I have my 3 kids with me. I mean, you can only get a 2 year old to move so fast. Too bad NC doesn’t have the same law. Of course, nothing beats being aware of your surroundings so that you avoid most issues.

With that said, I do think that law is slowing down the legal process in this case. Well that and the fact that the kid can't tell us his side. If the kid was still alive, the want-a-be cop would be charged already. However, I also believe that the law will turn out not to apply to this particular case in the end. You cannot pursue someone and call it self-defense. Just my opinion.

[pspence]

There is no gray area here. The guy (shooter) was an absolute idiot. Must have had Barney Fife/small penis syndrome to be a hot shot. Should have been arrested immediately....with that being said....why bring the FBI in to investigate on something so clear cut...shouldn't they be using their time more wisely than this and let the local police handle this one?

[Lady Cop]

FBI/DOJ because a hate crime is alleged. or violation of the boy's civil rights. which comes under federal statutes.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

Wonder why they aren't making much of a deal about the shooters record for BOL?

[Lady Cop]

Wonder why they aren't making much of a deal about the shooters record for BOL?

because it was dismissed i think. he was not convicted.

Zimmerman was arrested in Orange County in 2005 for resisting arrest and battery of a police officer. The case was dismissed because no evidence could be found. Zimmerman attended a pre-trial diversion program and a deal was made with his attorney to get the case dropped.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

uh huh

[Lady Cop]

REPORT...not shoot!!

i also think fla. may have shot themselves in the foot on this one because of stand your ground.
they're going to have to get zimmerman on Fed. charges.

[Duchess]

I don't know the law but there seems to be a real discrepancy with stand your ground to chasing that kid down. I'm having trouble with that.

[Lady Cop]

that's true. if they can show he chased the kid down that will go a long way towards a charge.

[SIXFOOTERsez]

There are a lot of misinterpresentations of the Stand Your Ground claus. It is Not intended for use as a defense when you are the original aggressor and find yourself getting your ass kicked.