George Zimmerman: Prelude to a shooting

Take it off the streets: Let the court decide on the basis of testimony and forensic evidence.

Take it off the streets: Let the court decide on the basis of testimony and forensic evidence.

WE ARE ALL GEORGE ZIMMERMAN.

Thank God for a sane account of the life of George.

Uh, oh Reuters is about to be shunned by their colleagues, and especially the “race” industry.

Why would you want to ruin a perfectly good political trial, and lynching! Sharpton, Jackson, Obama, Holder, and the “new” Black Panthers won’t like this article one bit.

Besides, those black roots probably weren’t “real” black roots, because those were probably conservative blacks!

Probably one of the most well written stories about the situation

So let me get this straight.. He is a black Hispanic now?

THANK YOU! Finally, something about Zimmerman. I would be glad to have someone like that living in my neighborhood.

Great story, but honestly what’s the point? It reminds me of that old Italian movie “the bicycle thief.” The main character of the movie is the victim of a crime and his frustration with that crime turns him into a criminal himself. Zimmerman, frustrated by repeated petty crimes against him and his neighbors was transformed into a murderer. Sad story indeed.

This article is very comprehensive, except for the part where the media tried and convicted him already. So in other words, this article is about two months too late. Thanks for nothing, media.

OK, so he is part black, part hispanic and jewish, but black racists call him “white”, and really didn’t know the facts because of media bias. Meanwhile last weekend 9 dead and 15 wounded in Chicago. Why is the left stirring up racial hatred when most blacks and whites are killed by their own? The Obama team are dividers by race, income, gender and whatever will make misery out of daily affairs. Just give them more power and money and they will heal all and lower the seas. Enough. Out damned spot.

This Zimmerman surely doesn’t sound like the monster being portrayed by Sharpton, Jackson, and the MSM. I wonder if his black roots will make any difference to those determined to try him in the court of public opinion and use him as an excuse for retribution and violence. I doubt it will. They aren’t interested in truth. They are interested in revenge.

He is still racist, he should be tried in a kangaroo court and should have to lick the sweat off of sharpton’s man boobs as punishment.

Excellent article Chris Francescani!

Good article as SCOTUS debates the Arizona immigration law. When one level of government fails to do its job, others must step in and do it for them.

Zimmerman was not a bigot or racist. He’s a neighborhood watch patrol pretending to play cop. His biggest mistake was not heeding the advice from the 911 Dispatcher to lay-off and not follow.

The result from not listening: he got beaten up by a teenage thug. Zimmerman defended himself, but he could have let the real cop do the job instead of him putting himself in harms way.

NO paulc…we are NOT ALL murderers!

Wow. Real reporting. Wonderful job telling facts you worked carefully to get. Great research.

Thank you for your efforts.

KrisCraig: Huh? What history of violence? One incident involved him protecting a friend who was being arrested by a police officer. There were no charges in the other case.

Why are you ignoring the fact that there’s some criminal history of Martin’s that includes three suspensions from school (which include police reports on at least two of the suspensions) for drugs and vandalism. He was caught with a burglary tool and a cache of women’s jewelry that he said belonged to a friend, only he couldn’t tell the police who the “friend was.”

Sorry the fact is that Martin turned violent toward Zimmerman first. That is all that matters. Your arguments are tired and old and don’t wash.

Whites need to lock and load just in case Zimmerman gets a fair trial. Get your CHL today!

What a hit piece on Zimmerman by the Left. Biased reporting anyone?

Posters calling Zimmerman a murder are dishonest mental midgets.

This is real journalism. I feel sorry for them both. This is a warning to us all about what anger can do.

The word “proportionality” also comes to mind… Guns are for defending yourself or your family when there is imminent personal danger. It takes a very level-headed character to use them only in that way.

KrisCraig, what are you talking about? “A history of violence…” was what you got out of the story? So none of the charity work, looking out for his neighbors, trying to protect other homeowners – none of that hit you? If you read a similar story about Trayvon Martin you’d probably overlook anything bad and say that what you took from that story was that he was an angel who was a victim of circumstances when he was suspended, etc. Why the hell can’t we just wait to see what is decided in court? Your prejudice is more real than the imagined prejudice you swear you know exists in Zimmerman.

I thought he was already made guilty by the liberal press, why bother to have a trial? So he’s black and racist! Interesting mix.

I experience a little schadenfreude as I see the narrative of the left blowing up in their faces.

Oops–he’s not white. He’s Hispanic. Wait–actually he’s Black, too. Double oops. Then there are the rest of the details–their latest villain is actually just like a lot of their more normal constituents. . . .Do you hear the crickets chirping as their base gets confused and steps back from their rage? I am hoping. . . listening. . . hoping. . .Let’s see if there is some sanity and maybe a little honest shame in these loudmouth race baiters. . .waiting. . .

Actually, ones past and the events leading up to the actual shooting are highly critical in determining the culpability of someone when it comes to murder. A murder charge requires the intent to kill or a reckless disregard for human life. Therefore ones past plays an important role in determining what his intention was at the time.

The information presented doesn’t necessarily help nor hurt his case. The past robberies can just as easily be used to convict him as they can be used as a defense. As for the domestic abuse charge, well seeing as how restraining orders where issued for both it is pretty much a he said she said situation which I believe should not be given much weight.

And if people are claiming that he did it of prejudice then it is important to know the way in which he was raised and whether he possessed and inherent hatred for a particular race.

By the way, he is not a murder until he is convicted. This country was founded upon the belief that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and people seem to forget that all to easily. Until all the facts come out in a court of law everyone here is making an uninformed opinion. I really thought that after the Duke LAX case people and the media might stop jumping to conclusions, but that apparently is not the case. All I can say is I hope that you are never one day convicted of a crime and your whole world turned upside down because people assume you are guilty (this is by no means a statement on whether or not I believe Zimmerman is guilty, merely a conclusory statement).

jkun

Send this to everyone in your address book.

This is not necessarily good news for Zimmerman for black on black murder is the highest. Now that this article has proved Zimmerman of having black ancestry he will be more likely targeted by the black community.

Doesn’t matter if you like Zimmerman or not, if he followed Trayvon on not… as soon as Zimmerman lost contact and started walking back to his truck the cause of the death fell on Trayvon. Trayvon could have stayed where he was or could have gone home or could have broken in and robbed someone… but he decided he was going to beat or kill Zimmerman. When he knocked him to the ground and began slamming his head in the sidewalk he gave Zimmerman cause to end his life in self defense.

The only victim in this whole mess is Zimmerman. The criminal, the wanna-be gang banger is gone and I wouldn’t bother to shed a tear for him, clearly his parents haven’t they just see it as a chance to make money by trademarking his name.

Once again the media provokes the masses and incites racial hate, dissension, and civil unrest by propagating lies and misinformation. How long until the media is held accountable for their carelessness and brought up on criminal charges for the people who are hurt and killed by their malice?

Let the justice system sort this out. Always 2 sides to a story. How come we did not hear this side when this first happened? Because the Lib media wanted to paint their own picture.

Once again the media provokes the masses and incites racial hate, dissension, and civil unrest by propagating lies and misinformation. How long until the media is held accountable for their carelessness and brought up on criminal charges for the people who are hurt and killed by their malice?

Excellent article, race pimps Jesse Jackson, Al [not-so] Sharpton & Co. definitely won’t like this

Good journalism. Thank you.

Justice will prevail!!!

Faced with the biased editorializing of American newspapers, American readers must visit European news sites to find objective news coverage. Nice, professional investigation on the part of Reuters.

This points to what I’ve been thinking all along. Race is not the issue. Playing cop, while not actually being a cop, is the issue. I am not comfortable with the idea of being harrassed by somebody (possibly somebody packing heat) who thinks they represent the law. I would be at least as suspicious of them as they were of me. Show me the badge and I’ll cooperate. No badge, different story.

I would be surprised if Trayvon wasn’t involved in some of the burglaries.

That was very informative,for once I can honestly say ,GREAT REPORTING!

Finally, a major media outlet has published an unbiased well-written, thoroughly-researched story with background information, detail,and facts. The details in the story about break-ins and attempted home invasions and bicycle thefts will be familiar to many aware readers living on the cusp of urban America. It is not surprising in the least that Zimmerman would have been suspicious of Trayvon Martin that tragic night. If George Zimmerman manages to beat the murder rap he has been unjustly charged with, he should immediately file lawsuits against any media outlet that doctored transcripts, phone calls, pictures-whatever, and then he should pursue those media frauds Sharpton, Jackson, Spike Lee, and every other individual with deep pockets who impugned his name and endangered his life with their spurious talk, and their racist, politically motivated rhetoric. Then justice will be served.

I suspect if the police were worth their salt, they could have found some evidence that Martin was indeed involved in some of the burglaries. I think Zimmerman is innocent. Thank goodness he was able to get to his weapon before the black hoodlum fractured his skull.

Thank you for this story.

Unfounded charges of racism from the usual professional race-baiters, and based on falsely edited audio clips (and stuff like Reuters falsely calling Zimmerman a “White Hispanic”), have taken a this story and turned it into an yet another excuse for chips to fall off of shoulders and mobs to do what mobs do.

Let’s hope the legal system does an honest job with this case. The blood on the back of Zimmerman’s head makes one wonder about the murder-2 charge. Looks like the AG cowered under the threat of Sharpton’s race-baiting mob.

This news report is well written, interesting, and dispassionate. It would seem to disprove the whole mainstream media “racist” meme. I wonder if ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, and NPR will run similar news reports of their own . . . I won’t hold my breath.

The article is appreciated by those of us who believe in fairness and truth. Those who commented that the article didn’t matter are just a bunch of ignorant racists who want to lynch Zimmerman even if Martin did attack him.

Of course Zman correctly profiled Martin because Martin fit the profile of the recent criminals. Martin was casing the homes (acting very suspicious) and if you’re male and wouldn’t have done what Zman did, you are no man, you are a coward. He should be celebrated as a man of courage!

Yes, I know, “Whites commit crimes, too”, but obviously not with the same proclivity as African-Americans. Those who disagree with that (Liberals & Racists) are dishonest as they know it’s true… everyone knows. It’s time we stop pretending.

lmao this has GOT to be the most poorly written “news” article of all time. Jesus Christ, did you just get finished reading one of Frank Miller’s Batman graphic novels? Hahahaha you actually wrote the words
“The last time Zimmerman had called police, to report Burgess, he followed protocol and waited for police to arrive. They were too late, and Burgess got away.

This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.”

Without any irony. How did you not get laughed out of the office and sent to the unemployment line? Wait, I just realized, you have terrible editors as well!

Bravo, Francescani for taking journalism to a new low.

this is a matter for the courts.

Al Sharpton should be charged with inciting to violence.
MSNBC and NBC should be sued by the zimmerman family for
their manipulation and intentionally fanning the flames of
racial division. both NBC and MSNBC shouted fire in a crowded
theater.

“This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.” IS THIS TRUE? I have not seen this verified anywhere, except by speculators ASSUMING he disregarded the 911 Dispatcher’s advice. The tape recording has him responding “OK” when told that “we don’t need you to do that” meaning pursue Martin.

So I guess this entire case is going to be based around race.

He is a hero in my book,he didn’t do anything i wouldn’t have done if I was attacked. He should be given a reward.

“This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.” IS THIS TRUE? I have not seen this verified anywhere, except by speculators ASSUMING he disregarded the 911 Dispatcher’s advice. The tape recording has him responding “OK” when told that “we don’t need you to do that” meaning pursuing Martin.

Isn’t it funny how when Zimmerman allegedly shoots Martin in self-defense the black community scream for Zimmerman’s head, yet when 20 (or more) black people attack Matthew Owens in his own home and leave him in a coma the black community are mostly silent, with some even saying Owens got what he deserved. SMH.

The point is this: Zimmerman has been tried and convicted in the court of public opinion throughout this country with the very public, very inappropriate intervention of Sharpton, Jackson and Obama’s obtuse comments. It will be very difficult for him to get a fair trial, one of his most fundamental Constitutional rights. Reuters, unlike most mainstream media, is attempting to provide a true and balanced portrait of this young man. It’s what journalists are SUPPOSED to do. Some of you have apparently forgotten that.

KrisCraig:

Please site his history of violence. Are you talking about the restraining orders that he and his ex girfriend had on eachother?

You clowns in the media had Zimmerman convicted from the get-go…just like the Duke lacrosse players and the Cambridge cop. Don’t you idiots get tired of cleaning egg off your faces? You guys even started calling Zimmerman a “white-Hispanic” to help support your profile. Why don’t you ever call Obama a “white-African-American? What a corrupt, pathetic bunch!

I am surprised at the depth the reporter went to in this article. I do fear for Mr. Zimmerman and his family, and don’t see a good ending to this tragedy, but it was gratifying to see a reporter really reporting. What is truly alarming is that once the President gave his attention to Trayvon Martin, in his younger photo, saying if he had a son, he would have looked like him…not repeating that with the wife beater, gold tooth photo…he should have come back to the subject and stressed that the black panthers and Al Sharpton needed to ratchet down their racist rhetoric, and let Justice prevail. He did not, and that is the reason I say I fear for Mr. Zimmerman. The reporter had guts in writing it, maybe it will defuse some of the race baiting Sharpton and the Panthers are hoping to cash in on.

So he is now a white-black-hispanic? In the first Reuters on the subject, he was called “White-hispantic” (whatever that means).
So come on Reuters, keep your categorization consistent!

It isn’t about someone turning into that which they despise, nor is it about “playing cop.” It is about taking responsibility, standing up for what you believe in and what is right, and doing the right thing even when others aren’t looking. There are simply too many details of Trayvon Martin’s life that are being left out of the media narrative or glossed over to give much credit to the idea that he was just another innocent black teen minding his own business. He comes from a broken home, his parents are divorced, he didn’t live in the neighborhood on any type of permanent basis, there is distrubing information on his Twitter and Facebook accounts which could have been used to build a better profile of who he was that are now hidden after they were removed. Finally, it was never about racial hatred, except where Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are concerned, then everything is hatred and everything is racial.

Someone needs to make the DOJ, Shaprton and Martins read this (read it too them if they are too lazy to read it themselves)… and that goes for the President too, seeing as trayvon and all the perps in this story look like his sons… if he had been man enough to have sons.

@KrisCraig…. um, what “history of violence…” are you talking about. A domestic dispute with what would probably amount to a crazy broad?

Someone needs to make the DOJ, Shaprton and Martins read this (read it too them if they are too lazy to read it themselves)… and that goes for the President too, seeing as trayvon and all the perps in this story look like his sons… if he had been man enough to have sons.

When will news writers start using the language properly? Zimmerman did not “pursue”, He “followed”. “Pursue” implies a purpose and intent to confront or capture. “Follow” implies nothing more than keeping and eye on the person being followed and observed. There is nothing in the public record that would support assigning to Zimmerman the motive or intent to confront or capture. The words “Follow” and Pursue” are not interchangable.

If Oblamer had a son, he would be just as stupid as the posters referring to Zimmerman as a ‘murderer’. That dog won’t hunt, because Oblamer ate it.

Bravo!

Going with the accepted measure of racial classification (if you have any black blood, then you are black) what we have here is just another case of black on black crime, correct?

KrisCraig – One could just as easily say – “I don’t care if he was 17 and played football and fished with his daddy. He had a history of involvement with drugs and was suspended from school for being in possession of both drugs and stolen goods. Along with his recent FaceBook and MySpace photos, paints the portrait of a thug wannabe that felt he was being dissed and was going to show this pinky a thing or two.”

I mean I fail to see how this terrible article excuses the fact that George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin. Trayvon was going home, he wasn’t committing the crime. Why are you turning Zimmerman into a fictional hero?

None of this has anything to do with the fact that TRAYVON MARTIN was killed by GEORGE ZIMMERMAN. I don’t care if he’s the Pope with black friends everywhere, Trayvon is still dead.

Finally some journalistic integrity. I thought it was a lost art. Much appreciated. As for people saying that this guy was “playing cop”…If there was a rash of break ins in my neighborhood and I spotted someone looking suspicious I would do the exact same thing. I am a CITIZEN and a HOMEOWNER and I do NOT need the police to enforce the law. Come on my property without permission and YOU will be the one hoping there is a police officer around because if the police don’t get you, my Mossberg will. The lesson to these thug wanna be tough guys is crystal clear…TREAD ON ME AT YOUR OWN PERIL.

On top of persecution, they now are insulting him.

CYA time for Reuters and the rest of the MSM.

@RynoM – I would agree with being suspicious of someone without a badge or even in some cases of someone with a badge. But, a person being followed or confronted with questions about their intentions, or even if something inappropriate was said, does not have the right to knock someone down and then proceed to bang their head into the side walk. At that point whether the person is armed (you don’t have to be armed to kill or cause great bodily harm by the way) or not and regardless of their age the person being attacked has the right to defend their self with deadly force if necessary. Whether it was a mistake to follow the boy and whether there was an argument or not does not matter. Zimmerman had just as much right to live as Trayvon did. Trayvon gave up that right when he turned the argument physical and forced Zimmerman to defend his own life by taking Trayvons.

Just wanted to address the folks saying that this story is pointless…

In most normal circumstances, you’d be right. All that should matter is the evidence at hand. But this isn’t a normal circumstance. The media, and by extension the public, want this thing to be held in a trial of public opinion.

If the Treyvon camp want’s to paint Treyvon as being a typical happy go lucky CHILD that had his life stolen away by a white…err I mean Hispanic monster with a history of violence….then I think the information the Reuters JOURNALISTS have uncovered is important.

All the other media outlets havn’t put his wrap sheet in context of WHY he has those charges on his name. SO he DIDNT attack a uniformed cop that tried to arrest him for some crime….he was standing up for his friend in a bar, who was being hassled by an undercover cop in a bar. Doesn’t fit the MONSTER MO

All the other media outlets haven’t dug farther than “there was a recent rash of reported break-ins” in his neighborhood. They didn’t inform the public that George has been intimately involved with a few near misses with criminals.

Most media outlets reported that George was a “self-appointed” community watch captian who had a CCL for kicks. Sounds like an ego maniac with a fire-arm right? Except that we now find out that he had other reasons for owning a fire-arm, and was asked by the community to be the capitan. MUCH different story.

This is 10x worse than the Duke Lacross case.

IF Zimmerman is found innocent, who will apologize for all the “get even for Treyvon” beatings & crimes committed?

Thank you for the well written article. It’s outrageous that a man this man is going through the political persecution he and his family have endured, without clear evidence that he was not within his legal right to self defense. Let the courts sort this out, and keep the politically motivated out of it.

The most shameful disgusting vile part in all this has been the role of the race-huslers, sharpton, jackson, obama, et al, and their media sycophants and all the Hollyweirdo chest-beaters, giving out people’s addresses to obama brownshirts to bully the public and reek havoc throughout the land for ugly disgusting political interests. ap has been part of this vile incitement. The only reason they NOW talk of nuance and Zimmerman’s side is because their case is so bogus and full of hole and their behavior so utterly shameful and nefarious.

refreshing to have thorough reporting.

Zimmerman got out of the car, hence he is responsible for the course of events.

Do note: we do not know what he said to Trayvon whilst outside of his car. Trayvon also isn’t alive to respond to the question whether he thought Zimmerman was pulling his gun vs his phone, and, even if he jumped, was merely afraid for HIS life (and apparently rightfully so…)

Media is stupid. Citizens arrest out of control. Pepole just want pity cause their life sucks and the only way they can justify not being sucessful is by pulling the race card. All murders are hate crimes. Sorry for the loss of life but im not wearing my hoodie for the no limit Nigga. You wanted to be gangster. You jumped on somebody and got dealt with. maybe if more people would do this we wouldnt have high crime. as for the media, Cut the crap. Smart people are not fooled by your wager to start a race war. The only ones fooled are the new black panthers. This is bs. stop watching your tv’s people. read a book.

There is no way this man is guilty of “2nd Degree Murder!” The Prosecutor should get herself a good attorney. She’s going to need one.

Great Article. Its what I’ve been saying all along. Zimmerman was not racist but he did profile. Just like with Muslims and TSA. Or Latino’s in Arizona. If you profile upon race – all you can really do is ask a question – not act.

He is guilty of 2nd degree murder Im sure – whatever the courts decide as punishment is fine with me. If it was a heated debate and mistake then minimal punishment – if he was an aggressor then more.

But one thing is for sure – this guy was not a classic racist vigilante – he made a mistake and will pay for it – but lets not make him out to be a monster.

Zimmerman seems like a normal, hardworking kid with a few blemishes but who doesnt? Id be honored to have someone like that in my neighborhood.

@Rick58 I picked up on that too, and agree. Sounds like the same speculators who assumed he was racist, he profiled, he was a “self-appointed” neighborhood watch captain, and a wanna-be cop.

Wow! Actual reporting of researched facts has been recently seen on Reuters.com. Good job and keep it up. We could use some researched factual data in our “reporting” these days.

This is the article that should have come out first, rather than all the race-baiting stuff that the media went for at first. The media has, hitherto, been a complete failure and should be castigated from every pulpit imaginable for trying Zimmerman in the papers, rather than in court.

Good article. I don’t buy the history of violence argument against him. He threw an ex on his bed after she hit him. His police officer assault was on a non uniformed cop that was roughing up a family member and did not identify himself as a cop. He was given PTI. If you know anything about police they seek max penalty for assaulting one of their own, PTI is an aquital in my opinion. Still Trayvon is dead, without the stand your ground law, I think he should have been charged with manslaughter, not murder. With the stand your ground law he should walk, and the law should be changed.

Well written article except in one respect, most of us who wee outraged by this were not saying Zimmerman was a racist, but that the PD was because of their non-investigation of the incident and their willingness to write it off because Martin was Black. I believe that Zimmerman would have acted the same no matter what the victims skin color was, since he was out to “defend his turf!”

Simple fact of this case remains is that Trayvon Martin would still be alive and George Zimmerman would not be facing charges if GEORGE ZIMMERMAN had acted as a reasonable person would have and not chased a young man whose only crime was to look suspicious to George Zimmerman.

Martin ran because he was scared Zimmerman pursued, at that point he committed Assault upon Martin,

Wow – this from Reuters? You guys have just earned a great deal of respect from me, for whatever it’s worth. Thank you for letting us know what many of us already suspected, that Zimmerman, who does not “look white” was one of the good guys. I have learned over the years that if Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson are involved, I should probably be on the other side. I have also come to lump President Obama and Eric Holder in the same mental ghetto as Sharpton and Jackson. The race-baiting by liberals has to stop. And I’d like to propose a new tort: race-baiting harassment. And then I’d like to file a class action lawsuit against Sharpton, Jackson, Obama, Holder and perhaps Spike Lee for race baiting harassment whenever they do it again (the prohibition against ex post facto laws means they’re off the hook for past deeds). But if you’re a race-baiter, you should have to pay for the havoc, mayhem, and injuries that you cause.

An honest attempt by the author to balance public outrage at the killing, justifiable, but irrelevant in this. This was blatant murder.

Just because the neighborhood is infected with burglars does not mean that we should arm ourselves and start shooting dead ‘Suspects’. The days of the Wild West are long gone, in most States anyway.

It is indefensible to go after a ‘Suspected’ burglar, after you’ve been ordered to stay put in your car, and shoot him dead because you are afraid that he might flee ?

Many years ago I decided against buying a gun even after two burglars had entered my private one-family house in Long Island, NY, while I & my 12yo daughter with her friends were in the house. I agonized for weeks about getting a gun, but then I realized that sometimes my teen age son came home late & used a small window in the back to get in so that he doesn’t wake us up. Horror struck me at the thought of shooting my own son, or at anyone else mistakenly.

Honestly, it doesn’t matter if he had black friends or was an altar boy or was the equivalent of Gandhi–if he followed someone and shot them in a confrontation, he’s no longer a good person. The court will decide.

Zim is an all American hero, shame he isn’t treated as such. I think I’ll send him some money again, today.

The best, most researched reporting on this to date… and just the very tip of the iceberg. Still, this is the first article that involved non-superficial research. Kudos to Reuters for a first step on real journalism.

So much for this case. He will walk and he deserves to walk. The only hate in this event came from Travon and all blacks committing attacks in his name. If you are white I would recommend that you all prepare to defend yourselves. The natives are truely restless! Obama has created a tribal riot.

Why does the media keep on getting it wrong in claming Zimmerman followed/pursued Martin after the police dispatcher told him they did not need him to do it? Zimmerman answered “okay” and there is no evidence that he subsquently pursued Martin. He finished the call with police and it was obvious listening to him that he was no longer pursuing anyone. He claims he did not pursue him after the call. The known evidence does not contradict him.

“He reached for my gun- I had to shoot or be shot!” Closed case, $15 million dollar bill to the tax payers.

With all the recent burglaries, someone had to put up some video surveillance somewhere. If so, there may be a video tape that fills in the moments of the confrontation.

KrisCraig – And nothing stars out about Martin? The witness statement doesn’t stand out against Martin? The twisting of irresponsible reporting by the media doesn’t stink? Let it be known – the state doesn’t have a case – because what Zimmerman did, without impeaching his credibility of the past – WAS LEGAL!

This is the first balanced story I’ve read to date.

So Zimmerman was a concerned citizen and his status as a neighborhood watch captain wasn’t ‘self-appointed’ as the mass media would like us to believe. He was asked to serve that role by his community. A community that was being victimized by a rash of burglaries by young black thugs. When the next black kid gets shot trying to break into someone’s townhouse there what excuse will Sharpton et al have then? Why doesn’t the african american community take responsibility for their own and parent these kids to make something of their lives instead of turning to crime. Don’t blame a ‘white guy’ for shooting your kid when you have done a pathetic job raising him into a criminal.

i wonder if the robberies stopped. if they did maybe Trayvon was the 2nd suspicious young black man.

No evidence whatsoever has been presented, including the evidence in the persecutor’s [sic] disgraceful affidavit. This is nothing but an orchestrated attempt by the Criminal Zerobama Regime and their accomplices in the media to stir up racial hatred and ignite a race war as a justification to abrogate our Constitutional Rights. These are the “Other Means” Zerobama referred to.

I am George Zimmerman. I am Matthew Owens.

Mine is dry.

Very informative article. Could the authors please explain this part: “This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.”

What is the source for that information? Listening to the 911 you can hear the sounds of Zimmerman moving stop several seconds after the dispatcher said he didn’t need Zimmerman to follow. He continued talking to the dispatcher for a couple of minutes after that. Also, from the bail hearing:

O’MARA: That he turned back to his car. We’ll start with that one.

GILBREATH: I have nothing to indicate he did not or did not to that.

O’MARA: My question was do you have any evidence to contradict or that conflicts with his contention given before he knew any of the evidence that would conflict with the fact that he stated I walked back to my car?

GILBREATH: No.

People forget that the dispatcher asked Zimmerman to watch what Trayvon was doing:

Dispatcher: Just let me know if he does anything ok

Zimmerman: How long until you get an officer over here?

Dispatcher: Yeah we’ve got someone on the way, just let me know if this guy does anything else.

Positioning yourself to see what someone is doing and where they are going is not following or pursuing.

Obama disagrees. Zimmerman does not look like his child

Too bad that the Sanford Police didn’t know that Zimmerman is part black. Otherwise, they would have charge him with murder right away….

forzapista, the point of this story that if Zimmerman was black(there are 20% black families in this place who also suffering) we weren’t hear whole this story. Is no way this man is guilty of “2nd Degree Murder!” only because he is not black.

Excellent work. Now let’s do the same detailed background on T. Martin.

If Zimmerman has black roots ,,,,does this mean he’s a white Hispanic black ?

This is the most racist, bias, propaganda filled article I have ever read from Reuters. It’s almost like George Zimmerman wrote it himself, and paid Reuters to publish it under their name. To use such propaganda to try and brush a racist fueled killing under the rug is reprehensible.

Why did it take so long for this to be published? An overall tragedy, but based on this information, Zimmerman’s comments were not profiling – just experience. It does not seem to be 2nd Degree Murder.

“This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.”
On what proof does Reuters base this comment?

Why was my post deleted?

I don’t think Zimmerman is a bad guy. He just made a really bad decision. His decision ended with the death of a 17 year old kid with a bag of candy.

Everything changed when Martin started to run and Zimmerman chased him. Look if you’re walking in the dark in a bad neighborhood and you start to run and someone starts to chase you, it is reasonable to fear for your life. Zimmerman created the confrontation by chasing Martin. Martin has a right to stand his ground just as much as anyone else.

It does not matter how straight the fact…When Race becomes an element and race baiters inflame the bias that fact will be filtered thru the race bias…and what seems like a factual truth will be bent or discarded…I pray for each and everyone of us nation wide …that we will be able to set aside our bias and let the facts speak for themselves ….and that Zimmerman will be able to get a fair trial. and when it is over we will learn to live at peace with each other.

“This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.”
On what proof does Reuters base this comment?

This is a very fine article, journalism should always be this thorough and informative, thanks.

Well, the MSM can’t call George Zimmerman a ‘white hispanic’ any more, since he has definite black ancestry.

Great article. Paints a slightly different view of Zimmerman.

His frustration with the lack of the police’s ability to curb theft in his neighborhood explains his 911 cursing and vigilante methods.

I guess I wonder if I would be doing the same and/or if I would even keep the police involved if little results show up after repeated robberies and police involvement.

Just think – if there was no audit trail of any 911 calls? Will they help him or put him in jail?

The level of vigilantism is justified by the extend of crimes against you when there is inability for authorities to resolve it. Murder is not justified in this case.

Following someone is not a crime. Neither is coming up to someone to confront them why they are being followed.

Whatever the history or motivation of Zimmerman or Trayvon – it will all come down to who initiated the first physical movement of being a threat. (pulling a gun to hold someone till police showed or punching someone because they said they think you are are robber).

He doesn’t have a history of violence. There was one incident in 2005 when he had a scuffle with an UNDERCOVER alcohol enforcement officer (probably didn’t even know he was a cop until it was too late) when he was trying to protect a friend and the domestic issues happened within a month or two of that incident. It could be that the girlfriend took advantage of his pending case to get back at him. Regardless, he wasn’t convicted of anything in the DV case. Other than that, there is NO history of violence or anything to show that he would do anything to hurt someone.

Also, where do you get that he is Jewish? His father is a Baptist. Maybe somewhere in his past his family may have been ethnically Jewish but we have no information on it. All we have is a name.

For those claiming this was “blatant murder”, where is your proof? There is NONE. Despite what the writer of the article said, there is no proof that Zimmerman followed Martin after the dispatcher said it was not necessary. In fact, if you look at a layout of the property and the timeline of where each were during the calls, it looks like Martin came back around from behind the other building and came up to Zimmerman. Zimmerman was not far from his vehicle. Also, there is lots of evidence backing up his claims that it was self-defense. There were at least 3 witnesses (two were on the 911 calls) that said the guy in white was on top of the guy in red and the guy in red was crying for help. The guy wearing red was Zimmerman. He also suffered a broken nose and bloody cuts on the back of his head. The police also said his back was wet as if he had been on the ground on his back.

And to all the people that say GZ made this horrible decision and ruined everything give it a rest! TM made a horrible decision by beating someone he didn’t know!

This is why I NEVER beat someone who I don’t know! (African Americans need to have that “talk” with their kids: “Son…don’t beat anyone who you don’t know and you’ll be much much less likely to be shot!”)

And to all the people that say GZ made this horrible decision and ruined everything give it a rest! TM made a horrible decision by beating someone he didn’t know!

This is why I NEVER beat someone who I don’t know! (African Americans need to have that “talk” with their kids: “Son…don’t beat anyone who you don’t know and you’ll be much much less likely to be shot!”)

I don’t know what happen that night, but based on the facts from this article that has personal interviews in it, I believe George Z. is not a racist.

In the frontier days the folks of a town usually decided on who the deputy would be. We have come a long way since then, or have we? When seconds count police are minutes away. When people are finally tired of the dregs of society they take matters into their own hands. A good example of this on a larger scale would be the preamble to the Declaration of Independence. Some folks just cannot tolerate being perpetual victims.

This is the best article I have seen to come out on this incident! I have read the police reports that Sanford PD released, incident report, 911 call history, and burglary incident reports. People do not seem to understand that criminal activity can cause stress in your normal every day life.

You have outdone yourselves by investigating George Zimmerman and his neighbors while shedding light on the community’s stressful situation of criminal activity.

Best journalism I’ve read in ages. Nice job Reuters!
The article leads the reader into the life of a responsible, brave person who was given advice from law enforcement to get a gun for protection from animals. After years of exercising his rights and safely carrying his authorized pistol, he uses it against a threat to his person. Late photo’s show his bloodied head and what could have been his life and a stolen gun report has turned into a race motive by the media-left and another reason to take away our right to protect ourselves.

UnPartisan, you think the law should be changed? So, if someone is beating your head into the ground and telling you that today you are going to die, you don’t think you should be able to stop him with whatever force is necessary (including possible lethal force)? If you do, you think your life should be ruined and you should be financially destroyed by being convicted of a crime and going to jail for some years merely for defending yourself?? That is crazy…

Why do you (Philly …) state that Martin was chased? There’s absolutely no evidence of that.

If Zimmerman isn’t murdered by the New Race Hustler Party, he’s going to get rich suing the MSM networks.

This is the kind of reasonably informative non-hyperventilating journalism that should have been written right after the story first broke.

Did zimmerman get his training in the IDF?

I THINK THE RIOT STARTERS PICKED THE WRONG MAN FOR A RIOT. BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME.BIG PLANS FOR RIOTS, ARE ON THE AGENDA THIS SUMMER. ANYTHING TO GET OBAMA ELECTED.

REMEMBER ! ZIMMERMAN NEVER FIRED TILL HE WAS ON HIS BACK, GETTING HIS HEAD BASHED IN.HE DID NOT HAVE TO WAIT THAT LONG. ESPECIALLY AFTER GETTING HIS NOSE BROKE, THEN ON HIS BACK, GETTING HIS HEAD BASHED IN !

“Why did it take so long for this to be published? An overall tragedy, but based on this information, Zimmerman’s comments were not profiling – just experience. It does not seem to be 2nd Degree Murder.”

Profiling = experience

Excellent work on this article. I’m actually shocked at how fair it is, not used to this from the mainstream media.

Can we get an investigative report on Martin, too?

THANK YOU for REAL journalism!!! I had lost all hope in any truth and unbiased writing from the media! THANK YOU!

There is no history of physical violence of the level required. A civil filing for domestic is civil not necessarily exclusive to physical violence and he counterfiled, both charges were later dropped. There was no conviction on the shoving an undercover officer.

Can’t wait till PhillyJimi meets up with several “17 year old kid(s) with a bag of candy…”, who look just like Barry’s boy, TM. Most likely that ‘meeting’ will end up as another flashmob type clip on youtube with him as the central beatdown victim and the candy carrying ‘kids’ running off with whatever he had of value, maybe even his life. Denying reality and hoping it ain’t so is not gonna save you either . Staying away from them, outnumbering them or CC might.

I have always at times blasted reuters fo left wing bias but whoever wrote this story should be given a journalism award…for once somebody decided to do research and report the facts and not try to create facts to fit a narrative….thats the way reporting use to be done…maybe you can resurrect it….also it does confirm what most peoples intuition is and that George is the good guy and ceratinly not a portrait of a murderer…sadly many blacks won’t see it that way because they simply can’t think objectively about their own race

George Zimmerman is a law-abidinng good guy, being railroaded to assuage the black hustler mentality of the entire black community led by Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton, the moron from the New Black Panther Party and President Obama and his left-wing AG henchman, Eric Holder

No jury in its right mind will ever convict George Zimmerman of anything but saving his own life.

George Zimmerman is a law-abidinng good guy, being railroaded to assuage the black hustler mentality of the entire black community led by Jessie Jackson, Al Sharpton, the moron from the New Black Panther Party and President Obama and his left-wing AG henchman, Eric Holder

No jury in its right mind will ever convict George Zimmerman of anything but saving his own life.

So just to clarify, turns out Zimmerman is a BLACK hispanic, and this whole entire story from start to finish is just a bunch of hooey?

So how’s the crime stats in Sanford these days?

Obvious from the comments – this article did not change anyones mind. There are some who feel GZ is guilty – regardless of the facts, lack of facts,with or without a trial. There are some who feel GZ is/was being raliroaded by the “race mongers” Sharpton and Jackson – and add Obama for political purposes, and various Congressional represntatives who need every “race” issue to keep themselves relevent.

While our system of justice is not perfect – thank God – we have a system that PRESUMES INNOCENCE until PROVEN guilty. The system works – for the most part. What would you replace it with? Mob rule?

How much do you want to bet the burglaries have stopped in the neighborhood?

Ok, I read all of this. It seems to me that for the most part GZ was a good person who tried to live a good life and do good things for other people.
HOWEVER:
Just because sometimes the perps would get away, that did not give GZ a green light to act like he was a trained police officer. This is exactly why block watch personnel are forbidden to engage perps and they are forbidden to cary guns.
He needs to be made an example of.
T M needs a voice, well I will try to give him one. I think GZ is GUILTY AS CHARGED. I know that I do not have all of the evidence. I know that it is wrong for me to find him guilty by the press. That is my opinion however bad it may be! And I am entitled to it.

So much for branding Zimmerman a white neo-conservative and making political hay. He is a registered democrat, and is part black. And each day it becomes clearer and clearer that this was not a hate crime.

PhillyJimi – Where are you getting your “facts”? I have not seen or heard a single report that collaberates your view of events. Were you another witness? All of you who prejudge (pregidiced)will need to stand in public and flog yourself for your ignorance (Duke lacrosse comes to mind – mob mentality). What schools did you attend – did they not teach you about our system of Justice? Any history on mobs (and how well everyone of those situations turned out). Innocent until proven guilty – sound familiar?

An amusing anecdote about profiling – before Bush came to office in 2001, the disproportionate scrutiny of air travelers who looked Middle Eastern or wore traditional Muslim garb was standard in the American airline industry, due to the historical experience of hijackers and terrorists in fatal attacks against American airlines being mainly Middle Eastern and Muslim. Just before 9/11/01, Bush forbade this increased scrutiny, criticizing it as this fundamental injustice. Then 9/11 happened. 10,000 dead Americans and $1T in war-related expenditures later, the country’s self-appointed elites are still engaged in a campaign of fulmination against profiling.

Kris, You have no idea what he did other than shoot Trayvon. You have no clue what the circumstances were at the moment. And you make a pathetic attempt to connect the dots by saying he has a history of violence. Again, you have no idea the circumstances that brought the charges. And in one case he filed counter charges. So, as Redford says, its time to get it off the streets and let the courts work.

Well I read where the neighborhood was having robberies , break ins, etc. by young black men and Zimmerman being a neighborhood watchman saw a stranger in the area who did not live there and was acting strangely and decided to observe and follow this young man and report this activity to the Police . DUH , , why would he do that ?

Seems like a pretty good biography of the Z man.
All the evidence so far indicates the Z man should not have even been arrested much less charged. The probable cause document by the new prosecutor is a phony. The famous lawyer Allan Dershowitz said it is a crime for a prosecutor not to include culpatory evidence with the probable cause statement. Hopefully Judge Lester will see through the prosecutor’s scam and not even forward this case to a jury trial.

Excellent article, too bad our sensationalist newspapers were trying, still are, to start a race war rather than reporting the news factually.

I would be at least as suspicious of them as they were of me. Show me the badge and I’ll cooperate. No badge, different story.
It’s one thing not to cooperate, it’s another thing to sucker punch someone just because you are asked a question. Why not plead the fifth.

Zimmerman, great guy, so nice always willing to help out.

Do you think he killed Buckwheat?

Oh, absolutely, that’s all he ever talked about. Savin’ up money to buy a gun to kill Buckwheat. He absolutely did it.

WOW! Does anyone wan to know the REAL background and upbringing of a MURDERER? This man took someones LIFE with a gun. He was told not to follow, regardless of explanations of neighborhood problems—MOVE to a safer area. Let the POLICE do their job!!!! This man is a LIAR, trying to save his own after what he feels was justified. Did he try to help the boy as he lay there dying? Why get out of your car? How many people would leave their vehicle to approach a stranger without a gun or the Marines behind them? This man is twisted in and out and he killed another human being. Please if there is a higher being let justice be served!!!!

@PhillyJimi: Everything changed when Trayvon decided to go back and yes I said it Trayvon went back and confronted Zimmerman. He was at home, or in hiding either way he returned to where he was killed. If he was that afraid as some would have you believe instead of staying on the telephone with DeeDee he should have dialed 911 or he could have called his dad and told him about this BIG BAD man.

Fairly good article, falters a bit at the end

You know, for a white Hispanic, Zimmerman sure looks like a person of color. I don’t know, maybe my eyesight isn’t what it used to be.

KrisCraig wrote:
“Most of this is just boiler-plate. It’s good reporting, mind you, but it doesn’t change anything about what Zimmerman did.

I don’t care if he was an altar boy or if he had a black friend. He has a history of violence that paints a portrait of a man with a hair-trigger temper. That’s what really stands out in this story.”

@ Kris… What a totally biased comment! In all of Zimmerman’s “history,” only ONE negative encounter with the cops can be found prior to the night he shot Trayvon Martin; and, he has NEVER been convicted of any crime. The incident wherein his fiancee “filed a civil motion for a restraining order alleging domestic violence” does not count because he also filed one on the same grounds and both hers and his were granted. Again, no conviction of any crime; so, although he does technically have a “history” because it happened ONCE in his past, there is certainly no pattern of bad behavior.

If the ONE mistake is the only thing that stands out in the article’s relating of so many positives in Zimmerman’s past, you have to be one of the most biased people I have ever run across.

Here are the facts in the Martin/Zimmerman case as they are currently known.

FACT: There is no RULE or LAW in the State of Florida that prevents a person with a concealed weapon permit from carrying a firearm to protect themselves at “anytime” even while reporting suspicious activity as a member of a community watch in his troubled neighborhood.

FACT: Zimmerman WAS doing the responsible thing by (WHILE ON THE PHONE TO THE POLICE) keeping “eyes on” an unknown person acting suspicious such as walking aimlessly about in the rain on the coldest night of the year for the area, the area being a troubled neighborhood with a history of recent burglaries.

FACT: When told by a Sheriff’s representative that they didn’t need him to follow (keeping eyes-on) the suspicious person Zimmerman said OK and was returning to his vehicle. Zimmerman’s statement is consistent with both the location of the attack and the location of his vehicle.

FACT: While on the phone with Martin it has been reported that Martin’s girl friend stated that Martin said, “Hey, why are you following me”. And Zimmerman stating “what are you doing here?” then hearing someone being pushed. That statement by Martin’s reported girlfriend is consistent with Zimmerman’s statement to the police that he was on his way back to his vehicle when Martin confronted him and punched him in the nose as he was trying to use his cell phone to re-call police.

FACT: The only two EYE WITNESSES have publicly stated that it was Martin that was on top of Zimmerman beating him while Zimmerman was screaming for help.

FACT: Both the video and a recently released picture are consistent with both Zimmerman’s injuries and the two EYE WITNESS statements. Police can be seen looking at the injuries on the back of Zimmerman’s head when he got out of the police car and the injuries can be seen on the “original color” video released by the police.

FACT: At 17 years old Martin was NOT the 12 year old repeatedly shown on the news. He was a full grown adult at 6’2” who had recently been kicked out of school for having burglar tools and jewelry that he could not explain having.

FACT: Stand your ground will not apply to this case under either scenario of as the race baiters have said… a want-a-be cop that chased down an innocent child a shot him in cold blood… or as the evidence as it is currently known shows a concerned citizen reporting to police an unknown person acting suspicious who was later viciously attacked by that full grown 6’2” man knocking him to the ground and bashing his head into the ground causing visible bloody injuries and after screaming for help and receiving none finally shoots his attacker ONCE and then asks others to call police while he waits at the scene. Under the former you cannot chase down someone and then claim your rights under “Stand Your Ground”. Under that later “Stand Your Ground” still does not apply because he was pinned down by his attacker and could not retreat even if he wanted to. The standard self defense statutes will apply.

It is not about racism, PERIOD… If the evidence as it is currently known is true then it is about a young “FULL GROWN MAN” making a terrible decision to attack another person and try to bash his head into the pavement. If Martin being a 6’2″ athlete didn’t want a confrontation HE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CAUGHT BY A 5’6″-9″ overweight Mortgage Analyst, PERIOD.

It wasn’t a crime at all. The Special Prosecutor knew she’d never get an indictment from the grand jury, so she took it and handed up the charges herself. They’ll never hold up in court. But then they (the race industry) can scream about the jury and Florida law and start to peddle their fiction that America is a racist country again.

Good article…. except the media bias (dare I call it prejudice?) is still being shown in not investigating and reporting Trayvon Martin’s life. It would be interesting to know how much of his time was spent with white or Hispanic families, taking part in church activities, and helping those less fortunate than himself – like Zimmerman. Or, perhaps, there’s nothing like that to report.

doesnt change that he killed an unarmed teenager. Doesnt change that he is a liar. Lied and said it was his voice on the 911 tape calling for help. Lied and changed the version of events he gave to the police. Lied in his apology and said he thought Trayvon was a ‘little’ younger than he was, when he said on the 911 tape that Trayvon was a teenager, and was heard to say “I don’t know where that KID went.” Zimmerman is a LIAR. We will have to wait for the investigation to find out how much more he’s lied.

So let me get this straight, the person responsible for the burglaries in that neighborhood had already been caught and Zimmerman was still suspicious of Trayvon?

I liken the Zimmerman case to a recent one in Norfolk, VA.

A jury acquitted a driver in a single-car wreck of three drunken-driving offenses that left two passengers dead, a third maimed and a fourth injured.

http://hamptonroads.com/2011/06/driver-fatal-2009-dui-crash-found-not-guilty

The accused testified that his back-seat passengers distracted him and caused him to slam his BMW into a tree… A forensic scientist testified that Freeman’s blood alcohol content was above the legal limit to drive in Virginia (it was 0.10.)

A Hampton Roads Transit bus video of the crash, showed the accused flying around a corner at 80 mph.

Between the alcohol and the speed, Reed (the prosecutor) said, “he simply couldn’t negotiate the turn.”

Zimmerman made every mistake in the book by carrying a gun as a neighborhood watchman, profiling Trayvon (“Effing C–ns”) pursuing his victim (“They always get away”) and ultimately confronting his victim (which is most consistent with Trayvon’s girlfriend’s statement to police as she was on the phone with Trayvon when Zimmerman caught up to him) and then shooting him after a struggle.

Zimmerman’s only defense is that Trayvon attacked him first, which no one else can substantiate. This is eerily similar to the above case where the drunk driver claimed that the back seat passengers started to beat him mercilessly causing him to go 80 mph in a 35 MPH zone and crash into a tree.

I hope that he doesn’t get away with it…

Now this is good reporting. I dumped CNN and came to Reuters because I expected good, thorough, investigative reporting about noteworthy and/or very important issues. CNN seemed more interested in throwing some iReporter garbage at me or the latest catastrophe with Kim Kardashian’s hairdo. It looks like Reuters continues to deliver.

Zimmerman is a decent person who was forced to defend himself using his gun. The prosecution is a railroad job and is disgraceful and possibly criminal.

@KrisCraig

It can be either boiler-plate OR good reporting, but it can’t be both. Reuters is usually boiler-plate, but this one seems to have fallen through the cracks somehow.

“He has a history of violence that paints a portrait of a man with a hair-trigger temper. That’s what really stands out in this story.”

Well… contrary to your “boiler-plate” mentality, a domestic restraining order (granted to both parties in that case) and a court ordered class, doesn’t paint much of a portrait of anything. Restraining orders are routinely handed out like rainbows at a gay pride parade, and classes are routinely assigned as part of a plea bargain, without admission of guilt, which was exactly the case here.

Combine those facts with the accounts of his prior restraint (further down in the story, after the part where you quit being objective), his legal possession of a handgun (which was apparently recommended to him by a city official in lieu of pepper spray), and the fact that you weren’t at the scene of any of these incidents (including the last one), and what you have is a huge, steaming, pile of nothing.

Kudos to Reuters for doing something I didn’t think existed anymore. Real journalism. Keep up the good work!

Most honest quote in story:
“Let’s talk about the elephant in the room. I’m black, OK?” the woman said, declining to be identified because she anticipated backlash due to her race. She leaned in to look a reporter directly in the eyes. “There were black boys robbing houses in this neighborhood,” she said. “That’s why George was suspicious of Trayvon Martin.”

Truth speaks.

To KrisCraig, this article contains very important information given the charge against him. Zimmerman is charged with 2nd degree murder, which I understand must prove evil intent. There was an implied racial motive, at least by the media, if not the prosecutor. Based on this article, that is an extreme overreaching charge. Manslaughter, based on gross negligence, may be a legit charge. But definitely not Murder 2.

If there was a point to Reuters reporting this background info it was to make it clear Zimmerman wasn’t profiling a man because he was black, and he didn’t shoot him because he was black. Its ludicrous race-hucksters have been up in arms labeling him a racist.

Id like to have neighbors like this in my neighborhood.

The only part of Zimmerman that is racist was inherited from his Afro-Peruvian grandfather.

The biggest racists in America are blacks. Everyone else gets along just fine by comparison. Meanwhile, blacks have problems with everyone. They are the common denominator wherever there is a race-related problem. Therefore, THEY are the problem.

American blacks need to change the narrative that they tell their children. They need to stop teaching their children that they are oppressed, useless, and have no hope. Then maybe the black American community can claw their way back to a normal existence in multiculturalist society like everyone else has done.

Little contradictory kriscraig…the history of his good deeds is just boiler plate and doesn’t count…but the history of anything he’s done that isn’t good is relevant. Sounds like you ‘ve already judged him to me…I’m sure you were there and know all the details…bad precedent to set my friend…if i read the document correctly “innocent until proven otherwise” is how it works here. If i were you i would read up on your country’s laws and court systems.

Such tragedies are always sad and inexplicable, and we can only hope the parents will have the strength to withstand the unbearable pain of a child’s death. There are thousands across the country every day, involving young men of all races. President Obama’s choosing this particular one to comment on was highly irresponsible and inciteful, feeding the media the disruption they always seek, inviting sides to choose as if it were a sport, and worse, before any charges were filed. For those of us who’ve led our lives on the side of principle, to be casually accused of racism when it suits agendas is totally disappointing, to say the least. I can tell you the word is losing meaning, as are many others used only to attack. Times are dangerous enough all around us. Taking away the meaning of language, well…what do we do then to get at what we seek. It may not look like it, but we all seek the same, ultimately. And we all hurt the same.

This is the most comprehensive and balanced article I’ve read on the incident since it happened . . . LONG overdue.

PhillyJimi everything changed when Martin went back and confronted Zimmerman.

Zimmerman should come to PA. He’ll be safe here. We love the 2nd amendment, and…you can carry openly without a permit.

Finally, a story on Trayvon Martin’s death that doesn’t jump to conclusions and attempt to stir up hate and discontent. What a pleasant surprise. Someone at a mainstream media outlet has actually taken the time to investigate and dig beneath the surface by reverting to old-fashioned journalism. Thank you Chris Francescani!

It would be interesting to know if 18-year-old Emmanuel Burgess and 17-year-old Trayvon Martin were friends and/or associates. If these two should be tied together as partners in the burglary business, that would effectively put G. Zimmerman in the catbird seat.

I still think he was just defending himself. I am very interested to watch the trial, I hope they show it TV.

Why doesn’t Reuters report on Matthew Owens, the white man who was beaten by a mob of obama’s sons with pipes and paint cans in Mobile, Alabama? The animals were shouting:”This is justice for Trayvon”. Why aren’t you reporting this story Reuters?

Really good journalism here I agree most are using this as an excuse to raise hell . If i had been Zimmermans shoes I’d shot him too. To all you people crying murderer Where are you when gangbangers are shooting each other ?? where was you when they white kid got killed in Missouri ? where was you when 2 blacks beat Korean shop keeper to death in PA ? Probably sitting home laughing about it that where you were. Truth is there wont ever be Equality because your goals Differ from the everyone elses!

Thank you Reuters for this amazingly useful journalism. Good job.

Thank you for this report.

Can a reporter show us a map of the neighborhood? I would like to see the locations of:
(1) the fatal fight;
(2) the convenience store which T. Martin visited;
(3) the house to which T. Martin was said to be returning.

If (1) is not between (2) and (3) we might feel some of the suspicion reported by G. Zimmerman.

Well sonofagun.
So those lying lo-life sell their sisters for a story news-shows ought to be brought to ‘justice’. I mean their lies inflamed racial tensions, as they knew they would.
Didn’t a white kid get set on fire by some blacks while they screamed …”this is for Trayvon ..”This seems grounds for a huge lawsuit, enough to make those race-baiters think twice next time.

Well I’ll be damned. Reuters sinks one for the good guys. Now it’s time for Sixty Minutes to step up RFN, and be just as clear and objective, before the damage done by their partners in crime explodes into a national social conflagration.

It took nearly two months to get around to writing about the person Zimmerman is. Too late now as far too many people are already intransiently set in their position (as is more than evident on this comment board).

When did Zimmerman pull the Kel-Tec 9mm from the inside-the-waistband holster? If prior to being hit by Martin, it was assault and brandishment. If while on the ground with Martin on top, self defense . . . that’s all folks. . . BTW, the last witness saw Zimmerman on his back yelling for help . . . it was only when the witness closed the door and started calling 911 that Zimmerman pulled the weapon and shot once at point blank range. Case closed.

Most of this is just boiler-plate. It’s good reporting, mind you, but it doesn’t change anything about what Zimmerman did.

I don’t care if he an altercation seven years ago or if he had a white parent. He has a history of caring for his neighbors and neighborhood that paints a portrait of a man with a desire to protect those around him. That’s what really stands out in this story.

PhillyJimi, whomever told you that Martin ran and Zimmerman gave chase has apparently lied to you. There has been NO evidence presented to indicate either of this men took those actions.

To CleanFun and zgibbons, I so am pleased to see that there are still people of integrity, restraint and good sense, capable of critical thinking, in this great country of ours. Thank-you!

It was the responsiblity of the HOA to provide paid security personnel if there was an unsafe condition in the community. Designating a renter to be head of a Neighborhood Watch with no paid security patrols is irresponsible in a HOA and led to the death of an innocent boy that had no connection to the petty thefts and break-ins described in your article. If I were the Martins, I would eventually civily sue the HOA, any property management company, the developer (if still involved) and each individual board member.

And so now we know a little more about GZ and a 17yr.old that he killed is still dead!!Perhaps there would not have been a need for self defense had he done like our neighborhood watch captain does; call it in,report his suspicions and not approach.He was going back to his ride(so he says)but had he stayed in it in the first place, he would not have had to defend himself.

While he may not be the racist a lot of people chose to assume he was, Trayvon Martin did not deserve to die for walking home from the market.

Zimmerman chose to carry a deadly weapon, and chose to use it; he must be held accountable for those choices. With rights come responsibilities; he exercised his rights; now he must face his responsibilities.

Great article. The more info that comes out abt Zimmerman, the more plausible is his version of events. His demeanor is far kinder and calmer than what used to be available about Martin before it was scrubbed from the internet.

Problem with the last two sentences: The call ended abt 1 1/2 minutes before the altercation became loud enough for neighbors to call 911 themselves; Zimmerman was screaming for help before Martin had a bullet in his chest.

It is more to this story than Zimmerman being a happy triggered gun toting maniac. I’m from Miami and teach. I have witnessed the behavior of teenagers whose parents may care, but have no control. There is more to this story than the rush to racism. By the way, I’m black.

Chris Francescani should get a “Pulitzer Prize” for this incredible and right on reporting! A better description might be “good ole’ fashioned” reporting. This is an article based on “facts.” But sadly, they only give that prize to reporters that write stories that fit the liberal agenda so sorry Chris. Kudos to Reuters for having the guts to print this. There is hope for our country!

We as a nation need to re-examine MORE than guns, race and self-defense laws. We need to re-examine our legal system that incarcerates non-violent drug offenders and lets violent criminals loose. Legalize drugs, treat drug addiction as a medical condition, not a criminal offense. Tax and regulate drugs like we do the drugs alcohol and tobacco. Focus on REAL criminals, not criminals that are manufactured from our mis-guided hypocrisies.

Good article…. good background… But… no reason to kill a kid.

Well, it took a while, but at least part of the news media is now doing its job.

I think this is mostly the police’s fault. If they knew all this crime was going down for over a year, why did they not have patrol in the area? Based on the reports, the vast majority of those seen were black. Zimmerman saw a black kid peeking in windows, he calls the police and they say not to pursue? Ok, Zimmerman isn’t a cop. That is probably the right choice… but is that it? No “We are going to send a uni to your location.”? Zimmerman can actually go up to the kid and ask him, “what are you doing peeking in this house? Do you live here?” Assuming that is what he did, in my experience, black kids tend to get all hot headed and start a fight, not thinking the other guy _might_ have a gun. White kids too. Hispanic kids too. Not being racist, but blacks get into crime a lot. Not all blacks do. Blame it on upbringing, poverty, doesn’t matter. What matters is they get into the crime. I have been harassed by blacks many times while having a concealed firearm, I didn’t shoot them. I’m white. They run their mouth 90% of the time and that is it, but where one gets dangerous is when s/he feels they’re in the 10% of times when they feel their life is threatened. In that case I wouldn’t hesitate to bring someone down. So if Martin did attack Zimmerman, Zimmerman had every right to take him out. That is usually what happens. A Zimmerman acts like a cop, Martin realizes he isn’t a cop and gets offensive… words get exchanged and then physical confrontation ensues… then it’s over. The guy with the gun generally doesn’t start the physical fighting, the only thing which Zimmerman can be blamed for (in my opinion) is baiting Martin. It seemed Zimmerman wanted blood but knew he couldn’t throw the first punch. But you can’t prove that and Martin shouldn’t have fallen for it anyway.

Good Story on GZ. Trayvon has none of this kind of story, one that rings true, going for him. Even now with the phone records, they come out as a fabrication built on a shred of possible truth.

Support George Zimmerman
http://www.facebook.com/supportzimmerman

“…prompted a re-examination of guns, race and self-defense laws enacted in nearly half the United States…”

Ahh…no it hasn’t. All it has done is reveal the racism of black leadership. They are so stupid, they called Z white. Fools.

zimmerman is a hero.

zimmerman is a hero.

zimmerman is a hero.

zimmerman is a hero.

zimmerman is a hero.

Some very serious gaping logic holes staring everyone right in the face! The issue of Justice and will it be served are at stake here? The man is guilty of something besides bad judgement and faces the issue of accountability! Will he? Start counting. Thank you.

I perused the article — I didn’t study every word and subtlety therein — but it appears to be what Limbaugh would call “a random act of journalism.”

Too bad NBC and the gang didn’t have a shred of integrity. Those pathetic and pandering media would prefer to doctor audio tapes and omit the larger portion of the data.

I really dont care what race he is.Im just angry that race has played such a part in this mess

Self-defense

An amazing article. How many of you trying to make excuses for this guy have been arrested for jumping a police officer while making an lawful arrest? How many of you have had restraining orders issued against you for beating your girlfriend? How many of you have been ordered by a court to have anger management training?

How many of you think a guy with that kind of record should be wandering your neighborhood at night with a loaded gun?

I thought Republicans were the party of personal responsibility. This guy is responsible for the violent, senseless death of a law abiding young man who was minding his own business walking an American street. If the evidence shows that he was not actually being attacked, then he should go to prison. For a long time.

Let’s see – jumped a policeman making a lawful arrest. Beat his girlfriend. Ordered by a court to take anger management classes.

That’s not my typical American hero. I thought Republicans are the party of personal responsiblity? I guess not when it comes to killing law-abiding black people.

test

Attacks cops. Beats his girlfriend. Kills innocent teenagers. Off to jail he goes.

Dollared,

My understanding is that there were extenuating circumstance regarding the incident with the police. Zimmerman entered an establishment and saw a younger friend of his being – it appeared – harassed or assaulted by two older men. He attacked the two men. In reality, his young friend had tried to order alcohol and he was not of age. The two men he attacked were plainclothes policemen.

Good and intelligent investigative story, the facts will play out.

Great article…thanks for bringing his actions into perspective. George sounds like a GREAT NEIGHBOR and absolutely not a racist. In truth, he sounds like the kind of person MLK would admire, someone who looks NOT at the color of the skin, but character and actions to judge a person.

Only change I’d make in the article is the comment, “This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.” The recorded call to the police clearly shows he stopped following Trayvon and returned to his car when advised to do so. There was even 30 or more seconds of conversation with the police before he hung up to await the patrol.

Generally Reuters can be counted on to carry the Banking Cartel’s propaganda… but… this is a very good story … credit where credit is due… fine reporting finally in America again at least on this one story… thank you.

I knew that there was a significant history behind the precipitation of this incident. Just another case of trial by media — unwise!

Thank you for a very insightful profile and article!! It is severely needed for Mr. Zimmerman as well as that of the young man, Trayvon Martin. I can identify with the neighborhood’s and Zimmerman’s frustration…. My home was broken into and vandalized 5 times and 4 of 5 of those times I knew exactly who had broken in and law enforcement expressed to me that they were so overwhelmed and that unless there was bodily injury, they could not pursue it (even when I performed the investigation for them and had all of the evidence needed for them to arrest and prosecute). Still, NOTHING was done and there was NO follow-through. My cumulative 5 year un-insured losses were in excess of 1/2 years income but fortunately, there was no bodily harm. On the other hand, by experience as a teacher of adolescents, pier-pressure image is significant, natural but can be ultimately be a real threat to one’s life (something not understood in an adolescent’s invincible mind). Sadly, neither Trayvon nor Zimmerman were able to pre-determine what circumstances COULD collectively escalate to/ for either party. Sadly, our society (or racially motivated via outside influenced society) has been the most negative influence that ultimately escalated to an unfortunate outcome where an adolescent will never have been afforded an opportunity to grow out of “poor decisioned adolescent behavior” and an adult and family’s life will never be what it probably had been envisioned to be. I can only hope and pray that whatever is left of a “civil” & intellectually legal system can sift through this objectively and reasonably afford “closure” to a family’s unfortunate & un-recoverable loss while at the same time not bring a total sacrifice of a person’s life and family based entirely upon a racial/political agenda via outside influence. I’ve experienced not only previously expressed personal property loss but have also most importantly experienced extreme loss to my family via the influence from “racially/politically motivated outside” sources that will never bring closure to a family’s losses or ever fully even allow a justified legal system to bring about appropriate legal accountability. I pray that both Trayvon’s family and the Zimmerman family can ultimately acquire the closure that can best be experienced by a legal system as it was ultimately designed and not left with a “broken system” influenced only by radical expectations and/or political agendas. Regardless, may each our God’s (or civil human belief system) intervene to heal and bring true justice in all of their as well as our own our personal needs. Sincerely……..

The article still made an erroneous assumption that Zimmerman still followed Travon after being told not to. Whether it is true or not Zimmerman claimed to have headed back to his car. So far at this point this isn’t evidence to counter that claim

That quote from the neighbor is pretty interesting. A black woman saying that young blacks were breaking into houses in that neighborhood.

You rarely hear members of the perpetual victim group, who blame all their woes on the crackers, letting some truth into the conversation. She kept anonymous out of fear from her own race for telling the truth.

The kicker is that he has some black in his lineage.

When the story broke the media identified him as ‘white’ which was used to fan the flames.

Not a word about the white guy who was beaten, robbed and left naked in Baltimore which was caught on film. All of his many attackers were black.

A boy is dead. The man who killed him had a cheap-street firearm. Apparently, the gunman was civic-minded but had a history of violent outbursts. And the gunman had a history of failure.

This case was hyped because Obama wants to win Florida, and this case was in Florida. We all know how leftist have to win………with a crisis. If no crisis, just manufacture one. Having a white man kill a black man is just what they needed. But wait, he isn’t a white man. Oh, that’s okay we will just ignore that. The main point is that the case was in Florida. Another reason is that the GOP convention is in Florida, and if we get the folks all whipped up in the streets, that could create a few problems for the GOP. This is how leftists’ minds work.

This story, with the nuances that have come to light, show how totally shameful and despicable the actions of Sharpton and others are, and the complete irresponsibility of the large media in the USA. According anyway to the “one drop rule” so rigorously adhered to by US media and even government ( no amount of white blood cam make you white but one drop of black makes you black) and our President, Zimmerman is now a “black Hispanic”.

Jullou wrote:

… a spot on analysis

Thank you for a well written article.

According to this article, George Zimmerman is an angel. This man made 47 calls to the police, including the one he made the night he followed and killed an unarmed teenager. In the dozens of calls he made to the police, he reported potholes, little kids playing in a driveway, he also pursued other vehicles while outside of the complex he lived in, reporting to police that they were changing lanes illegally and that he was chasing them…and all sorts of other nonsense. These police reports are a matter of public record. He has a history of arrests involving violence, some towards police officers and women. This biased reporting glosses over those public, verified facts. George Zimmerman may be the next thing to Mother Teresa, but he definitely had another side to him which was not quite as angelic as this article wants people to believe.

I want to see the survellance tape from the 711 Trayvon bought Skittles and Arizona Iced Tea from. The man who owns that tape is a millionaire and he’s just sitting on that tape.
Or …maybe Trayvon bought more than Skittles, and Crump might know he rolled a blunt after leaving the 711 and that’s why they won’t release that famous tape.
Perhaps Zimmerman told the dispatcher “He looks like he’s on drugs” because he was watching him smoke a blunt by the Clubhouse.

Also, eye witnesses say Zimmerman was screaming for help. Trayvon’s mom ID’ed the voice as her son. I understand a grieving mom is gonna attach to anything she can hang onto. We know according to time stamps the screaming was going on while witnesses say Zimmerman was on bottom (being beat). It takes a stretch of imagination to think a kid is wildly beating a man, and screaming for help at the same time. But why would Zimmerman scream for help? He had a gun, he didn’t need help. Yet somehow he got knocked to the ground and had a kid on top of him (albeit a 6′ football player) while he had a gun in his posession. And yet he screams for help. In my book, that is enough proof that the gun was a last resort. If he was brandishing a firearm there is no way someone would attack to knock him down.

However if he was pulling out a cell phone, and Trayvon (after being sent to dad’s because he got busted for weed residue) wasn’t about to get busted at dads, he was going to stop him from making the call.

he may have been over zealous but not a thief or a killer ,if i was transiting a trouble area i would probably not attack the person that is questioning my duties being there ,was the other guy doing the very legit activity at the time? or just trying to make a living selling pot when this dude just would no get out of his way? he got angry they both probably did…

I have yet to hear anyone state the obvious, If the story that Zimmerman tells is true. Which every day it appears more likly that it is. Then the only reason he is still alive is that he had that gun. Getting your head smashed is just a deadly as a bullet.

Where was this article a month ago?

Still would like to know why EVERY story has to mention that the neighborhood is a gated community. Is that supposed to be some class-envy mechanism or something? I’ve had to work in projects (estates) that had gates on them. At one point I lived in a shady apartment complex that would’ve had gates, but the tenants kept driving through them.

Personally, I enjoyed the article; for the most part, it was
well written and objective.
With so many facts yet to be revealed until the trial, and
with an avalanche of erroneous/disputed/biased information
blasted into all avenues of media, I couldn’t imagine forming a
definite opinion about what George Zimmerman is or is not
guilty of.
After reading the comments posted here and on other sites, it
does leave me with one question for those who think he is beyond
a shadow of a doubt guilty of something: Is there anything, yet
to be heard or seen, that would honestly change your mind?

I think all this information about Zimmerman would be unnecessary if so many people didn’t call him a racist, because of that fact it became important to write this article, there is always more than meets the eye when you look at the whole picture, very tough situation.

Great reporting, I must say. Real research must have went into this unlike all the hype I have seen thus far.

Very well researched and written Chris — Will there be one on Trayvon and his family? There should be.

Exactly how does Zimmerman’s life history take from his crime?

Hell, Adolf Hitler was a frustrated artist and paperhanger which I guess makes for a nice guy, right?

So the moral is, if you are minding your own business walking home with an iced tea and candy, talking to your GF on your cell phone and someone kills you it’s OK if they have good intentions. Right?

Poor Zimmerman, what a victim. (sarcasm)

Informative and interesting to read article. It clearly shows why Zimmerman was arrested and then released on the night of the shooting. Funny how his own racial makeup is only relevant because the race industry raised little racial hell.

Before I make my comment, I’m going to let all who read this know that I say this as a Black person proud of his heritage, etc. I held off forming a judgment in this case because I wanted to know more facts. In the context of what I just read, I don’t believe what Zimmerman did was so out of line. He should have handled the situation better. But he had a right to be suspicious. And now for the provocative part that will surely get me hazed: those teenagers that were burglarizing houses are the murderers in this case, in my opinion. People who abide by the law cannot continually be victimized. It’s tragic that Trayvon Martin lost his life – essentially caught in the cross fire between those who would do wrong and those who would prevent it. No criminal actors here, in my opinion, only victims – from the shooter to the deceased.

I find it sad that they will have to convict George Zimmerman. No one screaming for “justice” will accept anything less than conviction and the city, the people and the state are to afraid of riots to allow any other verdict but guilty. The truth stopped mattering in this case as soon as Jesse and Al got involved. We have to have “race” an issue or they will be out of a job. Since Jesse and Al are both called Reverend, what church do they preach at?

Finally! An unbiased well-balanced article on this matter that isn’t pandering to a Leftist agenda. Can’t wait to read all the Liberal’s “Yeah but…” anti-common sense comments.

Trayvon supporters are pro crime/criminal.

This is easy! EXONERATED and ACQUITTED of all charges!
Take that Rev. A, Shabazz and Jesse! Looks like the “Black Community” is nothing but an extension of the Ku Klux Klan!

Only one problem with this article. There is no evidence GZ continued to follow Martin. His phone conversation to dispatch indicated he had lost sight of Martin and was not following at that time. The location of the fight in relation to the clubhouse and Green’s apartment indicate that Martin approached Zimmerman, as Zimmerman stated. Please stop repeating this. It confuses the logically-challenged among us.

HAL 9000. (BTW, cool screen name). Zimmerman’s past history IS relevant; not to “justify” a “crime”, but rather to determine his state-of-mind at the time of the shooting, which is a crucial element to any “crime”. Quite likely Zimmerman was over-zealous, but a 2nd degree murder charge likely is also.

The neighborhood was being plagued by burglaries. George Zimmerman, who lived in the neighborhood was troubled by the effect it had on the victims. George was elected captain of the neighborhood watch. George was fed up with the thugs always getting away with their dastardly deed. George seemed to have done what he should have done on the night of Trayvon in the neighborhood. I find it hard to be angry with George, and have smypathy for Trayvon and his family, unless all Trayvon was about, was skittles, but evidence doesn’t point to Trayvon as merely a “skittles kid”. In one of Trayvon’s social network accounts, he refers himself to the “no limit nigga”, among other things.

Those that want to think, “Trayvon Martin has a right to stand his ground” must realize that this gated community was not Trayvon’s ground. If all you are about is being on a trek to get some skittles, then why was he looking suspicious around other people’s houses in a neighborhood that was being ransacked by burglaries? A portion of the black community, and the media, along with the White House, are trying to take away a person’s right to defend themselves and protect their own property.

Give Zimmerman a medal. Unfortunately, Obama and Sharpton, and their sycophants, only want decent folks, black or white, to be the sheep for their thug, usually black thug, wolves who support them.

Nowhere does this article say he has black ancestry, just that he was exposed to black culture, did I miss something?

“several minutes passed when the movements of Zimmerman and Martin remain a mystery.”…and burglaries in the community have ceased????

The article begs the question, and demands an answer either way.

This is one of the best, and well-researched pieces that Reuters has done in years. I doubt it will get much circulation as a result, but it restores my faith in journalism.

The courts are the proper venue for sorting out what happened between Martin and Zimmerman.

However, a couple of serious errors on the part of the authorities are clear:
1) Zimmerman should NOT have been granted a concealed handgun permit.
a) “Zimmerman was charged with resisting arrest, violence, and battery of an officer” Pre-trial diversion should not be an excuse.
b) “a restraining order alleging domestic violence”
2) Zimmerman should have been arrested. The police should not serve as judge and jury – either in deciding guilt or innocence in a case as complex and serious as this one.

I loved the length of this article. It needed to be long. But at the very end it just abruptly stops with a misjudgment by the writer/editors. But still there was very good narrative to this story. The totality of the facts certainly show George as a non-racist.

What is disturbing and disgusting is all this race baiting and hatred that has become a false narrative surrounding this case. Race was never apart of this situation until some in the media and the leaders in hate politics got into the mix and soured the view of many in the black community especially in Florida. Casey Anthony got a raw deal in this respect and so has George Zimmerman. Thankfully this article gives a truer form of what solid journalism should look like. Report the facts… even if it goes against the grain of raw human opinion and emotion. Given that, it seems that the writer must have run up against so many good testimonies about George that even a journalist in the Main Stream Media could not ignore.

This statement made by the writer, Chris Francescani and his editors (David Adams, Daniel Trotta and Prudence Crowther) is pure conjecture, “This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.” There were no supporting facts, and certainly not any annotated in this article, that suggest that George ever followed Trayvon and in such a way that he violated the suggestion by the 911 operator to not follow Trayvon. Also, the 911 operators are NOT the police. So Zimmerman did not ignore the police if he did indeed follow Trayvon after the 911 operator’s suggestion. 

While George could have been mildly impatient it however does not mean he followed Trayvon to the point where the fight occurred. It could also be concluded that Martin attacked Zimmerman. If the screams into the night can be analyzed to the point of conclusiveness it “might” provide a more rounded picture. The eye witness(s) that saw Trayvon on top of Zimmerman hitting him will be the crowning piece of evidence along with the bloody head wounds and a very consistent speaking George Zimmerman. If this goes to trial it will be a miscarriage of justice in my opinion. 


So this article just shows the situation is complicated. Okay, I will buy that. But that does not absolve him from what he did, nor absolve the Sanford police from not conducting a full investigation. Just because there is a prior expereince with one person does not mean you can impart that same feeling on another person. What no one wants to admit here is that Travon Martin was not doing anything wrong and Zimmerman had no reason to stop him. He was simply walking back from the store. Did martin turn on Zimmerman and fight back (or even throw the first punch?). It looks that way but we are talking about a 17 year old kid and all 17 year old kids (whith, black and hispanic) are prone to irrational behavior. Certainly so if they are in a new neighborhood and a strang, grown man just approaches and informs you that he is either calling the police or trying to detain you and you have done nothing wrong. I live in the same county with the same people as Zimmerman. We have house robberies and breakins here too but I also know that every black kid who walks in front of my house or skates down the street is not a criminal. Zommerman was supposed to be a grown man but to me he just sounds paranoid.

One last thing, the national media and Facebook world can sit back and place all of the observations they want. Only a few thousand of us who are homeowners and community members in this county have the advantage of ground level expereince. As someone who lives in a neighboorhood just like the one where Travon was shot I can tell you I dont want to live in fear that our neighboorhood watch will make things more dangerous by carrying guns and using them. I find myself thinking less about Travon and more about the residents around the shooting. The gun could have just as easily gone off and shot someone on the street, in their house or in their car.

From the article:

” Zimmerman’s business failed, he was arrested, and he broke off an engagement with a woman who filed a restraining order against him.

That July, Zimmerman was charged with resisting arrest, violence, and battery of an officer after shoving an undercover alcohol-control agent who was arresting an under-age friend of Zimmerman’s at a bar. He avoided conviction by agreeing to participate in a pre-trial diversion program that included anger-management classes.

In August, Zimmerman’s fiancee at the time, Veronica Zuazo, filed a civil motion for a restraining order alleging domestic violence. Zimmerman reciprocated with his own order on the same grounds, and both orders were granted. The relationship ended.”

So… here we have a guy who, according to an article that the wing-nuts are praising to the heavens, has had two women file restraining orders against him for domestic violence, and avoided a violence and battery charge only by agreeing to go to anger management classes.

But nooooo…. no way could he have attacked Trayvon….

This is a good story and I understand how he came to be where he was, but it’s just clouding the issue. The uproar was not over George Zimmerman; rather it was over the uninvestigated killing of Trayvon Martin. In a history where for way too long, the killing of black men, women and children went uninvestigated or investigated with a wink and a nod, somebody, somewhere HAD to be sensitive to the fact that if this person’s murder, given his unarmed state, race, manner of appearance, and the current state of mass paranoia which has Homeland Security frisking 4 year-old kids who hugged Granny, went uninvestigated, then somebody’s view of “how far we’ve come since the lynching days” would be offended. I mean, the encounter between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin plays out every day somewhere across this country. The way the press sees it, if they were both black, no news. Black folks kill each other everyday, so sad, what can you do, yada, yada…not news. Both white? Not newsworthy, unless they were married, divorced (from each other), rich or the act had a large body count. But black on white? We’re conditioned to expect and look for it, and the press does indeed satisfy that urge, with gusto. And white on black? The questions abound! Remember, originally this was portrayed as a ‘white man kills unarmed black boy”.
Under what circumstances would someone white (may the Heavenly choir now sing…)kill someone who was black but unarmed? Especially now that the President is black and we have moved way, way beyond racism as a social influence? When cooler heads prevailed, the racism part was pulled back, but you still had an univestigated murder where the victim was obviously dead and the perpetrator not only hadn’t been charged but had admitted the act and hadn’t even been detained outside of being taken to the station to give his statement. Shady actions by the police department, public sensitivity to the tendency of pulling out all the stops in the search for a “blue-eyed, blonde-haired young female” while ignoring the death or absence of just another “young urban black male”, and, frankly, historical anger, shame and resentment are what’s really giving this story legs.

Nice article. Obviously, in an attempt to make this a racial issue, Trayvon shot himself. If only the Zman didn’t care so much about humanity. He wouldn’t have found himself in this situation – able to be used by the Left wing Nazis like Oblackboy. I’m glad his henous attempts to take away our guns is failing. Imagine if the Zman didn’t have his gun that night? He would have been at the mercy of that crazed criminal subhuman thug who was obviously up to no good (didn’t he just rob a liquor store?)

Now let’s see if the Reuters people do the same in depth report on Martin.

I wonder what an article about the life of Trayvon would look like?

Okay, so a ‘perfectly normal’ guy with a couple of questionable instances of violence against cops and domestic partners in his past doesn’t know how to react to a DOG, buys a couple of guns, conflates a kid from a gated community with EVERY thug ever, ignores a standing order from the police, and shoots a minor dead. Nobody’s denying that Zimmerman ignored a police order and killed a child.

Why should we feel bad for Zimmerman again?

So see accusing Zimmerman of profiling rush to judgment etc, that’s exactly what you Race baiting hating people have done to him.
Hey sharpton ya fraud!

Obama ya bandwagon Politician! I You had a Son he’d be nothing like Zimmerman.

It is interesting how many self-appointed experts in sociology here are doing the same thing they are acusing others of, such as “JudgeMental”‘s comment, of stirring up racial prejudice and hatred. Why don’t all of you accusers of others just give it a rest?

At first I didn’t know what to believe about this story, but I believe Zimmerman just had a bad night on the day of the shooting or he just a hard day at work and was probably be tired when he seen Travyon, but we should just let the court handle the situation, because us as people we come so fast to conclude things, and we don’t know the whole story.

I can’t see how the prosecution can make a case of second degree murder stick. Not with this information, witness accounts and history of this neighborhood.

And now we see the smoke clearing.
finally a story that makes some attempt to show the Zimmer-man and not the press created devil.
Good story, but not as Juicy as the fake headlines and opinionated hate lines flowing from the poisoned pens of the Jeer-nalists when this tragedy was reported.
What about catching up with the real cause of this…. the teens committing the home invasions and burglaries ? no ?

Just the facts, no drama. Gotta love it!

An excellent article except towards the end. There is no evidence that he *continued* to follow Martin after being advised it wasn’t necessary by the dispatcher. The way it reads may imply otherwise.

Avery well written article about a good citizen that libs thought was whitey so they and their buddies in the MSM tried to lynch. As it turns out this is just another sad case of a black man killing another black man. This happens countless times everyday in this country and the MSM ignores it because that is acceptable to libs. Reuters was right up there with the rest of the lynch mob until this story. I wonder if they will learn anything from this or with this new knowledge they will continue as part of the lib mob to persecute this good citizen? On the otherhand it would not be surprising to see this be a one time occurance and Reuters just ignores this story until the trial. One thing is for certain, this story will not get a fraction of the press coverage that was previously given on the story. That would conflict with the medias agenda of pushing race as a major issue in this country and they need minorities to be energized by the biggest racist of all, Obama, for the November election. Getting the truth out does not further Reuter’s or other members of the MSM’s agenda of getting the affirmative action failed president reelected.

Racial stereotypes are not true or right, but they are correct.

@quietthinker
1)According to Florida law, Zimmerman did qualify to carry a concealed weapon.
a)Zimmerman was not convicted…3 years had passed since the arrest as required by Florida state law.
b)the restraining order ALLEGING domestic violence was a civil motion and was filed by both parties…no felony or misdemeanor involved.

2)We do not yet know all the facts about why the police released Zimmerman after 5 hours of questioning. I’m only speculating…but, what we are seeing so far is that the prosecution doesn’t have much of a case. Perhaps, that’s the same reason the police released Zimmerman that night.

@roaringfish
First of all, we “wing-nuts” are only asking for a fair trial…not convict someone of a crime before he receives due process. It is those on the left that support a lynching in this case.

Furthermore, it was ONE woman who filed a restraining order…as he did against her. In other words, tit for tat. Secondly, battery charge needs to be put into context. Zimmerman thought a friend of his was being attacked by two adult men in civilian clothing who turned out to be cops.

However, I am probably wasting my time explaining this because it does not fit the liberal agenda. In this case, the truth does not matter.

Good article, up until the end. The usual misrepresentation of Zimmerman pursuing Trayvon out of frustration. Has anybody bothered to listen to the dispatch tape ? Z was trying to get a location/address for where trayvon was. The dispatcher asked if he was following, Z said yeah, the dispatcher said we don’t need you to do that. Z said ok and stopped. Tray ran off, and Z was on his way back to his car to wait for the police. For some reason Tray came back to confront Z.

I have not read all the comments, but I found a couple very salient themes.

Just a reminder: 1) You can be racist regardless of your race. It is not only whites that are racist. 2) I have no doubt that a similar portrayal of Trayvon Martin could be created if someone investigated his story. 3) Perhaps we should consider the fact that it is not about race in this case, it is about class.

Just because George Zimmerman had black friends, does not mean he had an overarching favorable sentiment towards ALL blacks. Just because many of you are comfortable with upper class black people, doesn’t mean you are not judgmental about low-income blacks. The same goes for any race.

Best article yet.

Looks like “the community” headed by Sharpton, et al,
picked the wrong person to go after. They may
as well try to demonize Big Bird. They’re looking dumber
and dumber every day.

When is the last time a bunch of renters moved into a neighborhood & made the community better? Never…. Guys house went from $250,000 to $80,000 with the housing drop; whats it worth today considering all the media attention…nothing?

Justice for George Zimmerman! He should be regarded as a hero!

A Prelude to the Shooting…of an unarmed tennager. This story begins with a “menace” and ends with a “menace”. Poor Big Boi who also lived in the gated community of roughly 260 townhouses, apparently frightened George Zimmerman and his wife Shellie enough to prompt them to purchase 2 guns to protect themselves. Before I buy this story,where are the other people who lived in this complex,did they fear Big Boi, did they call animal control , did they also buy guns to protect themselves from Big Boi? Who owns Big Boi? The reason why I ask, years ago my new neighbors pitbull showed up in my driveway shortly after they moved in,scared me to death. The neighbors assured me later that the dog was harmless and I have seen the children playing with this dog,unafraid and we have formed a bond with this dog . So is Big Boi really a threat,really? The writer “his detractors defined him as a vigilante who had decided Martin was suspicious merely because he was black”. I do not have to go into Georges recorded history of 911 call,these are in the public. But “his distractors” know that the neighborhood that George lived in was a mixed community, therefore “suspicious” blacks,menwomen and children probably would be seen walking for whatever reason. As a neighborhood watch his only duty was to report “suspicious activity” not people walking or running in the neighborhood. If anyone is paying attention…once Trayvon passed through the front gate of Twin Lakes,passes George in his truck and procedes down the sidewalk which leads to the place where he was shot…there are no houses enroute and George never says he was doing any “suspicious prowling” or attempting to breakin…none of that. Yet, Trayvon was killed, for defending himself from being stalked and because in Georges mind he was a “menace”. Other menaces in Georges history are trash in the road, potholes,children playing the street,pool parties, strange cars driving down the street,cars weaving in and out of traffic…46 calls to 911 which most adults would say is ludacris, especially those who use 911 for its intended purpose…emergencies. George volunteered to become the watch person for his neighborhood during a time when there was a rash of burglaries, carried a gun and shot a child in the process. While carrying a gun is not against the law but forbidden while doing neighborhood watch. Now that George Zimmerman has been arrested and has bonded out,fear continues to follow him,so he has to go into hiding. However people wish to place a halo of angelic endeavors over Georges head…suspicions and menaces follow George,nonstop. No one could make this stuff up…its documented on paper and taped calls. Well now George because he has killed someone…thankfully the law looks at his crime and the fact that his family is half black or he served as an alter boy has no weight. But you have to feel a little sorry for George…because most people go about life unobstucted by unnecessary fear, George looks for things to be afraid of. While I am glad Big Boi survived George, my sadness is for the Martin family who lost their son in such a needless manner.

Apparently, however, Zimmerman was returning to his house – following the “they always get away” comment – when Martin jumped him and started attacking him. Zimmerman did not “pursue” Martin and start the conflict. An eyewitness has stated that Martin was on top when he and Zimmerman were on the ground fighting, immediately prior to the shooting (which apparently took place during the scuffle, while the two were in close proximity; this is why the gun jammed after the first shot).

Wow. Too bad we get a tainted painted picture from the media BEFORE all the facts are in (which we still don’t have) But one thing is ironic…Zimmerman is part black. Perhaps Obama’s son would have looked more like Zimmerman.

George Zimmerman should be regarded as a hero? For what, again, exactly…?

Only probblem is they miswrote the statement, “This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.” It should have said This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he followed Martin until police advised against pursuing Martin, at that point said ok then advised them Martin was coming towards him and his hands were in his pockets and he was not sure if he had a gun. Try being fully responsible, by misstating the end that is what sticks with hateful people and they hold to saying that Zimmerman chased him down gun in hand and murdered him. stick to known facts and let the jury decide.

The other day I read the article and it was good till the last when they said this, “This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.”
This is conjecture with no proof whatsoever. so Reuters attempt to appear objective then they trash Zimmerman.

So let me get this straight, if my neighborhood was being burglarized by a middle aged Mexican woman, I should probably stay in my home and not walk to a store because, I’m Mexican and might get mistaken for the thief? The person that wrote that the media, judged Zimmerman too quickly, what about Trayvon? He was judged, juried, and given a death sentence in one night simply for “looking” suspicious. I’ve seen pics of people dressed as Santa and holding up corner stores. Does this mean if a guy is dressed up as Santa and he’s walking down the street to his dad’s fiance’s house, it’s okay to shoot him? Yes, let the courts decide his fate, even though he didn’t give Trayvon that chance.

Just look at the posts that are obviously written by racists, and none of you are saying anything about it. Yet, when a poster calls Zimmerman a murderer, here you all come denouncing it. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you are going to check someone for calling Zimmerman a murder (since he killed someone) why not check someone who is saying bad things about Trayvon who is already dead. I already know the answer to this, so I don’t know why I even posed that question.

Respect to Reuters. Its a bit late but they have done a good job putting together the background on Zimmerman.

This would not be such a huge national issue if it were not for the insistence upon Travon Martin’s parents for revenge and if it were not for liberal reporters who are also very lazy and dishonest.

Reuters has at least eliminated the lazy and dishonest component and for that they have cause to be proud.

I hesitate to comment on this article due to the fact that some readers refuse to admit that this tragic event was not an act by a racist at all. An excellent article. I sympathize with George Zimmerman as well as empathize with Travon’s parents for with their loss. However, I always questioned why Zimmerman was carrying a gun that night. To me, the altercation never would have happened if he was unarmed. This article provides an excellent insight as to the rational Zimmerman most likely used when he decided to carry the weapon. The biggest problem now is what happens if he is acquitted? Will there be riots like after the verdict of the police officers in the Rodney King trial? I use to live in Sanford. It is a great town. It would be even more tragic if something like that would occur.

Such a biased article. A nervous nelly with a gun, shoots a stoned black kid with the munchies. Thats all this is. Face it everyone, Zimmerman f’d up he killed an unarmed kid who gives a shat what color anyone was. Carried a gun to protect himself and ultimately had too…..??????

Any Commemnts from Sharpton. Jackson, Obama, Holder, Jeremiah and the Cretins of BS NBC??? Or have they done the TYPICAL ” under the Desk” retreat after causing lots of Damage with Insane statements????

For you mental midgets out there: Calling Z a murderer is total BS. That has to be determined in a court of law, and assumes some level of premeditation. At most you can call him a killer. Also – please people – listen to the dispatch tape before you make comments. Otherwise you just sound ignorant. Zimmerman did NOT disregard the dispatcher and continue to follow Trayvon. He was walking back to his vehicle to wait for the police when Trayvon returned to confront him. Listen and get a clue or go back to watching Sponge Bob in your Mommy’s basement !

Hmmm. A slightly more balanced account that the left-wing, dishonest, race-baiting liberal media does not want you to hear.

GoTimothy, So the photo is fake uhh…

Then explain how the persons taking the fake photo would take the time to fake a photo just three minutes after the shooting as the time stamp on the photo shows.

Your statement is wrong about the light issues as it was getting dark at 6:30 PM BECAUSE it was in February before daylight savings time and it was raining with heavy cloud cover on that day and time in Sanford.

And you definitely need to check the color settings on your monitor as the photo of Zimmerman’s head CLEARLY shows that he is wearing the SAME “RED” jacket he is shown getting out of the police car with.

Typical liberal hate monger…. If the facts don’t support your liberal cause then just … MAKE THEM UP!!!

Thanks Mr. Francescani for reporting the facts. It’s a breath of fresh air to encounter a responsible journalist.

Not only does your story provide us with facts about Jorge Zimmerman, but it also reveals that “yellow journalism” is vibrant & widespread in America.

“JohnToner wrote:

HAL 9000. (BTW, cool screen name). Zimmerman’s past history IS relevant; not to “justify” a “crime”, but rather to determine his state-of-mind at the time of the shooting, which is a crucial element to any “crime”. Quite likely Zimmerman was over-zealous, but a 2nd degree murder charge likely is also.”
————-
Very true. Thanks for the civil reply. But I’m still not opening the pod bay doors. ;)

Rueters you raised yourself back up in my personal opinion polls with this piece. It’s good to see some journalism that isn’t screaming racial warfare over this case.

Sad story all around.

@valeball:

BRAVO!! Beautifully put but sadly all the race baiters/haters/bigots cant see past the facts of this case.

“…He was raised in a racially integrated household and himself has black roots through an Afro-Peruvian great-grandfather…”

Naw, race ain’t got nothing to do with it.

For the most part a somewhat decent written article. However, putting “This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.” is like feeding hungry animals after starving them for a week. Maybe it should have been a bit more accurate. Like This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, when he started follow Trayvon Martin until the police adviced against pursuing Martin, at that point he said “ok”, Followed shortly by “wait he is appraching me. He is reaching into his pocket, I am not sure if he has a gun.” then the phone went dead. By stating it the way you did causes the haters to say see he chased the poor defensless child down gun in hand and shot him.

This is like M Night Shyamalan movie, the twist just keep coming

What a bunch of whiners! “Boo hoo, boo hoo! Liberal media! Liberal media!” Sheesh! I know you are so much more advanced than the rest of us “sheep,” but get over yourselves!

Had good old George shot your son or grandson, you’d be rambling on your your armchairs about how you can’t trust the police to protect you or the justice system to preserve your rights. You’d all head out and get your own guns and chase around your hero, Zimmerman, maligning him as a criminal. It wouldn’t matter to you a bit that Zimmerman was polite, or that his property value has dropped (?), or that he was an altar boy. No, if a young person that you actually cared about had been shot and killed after walking to the store, you would be devastated, and you would want Zimmerman to be arrested, and to have his day in court.

There is nothing inherently “liberal” about wanting to have a trial in this case, and if your loved-one was dead (regardless of whether or not he “attacked” the armed stranger who was following him around) you’d all be whistling a different tune.

Or not. You’d all probably still be whining about the liberal media, just with a different set of talking points.

The state of Florida is a nightmare.

Trayvon did NOT belong in that neighborhood. Zimmerman had been burnt by a lackadaisical police force before, and had a responsibility as community captain, to protect the community and himself. One less criminal is now afoot as a result. Bravo, George Zimmerman.

If Obama had a son, he’d look like Zimmerman.

Didn’t see my post so I’ll try again. If the neighborhood my fathers’ fiance lives in has been burglarized by middle aged Mexican women, I shouldn’t walk to the neighbor store when I’m visiting because I’m a Mexican middle aged woman and I might be mistaken for the burglars. Am I right? Since pics have been posted of people wearing Santa suits holding up convenience stores, we should all go around following guys in Santa suits because they may be about to rob a convenience store. Am I right? Yes, we should let the courts decide because we all know that the courts have a history of objectively using all the facts and forensics to put criminals in prison for crimes. Right? Zimmerman deserves a trial by judge and jury. Trayvon, never got that chance…he was judged, juried, and executed all in one night. Peace

1st I do not agree with the path that Mr. Zimmerman took. However, what is going to shock people is the way the Florida courts have ruled on the Stand your Ground defense. The courts have ruled in many cases that the time leading up to the point you “stand your ground” is not very relevant as long as you were not engaged in illegal activity. The Tampa Bay Times ran an excellent article on how Florida Courts have ruled on the law: http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/article1222930.ece.

So Zimmerman, based on appearance and last name, appears to be a white man possibly Jewish who was racially profiling Trayvon ’cause that’s what all white people do. Based on that profiling, he hunted Trayvon down like a dog and shot him. Oh wait! He’s Hispanic…well white Hispanic…and it doesn’t matter his friends and family include black people…There are no wounds visible in te (blurry photos)…oh wait, he actually was bleeding from the head…except that he actually instigated the problem which is why Trayvon tried to ‘stand his ground’ and beat his head against the sidewalk after apparently knocking him down with a punch. And, so what, his Great granfather was black…he was out to kill black people who seemed suspicious just because they’re black. Hmmm, as the story unfolds, one has to wonder WHO was actually being RACIALLY profiled! You know, the real problem regarding REAL racism, is that it occurs in every race

great article until they went right back to the typical media fueled line that Zimmerman pursued the kid… that is still under investigation.. the history and the account from the African American neighbor sure give a different slant than has been reported…

When seconds count police are always minutes away. When the typical call to arrival of police is around 45 minutes we all have a responsibility to protect ourselves. Anyone who thinks walking around a neighborhood at night is a good idea is just being stupid.
PaulC has is right… “WE ARE ALL GEORGE ZIMMERMAN.”

The “Reverend” Al Sharpton’s resume:

1. Tawana Brawley;
2.Korean shop keeper;
3. Duke LaCrosse (all 19 of them);
4. Zimmerman.

And Sharpton calls himself a Christian?

Thank God for men like Zimmerman who are willing to risk his life to save others.

There is noway any jury would convict Zimmerman. This is just a profile on George wait till the defense profiles Trayvon.

I just cannot get away from conservative blogs, lol. Every blog I go to is loads and loads of racist people PRAYING that Zimmerman gets off, while not caring one bit for an unarmed dead teenager. None of us know if Zimmerman is telling the truth or not. If Zimmerman was dead and Trayvon were alive, you all would be saying that Trayvon is lying. God does not like ugly. You all are fighting what your conscience is telling you and absorbing what the hate is wanting you to feel. Karma comes around full circle.

What a great article! Now we need the same kind of article to profile Trayvon Martin for us.

I grew up in Detroit and pretty much the same thing happened. We started to have a lot more crime, the police talked a good story but didn’t do anything. I called them numerous times. We all started carrying guns or had them in the house. And, yes, there were incidents. Eventually, I moved out. It had got to the point where I would have had to shoot someone to protect my family and property. I had decided it wasn’t worth it.

George Zimmerman has a history of being violent and does not do well when in situations where he feels “threatened”. This man needs to be off of the streets so no further harm can be done.

Excellent article. Forward to all of your contacts.

Gee, if Obama had a son, he’d look just like George Zimmerman.

Context is everything. It is very sad that the case has been reported by some media outlet in a visibly biased way. And, of course, the news vultures a-la-Sharpton and Mr. Jackson that only show up when there is a dead body and all they do is incite and exacerbate the public sentiment.

This story puts all things in context. That is what news reporting should be about.

One thing about altar boys. That doesn’t seem to correlate with the kind of adult they grow up to be. How many criminals were altar boys? And religion doesn’t guarantee good behavior, either.

I wonder: how much of the crime information you reported will make it to the rest of the left-stream media? They love to call profiling involving race, racist. But the crime statistics speak for themselves. The odds are if you see a black person in a neighborhood where they are not normally seen, you become suspicious.

If Obama had a little brother he would look like…..

Good morning, while all appreciate your account of Mr. Zimmerman’s history. The fact still remains that a young man is dead. While we can all appreciate the concern of the neighborhood around the rash of break-ins in the community, a young man is dead. If Mr. Zimmerman would have remained in his vehicle and not pursued Trayvon this could have all been avoided. Call it murder, call it involuntary manslaughter. An innocent life was taken. If it were someone in your family who was killed by Mr. Zimmerman, I’m certain that you would want to see justice served.

Interesting.. this story left off the hateful racial-slur Z uttered in Martin’s case first that led to the killing.

JamesInGermany wrote:
“First of all, we “wing-nuts” are only asking for a fair trial…not convict someone of a crime before he receives due process. It is those on the left that support a lynching in this case.”

The wing-nuts are saying Zimmerman is innocent, a hero, and totally justified in killing somebody.

JamesInGermany wrote:
“Zimmerman thought a friend of his was being attacked by two adult men in civilian clothing who turned out to be cops.”

So he has a history of reacting violently, just as I said. He thought his friend was being attacked, and reacted violently. He though Trayvon was a burglar, just because of his colour, and – true to form – reacted violently.

JamesInGermany wrote:
“However, I am probably wasting my time explaining this because it does not fit the liberal agenda. In this case, the truth does not matter.”

In your opinion, had Trayvon been white, would he be have been killed by Zimmerman or not?

I know the truth of this situation: Zimmerman killed Trayvon. That is a fact. Zimmerman was holding the gun. Zimmerman pulled the trigger. Zimmerman is responsible, no matter how wing-nuts try to pretend that it is Trayvons fault that Zimmerman decided to kill someone.

In all honestly I don’t really care what the court says. Even if Zimmerman does get off on a technicality because of a dumb law pushed through by ALEC, a right-wing activist group, I am not going to admire the guy. He needlessly killed somebody: end of story.

Wow. This is the first mainstream media account that is fair and somewhat accurate regarding this young man. The only thing I would question is the comment that Zimmerman “went after” Martin. We don’t really know that; in fact, I think Zimmerman says the boy got in his face when he realized Zimmerman was following him, which he was doing because of the numerous previous breakins.

Kudos to this reporter for actually doing some real reporting though.

George Z. is no racist in reviewing his background. Even if He was, it does not change the need to protect ones self, property, and his commitment to protect Twin Lakes. The court will not provide a fair trial. Prosecution is politically charged and careers are built on these cases. George should be given a metal of honor and heros welcome for protecting his neighbors. Instead He is drug through the courts. Our society is full of evil justice.

Shhh..don’t say anything aboyt Zimmerman’s race too loud..you will upset the rabid morons who are still trying to incite hate by lying to everyone about him somehow being white…

Okay folks, here is what I want to know…. A black women sayss: “I’m black, OK?” the woman said, declining to be identified because she anticipated backlash due to her race.”
Who are the loving, caring compassionate people … NOT THE BLACKS WHO USE FEAR OF BACKLASH.

Who immediately complains of racism, bias, prejudice … yet, who jumps to those very conclusions about Zimmerman and states that is what HE is? The blacks who use fear of backlash.

Who won’t examine the facts of the case, who won’t accept Zimmerman’s apology, who is out beating-up white people in the name of Trayvone, who is the unruly mob in the streets, who is inciting violence and stirring the pot of hate .. The blacks who use fear of backlash.

WHO USES VIOLENCE TO GET THEIR WAY? THE BLACKS who use fear of backlash.

WHO IS TO BLAME FOR ALL OF THIS .. The blacks who use fear of backlash along with Trayvone who used violence and Trayvone’s parents who use other to threaten violence …

Who are the violent people .. The blacks in this case.

Who are the raciest, the prejudice people, the bias hate mongers … the blacks

Who is getting sick and tired of their mindless, emotionalism and repeated wrongs whenever they jump into action without the facts … the whites.

Who wants a race war Obama and his liberal, progressive news media who use the stupidity of blacks to twist these matters into chains of slavery.

George Zimmerman, whether found innocent or guilty, will never be safe. He most likely will have to relocate OUTSIDE of the USA

Chris Francescani: Is you next story going to be about rehabilitating some other “evil-doer”? Like for example Ted Bundy? Many people who knew him 1)Liked him 2) If they were women, were safe because they knew him and he knew them-Like one of my best friends. Unlike a Sorority girl up at the Univ of Washington who he murdered right after two of my Fraternity Brothers were the very last to see her. What I am getting at it rather simple-Everyone has many shades of greys in their lives. But in this case, let deal with the shade of grays that happened that night, when Zimmerman first saw and started to follow, became the pursuer.

Talk about cluttering and confusing the issue, what tripe, do writers get paid by words regardless of relevance?? Pathetic. FACTS Trayvon was wanna be nigga gangsta, look at true pictures. He was involved in drugs suspended from school, involved in burglaries, roaming the neighbor hood at 3 am in the rain, all of us sane people go to circle k 3 in the morning. for skittles and ice tea. Get serious.

Why is there no mention of Zimmerman’s arrests for domestic violence (twice), assaulting a police officer, and resisting arrest? Why is there no mention of how he had to take court-ordered anger management classes in 2005? Why is there no mention of how Zimmerman got fired from his job for overly aggressive behavior after he “snapped” and went “nuts” according to coworkers?

Nice job at selective reporting, but unfortunately all this spin is not going to change this indisputable fact: Trayvon Martin, who has no record of violence like Zimmerman does, and who was minding his business while walking to his father’s home in his father’s neighborhood, would still be alive if George Zimmerman had left him alone. Period.

the article was great, until the last paragraph or so. At that point, the author made the assumption that GZ ignored the 911 dispatcher and continued pursuit, because ‘they always get away’. This is in conflict to what GZ described to police, where he broke off pursuit and was attacked at his vehicle. In toto, the article takes you in with alot of good background, and lulls you into accepting the last, crucial part making it very dishonest.

But the NY Times said he was a “white hispanic.” Oh no! Another lie.

What a display of self-righteousness in the majority of these posts. I agree that this article is a much more in-depth look into what may have led Zimmerman to pull the trigger that night. However, none of it excuses or erases the fact that a young man was shot dead. How that occurred, and whether or not Zimmerman has any criminal liability for the death, does need to be examined . . . and that was not going to occur initially. That is why your so-called “circus” occurred. Had the police simply done their job and arrested Zimmerman initially, none of the things that so irk you folks would have occurred. Unfortunately, only with a media frenzy and cries of racism did an arrest occur . . . and that still took weeks to happen. Finally, you are engaging in the same kind of character assassination you profess to hate, but your target is Martin instead of Zimmerman. Calm down the hysteria please, and be fair to ALL sides.

@RoaringFish

“…He needlessly killed somebody: end of story….” If he didn’t defend himself after being attacked at his truck (physical evidence we have all supported) , we would be reading about how TM shot a guy after a weapon steal. No, that’s not quite right; TM would have scurried away like a rat and we still would have not known who killed George Zimmerman.

Reverse racism is blinded by color. People struggle to give the kid a pass and paint him a victim because he was black.

@Mott… slur? get with the program, man. That was refuted early on after one of the networks had the tape digitally enhanced and what was said was not a racial slur.

I fear for our country as obama and his regime continue to split our brothers and sisters apart. There are certain people in this country who do not want us to get along, for reasons that are not Christian. It’s all about greed, power and control, and all about taking our God given blessed country down. There is a faction in our government that is promoting racism and inciting it, as they control the media and what they report and what they indoctrinate into our citizens minds. Unfortunately, our citizens are incapable of thinking for themselves, and the government knows this, because they have guided us this way since the end of WWII. These factions HAVE to conquer us from within to reach their goal of destroying our freedom and our liberties. Trayvon is as good a way to do it as any. Until people can stop and think for themselves and reason and see what is happening, these factions will use them as they see fit to accomplish their goal of destroying the most blessed country this world has ever known. I have never understood how blacks can accuse our country of being racist when they are treated the best of any nation on earth, they have more opportunity here than any nation on earth, and they have succeeded more here than anywhere on earth, and ARE equal here. Why can’t they see this? Why do they let the real racists control their minds and actions? These factions don’t care a jot about them, they are using them to destroy their home and their way of life for their own agenda. They could care less about racism, but are the cheif racists and we are their pawns. Wake up sheeple, you are about to encounter a world you have never experienced before in your wildest imaginations. A nightmare twilight zone of real slavery and real hardship beyond anything you can imagine. Communism and Islam rolled into one huge package that Revelation can only describe. God help us and keep His people safe.

NO WE are not all George Zimmerman not eve. Close we all donnit strapnon avuncular and put ourselves in the situation he did

Gonna get ugly when GZ is acquitted (if this makes it to trial!)

All of the FACTS point to justified self defense

All of the SPECULATION is what we get in the media

Good luck, haters cuz GZ did the right thing

No we are not all George Zimmerman. Not even. Close

Dig under this story and the outcomes, such as the racist remark by RoaringFish: “… had Trayvon been white, would he be (sic) have been killed by Zimmerman or not?” – and you will find the root causes are the result of the liberal agenda: 1-Dumb down the schools by allowing unions (liberal) to control the schools, not allow competition such as by charter or voucher, and make sure the kids are proselyte liberals. 2-Make minimum wage laws that do the exact opposite of the intended purpose that end up eliminating teenage jobs. 3-Once the kids enter the workforce, hide the fact that they are behind the high prices by putting a third party (liberal government employees) between their employer and the consumer, which only raises prices to PAY that third party (reduce employment to everyone including Trayvon). 4-After all of the above has taken its toll on society, blame conservatives and demand MORE government to correct the problem – hence the continued cycle. The basic argument that I just put fourth doesn’t even touch on the fact that a majority of blacks buy into the liberal (speak democrat) package thus continuing the destruction of everyone’s future.

Dig under this story and the outcomes, such as the racist remark by RoaringFish: “… had Trayvon been white, would he be (sic) have been killed by Zimmerman or not?” – and you will find the root causes are the result of the liberal agenda: 1-Dumb down the schools by allowing unions (liberal) to control the schools, not allow competition such as by charter or voucher, and make sure the kids are proselyte liberals. 2-Make minimum wage laws that do the exact opposite of the intended purpose that end up eliminating teenage jobs. 3-Once the kids enter the workforce, hide the fact that they are behind the high prices by putting a third party (liberal government employees) between their employer and the consumer, which only raises prices to PAY that third party (reduce employment to everyone including Trayvon). 4-After all of the above has taken its toll on society, blame conservatives and demand MORE government to correct the problem – hence the continued cycle. The basic argument that I just put fourth doesn’t even touch on the fact that a majority of blacks buy into the liberal (speak democrat) package thus continuing the destruction of everyone’s future.

I am with HAL.9000 and valeball. I thought Valeball’s ‘explanation’ was about perfect.

I do not think Zimmerman was racist, never did, just too aggressive. However the cops that did not arrest him the night of the incident sure could be. this would have NEVER been a story had he been arrested and charged that night.

I just wanted to thank you for this well written and informative article. Now that more facts are finally out, it is clear that millions of people have rushed to judge Mr. Zimmerman inappropriately.

Nice to hear “The rest of the story”. I feel terrible for all concerned, and poor Zimmerman is now the victim of Racial hatred and not the other way around. I do pray he gets a fair trial, given the background, I could have easily done the same!

Finally an accurate and fairly comprehensive article. Let’s see if other media outlets pick it up. Al? Jesse? Are you there? I’m sure you don’t want to read this.

I would like to know since the shooting has there been anymore break-ins or crime activity in the community? If not, then shooting people who are criminals and who attempt to beat the crap out of you seems to be one way of dealing with crime when the state isn’t able to stop it and lock these people up. I’m so sick and tired of robbers getting away with stealing while speeders are given traffic tickets. In one police action there is a victim in the other the police make you into a victim … which is really the greater crime and which isn’t addressed and which results in people having to defend themselves from criminals

Great example of a straight recitation of facts, which is what journalism should be all about. Except from my reading of the 911 call transcript, Zimmerman did indeed seem to stop his pursuit of Martin when told to.

Dispatcher: Are you following him? Zimmerman: Yeah Dispatcher: Ok, we don’t need you to do that. Zimmerman: Ok Dispatcher: Alright sir what is your name? Zimmerman: George…He ran. Dispatcher: Alright George what’s your last name? Zimmerman: Zimmerman Dispatcher: And George what’s the phone number you’re calling from?

http://tinyurl.com/zimmerman-transcript

Roaringfish, he did not think Martin was a burglar just because of his color.

1) He did not recognize him as someone who lived in the neighborhood.

2) He was walking around somewhat aimlessly, outside the clubhouse, in the rain.

3) From a distance, Zimmerman could tell that he fit the description of burglars who had been plaguing their neighborhood for the better part of a year. While yes, that description included the race of the burglars, it also included their approximate size and age, as well as their attire (hoodies).

If the burglars had been described as white men in their 30′s wearing jeans with holes, wifebeaters, and who had shaved heads, I am relatively certain that if Zimmerman had seen such an individual – a stranger to the neighborhood that he walked each night – walking aimlessly around in the rain that he would have called for police to come check out suspicious behavior then, too.

Do you know who we should all be pointing fingers at?

The burglars who created a situation in which others who look similar to them must be ‘checked out’ by the police to ensure that they are not a danger to the neighborhood.

We’re now patting down grannies and infants in airports in an attempt to be PC and not let the known descriptions of previous terrorists be the template for possible future terrorist arrests.

Perhaps in order to achieve some equity, we need to have people like Zimmerman randomly call 911 when he sees people who don’t fit the description of a neighborhood burglar walking around. You know – 10 year old girls, 80 year old men, mothers pushing strollers.

The story is very sympathetic to G. Zimmerman indeed. It’s a matter over where the story places emphasis and where the level of detail is provided.

We learn much more about the career of Zimmerman’s father and the origins of his grandmother than we do about the anger that apparently fuels him. What of that need for anger management? Did he attend the course? Did any of this friends or family remark on his anger? Or the need by his fiancee for a restraining order?

Telling, too, is the way the shooting is described by the Reuters reporter: The shooting “occurred.” Zimmerman just happened to pull the trigger on the “occurrence.”

Two months to late to stop the race baiters and media from inciting unnecessary violence across the country harming many lives. This article tells allot about the quality of Zimmerman’s character and leaves much doubt about anything the Martin family and the media have said about zimmerman. What it fails to mention is the connection between elements in the media, the race baiters and the WH! How NBC and other media outlets manipulated their coverage of a man involved in a tragic fatal self defense case to the point where a bounty was put on his head, were celebrities harmed innocent families, were people were hospitalized, congressman made fools of themselves, where people had to step aside from doing their jobs, were people were physically harmed and jailed because of there manipulations of the facts. An absolute disgrace! Everyone harmed should get together and have a Class Action Lawsuit against the media and the race-baiters.

Two months to late to stop the race baiters and media from inciting unnecessary violence across the country harming many lives. This article tells allot about the quality of Zimmerman’s character and leaves much doubt about anything the Martin family and the media have said about zimmerman. What it fails to mention is the connection between elements in the media, the race baiters and the WH! How NBC and other media outlets manipulated their coverage of a man involved in a tragic fatal self defense case to the point where a bounty was put on his head, were celebrities harmed innocent families, were people were hospitalized, congressman made fools of themselves, where people had to step aside from doing their jobs, were people were physically harmed and jailed because of there manipulations of the facts. An absolute disgrace! Everyone harmed should get together and have a Class Action Lawsuit against the media and the race-baiters.

After reading some of the comments on this forum, I question whether or not some people even read the article. It gives a valuable insight into the possible mindset of George Zimmerman leading up to the tragic event.
1. The pit bull episode where on three, count them three, occasions George Zimmerman feared for the safety of a loved one.
2. The rash of burglaries in the neighborhood where young, african-american, males were identified as the culprits
3. George Zimmerman addressing the Home Owners Association and requesting that they do something about these burglaries.
4. The HOA asking him, asking him, to start up a Neighborhood Watch program.
5. The burglaries, and break-ins, continuing throughout the neighborhood with George Zimmerman observing an attempted one right acroos the street from his house. This occurred two weeks prior to the shooting, and once again, the suspect got away before the police responded.
This is all very important. It all shows the possible frame of mind of George Zimmerman.
Second Degree Murder? Absolutely no way. Not even Manslaughter. The broken nose, blood on the back of his head, grass stains on the back of his shirt, are even more proof of his testimony. Yes, you liberals will counter with something so preposterous that I know I’m wasting my time even trying to convince you. Question- Do you believe that we actually landed on the moon? Or that there was a holocaust in WW II?

If he had shot a white tea party person, or strong conservative, he would be showered with gifts….

To 911014ever; I’m confused regarding your catagorizationof this man as a whack murderer. This is one of the best pieces written about GZ since this tragedy took place and it is the first that attempts to put a real face on the suspect GZ. For once I believe Reuters actually did the correct thing to counter the racially charged court of public opinion on this matter. I’ve read your other comments and this one doesn’t match the quality and thoughtfulness of the others. Did you have a bad day when you wrote this one or did someone hi-jack your handle?

Not enough people will read this article or not enough will choose to start looking at this horrible incident with other than a racially or emotionally charged point of view.

Consider the facts of the neighborhood situation and it is a scenario taking place all around the Country. Plummeting home values, vacant homes and a criminal faction moving in that smells blood in the water. It is a powder keg waiting for a convenient match to be struck. Coming to a neighborhood near you.

When a legal genius like Allen Dershowitz says the case was grossly overcharged and that exculpatory evidence — the pictures of the back of Zimmerman’s head — were excluded from the affidavit, I tend to believe him. The affidavit is criminal on its face, the prosecutor had no right to say “I am here to get justice for Trayvon,” because it implies that ONLY Trayvon deserves justice; and it is clear that this issue is being directed by Eric Holder, under pressure from Al Sharpton.

When a legal genius like Allen Dershowitz says the case was grossly overcharged and that exculpatory evidence — the pictures of the back of Zimmerman’s head — were excluded from the affidavit, I tend to believe him. The affidavit is criminal on its face, the prosecutor had no right to say “I am here to get justice for Trayvon,” because it implies that ONLY Trayvon deserves justice; and it is clear that this issue is being directed by Eric Holder, under pressure from Al Sharpton.

What? He’s not a racist ‘white’ hispanic? Dang it, there goes that narative….The reverends Jackson and Sharpton better come up with something new fast.

Defiant One obviously doesn’t know how to read. Those things are mentioned in the article very clearly.

Good in depth article about Zimmerman, now where is the in depth history of Trayvon Martin? I believe in self defence, no matter what color you are. I believe in concealed carry, and protecting your own neighborhood. I also believe, you live like a thug, you die like a thug.

So who cares about his race

So as more and more background information is discovered it becomes more clear of Mr. Zimmermans actions. He’s not the vililante the Black community want’s everybody to believe. He did’t “profile” the young kid, as the black community wants all to beleive. BLACKS who were burglarizing the community set everything in motion. Sharton, Jackson, everyone (Black) wants to hang this guy before all the information is brought out. How many white’s get shot, killed, why aren’t these same people yelling out about it. Nothing is going to change until we stop using color as a crutch.

@ConcernedUSA: fantastic post. brought a tear to my eye. you totally hit it on the head. Best of Luck.

So if you are part black and you call someone the “N” word while beating them up could it still be considered a racial hate crime?

So now he is a black hispanic? Take that Al Sharpton!

If break-ins and other vandalism in that area stops, then offing that punk kid worked. People need to take more responsibility for their safety and property in the areas they live. Its too bad Martin had to die but, sometimes it takes a strong message to get the point across.
Let that be a lesson to those who think they can get away with vandalism.

Sounds good to me. Now tell me one thing. Why did it take a British news reporting agency to find out what really happened? Why did all US news agencies kow-tow to black ghetto hustlers like Al Sharpton (remember Tawana Browley?) and Jesse Jackson (remember his history of extorting money from US companies?).
This disgusts me. It is another election year racist load of turds.
The media should have to each give Mr. Zimmerman $1 million in character reperations. Shame on them.

Now this is a very different picture of George Zimmerman. It’s accurate up to the end when it states:

“This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.”

I say that because he NEVER even talked to the police. He talked to a 911 dispatcher (with no legal authority) and even so, when he was told, “We don’t need you to do that,” he said “OK” and began to return to his truck.

The media cannot help itself.. They write this article to show him in a favorable light and then end it with a lie.

They simply are determined to make this guy look guilty.

It’s becoming increasingly clear why the local authorities did not file charges on this and why it took two months of ginned up grievance-industry outrage on the national level before a state prosecutor acted.

They’ve been looking for something like this to revive their movement for some years now. Remember the “Jena 6″? They thought they finally had a winner this time.

But the more you find out, the closer you get, the less of a case there is. The neighbors knew the score all along. These are his peers, the people who will make up the jury. I would be surprised if he isn’t acquitted.

I completely am lost why this has anything to do with race.

Any teenager boy or boys wandering the streets late at night is suspicious. I grew up in Canada in a predominately white neighborhood and it’s well known teenage boys are the most common cause for vandalism and general carnage – just by the nature of their hormones – trying to prove each other they are it. I also remember my youth.

Starting to really believe there is big business in racism. Otherwise it would not be in the news so much for no apparent reason other than to incite more racism.

This article does not go there – which is great. Just crazy to see this spiraling out of control to the point of street fights over his article. I imagine a war with Iran will be started using this same American mentality (a planted dirty bomb in a city near you in the near future – with Iranian fingerprints).

There is only one conclusion we can make from this. – We need to outlaw pit bulls. This whole thing would have been avoided if George’s neighbor didn’t have an out of control pit bull.

Gives a very mental image to the saying “There goes the neighborhood” eh? That neighborhood needs a Corporate Sponsor. Someone like Sig Sauer, or Smith and Wesson. I wonder how the crime rates have changed since the shooting. I’d bet they’re down.

Now this is a very different picture of George Zimmerman. It’s accurate up to the end when it states:

This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.

I say that because he NEVER even talked to the police. He talked to a 911 dispatcher (with no legal authority) and even so, when he was told, “We don’t need you to do that,” he said “OK” and began to return to his truck.

The media cannot help itself.. They write this article to show him in a favorable light and then end it with a lie.

They simply are determined to make this guy look guilty.

Methinks the vile dogs (no pun intended) at Reuters are having a major case of guilt. What is this a white wash of the previous journalistic malfeasance where Zimmerman was declared guilty of murder by the very media that Reuters is part of?

Once again the “elephant in the room” is being ignored. Has it occurred to anyone that God Himself may have played a BIG part in this story.?
Perhaps He just simply wanted to bring His child Trayvon home.

Thanks to Reuters for publishing this long overdue piece on Mr. Zimmerman. IT NEEDS TO APPEAR ON THE FRONT PAGE OF EVERY NEWSPAPER IN THE COUNTRY, AS DID THE VITRIOLIC VERBIAGE REGURGITATED BY THE WHITE HATER RACIST, RACE-BAITING THUGS!!! I would like to see an equally in-depth piece on T. Martin.

Congratulations, Reuters actually did a decent fair story with facts…I am pleasently surprised! Perhaps there are a few real journalist left out there. The only thing I would add towards the end of the story is that it is not a “mystery” what happended between Martin and Zimmerman after the 911 call. When the 911 operator said don’t persue, Zimmerman said “okay” and then lost sight of Martin and went back to his car, that is when Martin confronted him. At this point, there will be no good ending to this, the race baiters have already fanned the flames and our Divider and Chief Obama threw a little gasoline on it. If the sentence is less than murder they will riot.

Congratulations Reuters for a legitimate piece of Journalism!
True. This article is a little late. The MSM has already held a trial and convicted George Zimmerman of manslaughter. Yet, as the saying goes, “better late than never!”
It’s about time you published “the rest of the story.”
Thank you!

Finally a news report that just reports facts, all the facts it can get, and does so pretty much unbiased. WOW I never thought I would see that. If all news outlets took the time and lived up to these standards the entire US would be a much better place. How long ago did this shooting happen before it was reported in the mainstream media? Seems to me they had plenty of time to get all these facts and report on them if they had actually care to. Shame on all the news outlets who did not take the time. Some like this should have been what was first reported in the mainstream media but all we got was a one sided story that was meant to sensationalize and grab ratings not actually report.

It would be helpful if people would allow the evidence to come out before hanging Mr. Zimmerman. Similar circumstances exist where I live.Our gates are being installed soon. I’ve been physically attacked in my complex. I do not go out with a gun as we can’t do that here. I wouldn’t want to have one anyway. This business of people coming onto private property is infuriating. They dump their garbage and rumage through our garbage so we have to shred documents going out. Also, lots of graffiti that we must pay for. I don’t care who is doing it. And we get all kinds. I don’t like them regardless of who they are.

Zimmerman saved the country a whole bunch of welfare and incarceration dollars by teaching that punk not to bring skittles to a gun fight.

The neighborhood where I live use to be very quite and nice. But now there are a lot of drug related people around. You have to lock up everything. I have seen them going through people back yards. They even came on, my back porch and help themselves out with my personnel belonging.
Go get them George Zimmererman. I am with you.

you were good right up to the “and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin” part. I’ve heard the tape. When the dispatcher asked an out of breath Zimmerman if he was following the suspect and he said yes the dispatcher said, “We don’t need you to do that” to which Zimmerman said “OK” (and stopped breathing hard shortly thereafter) and for the next 90 seconds of the tape tried to coordinate where he was going to meet the police patrol car. If Martin had just been trying to get home, he had plenty of time to do so. Zimmerman lost contact with him during that taped conversation. What happened next only two people really knew and unfortunately one of them is dead. This distortion of the known facts and valid assumptions is intellectually dishonest and crappy journalism. That Martin is dead is a tragedy, what the race hustlers and the media are doing is a travesty.

I am a middle aged professional woman living with my family in CA; when I grew up in Scandinavia, nobody had weapons except for hunters far away from cities. So, for decades I was against citizens having guns for protection. Until a large male black brindle pit bull started to occasionally wander onto our yard. When I tried to shoo him home – from a large distance – he raised his hairs on the back and growled at me, sizing me up and I could see he would not hesitate to attack, so I got inside the nearby barn door. After a few more visits, I convinced my husband to get a shotgun and we all learned to use it. Haven’t needed to shoot the dog yet, but will if necessary. WOW what a similarity to the case above; real threats occurring, and someone taking appropriate action to protect.
The only honest person in the Zimmerman-Martin story, besides Mr Zimmerman, seems to have been the black woman neighbor who rightfully didn’t want to give out her name AS OTHER BLACKS might have hurt or killed her for telling them the uncomfortable truth…that black boys were commiting crimes in the neighborhood!!

Wasn’t the AP on the SAME BANDWAGON as the other media outlets that stirred up the public with irresponsible ‘reporting’, at the outset of this case?

The neighbor did tremendous damage to Zimmerman’s defense by slipping up and saying: “There were black boys robbing houses in this neighborhood. That’s why George was suspicious of Trayvon Martin.” So even his friends are now admitting that he chose to pursue Trayvon because of his skin color. This is a very incriminating slip up.

I’m not out to “persecute” this guy just because the boy he shot was black. This article has gone out of it’s way to supposedly put this man and this shooting in perspective, making Zimmerman a sympathetic character, yet I still can’t see any justification for the shooting and killing of this boy. I’m just not buying the whole he was in fear for his life argument. There has been absolutely zero evidence to support that the kid in any way threatened Zimmerman. Seriously, exactly WHY did Zimmerman feel it necessary to shoot the kid? Because he was running away (in fear for his life!), so Zimmerman was afraid he’d get away? I’m sorry, but to me that’s not a good excuse to take a kid’s life. And even IF Trayvon Martin did something as “threatening” as raising his fists to protect himself from the crazy white guy chasing him, or even IF he took a swing at him, (and there’s no evidence of either), would that have been a good excuse to shoot him? There’s just nothing there to prove this kid was guilty of anything except walking home. He was the VICTIM here. Please, people, stop making excuses for Zimmerman. The best that can possibly be said in his defense is that MAYBE he was pumped up on adrenaline and made a HUGE mistake, one that cost a boy his life. But please don’t try to argue that the shooting was JUSTIFIED, because it wasn’t. Killing a person because some past events have made you fearful and paranoid enough to believe that just because a person is of the same race as those you’re afraid of, and MIGHT therefore possibly be one of “them” because he’s walking in your neighborhood, should not make be considered a reasonable argument for killing. Seriously, people, some of you really need to hear yourselves on record.

The media just can’t get it right. Trayvon was not “heading home” as this article represents. Trayvon did not live in this community, period.

Zimmerman did not make a racial slur. The comment was hard to hear and was determined that it wasn’t a racial slur after being checked by audio Engineers. It’s always racism when blacks get in trouble. No one knows who was at fault in this. We need to hear from witnesses. Not just immediately cry racism. I guess it’s okay for people to rob,burgle and trespass as they do where I live. We don’t like people coming in here when they don’t live here and just hang out like our private property is a park for them to use and sell drugs. We’re getting our gates soon and have a good relationship with the police. We call them and they come. Things are getting better because people care and we work on getting bad tenants out. We no longer allow new owner to rent out their places because they don’t care who lives here as long as they get their money. We are down to 38 renters now and 8 of them are not supposed to be here. They will be forced to move soon. We go to homeowners meetings and note who is making trouble. We must be very careful not to get in arguments with people who don’t belong here because we don’t want to win a fight in the parking lot, we want them out permanently. We have a mixed community and don’t care who lives here as long as they obey the Homeowners rules.

Is Barak Obama going to pine that the black mob who assaulted the caucasian man could look just like his son?

is the media going to make as much of this black mob violence against white people a big story as they did for the white guy killing a black hoodlum in self defense?

Two things bother me about this. First, or course he’s a person and not pure evil. This does not make him innocent. Second, Zimmerman was not a part of any nationally recognized neighborhood watch program. If the article is misleading in this way, I wonder what else is misleading. It is sad that emotions on both sides lead to this kind of distortion. I have only found a handful of articles that are properly sourced. I just hope that cooler heads will prevail in the courts, and that a fair verdict is reached.

So huh? Lots of people using the word Murderer. We will see yes we will see.

Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide (such as manslaughter). As the loss of a human being inflicts enormous grief upon the individuals close to the victim, as well as the fact that the commission of a murder is highly detrimental to the good order within society, most societies both present and in antiquity have considered it a most serious crime worthy of the harshest of punishment. In most countries, a person convicted of murder is typically given a long prison sentence, possibly a life sentence where permitted, and in some countries, the death penalty may be imposed for such an act — though this practice is becoming less common.[1] In most countries, there is no statute of limitations for murder (no time limit for prosecuting someone for murder). A person who commits murder is called a murderer .[2]

Just wondering? Has there been any more break in’s since this kids death?

Free George Zimmerman

Refreshing to find a news source that isn’t stirring the pot of racial hatred like most of the other major news outlets. Our local paper printed an incendiary article of a meeting at a local church here in NC where the pastor called Zimmerman a murderer and and said “they’ve turned monsters loose on us”. I wrote the paper and told them they needed to do the right thing and let the public know that NBC and CNN had altered and misrepresented what was on the 911 tape. They wrote me back and said they got their news feed from The Associated Press and hadn’t seen anything about it. To their credit they said they would check some of the other news outlets. They wrote me back again and told me they had found my info to be true and printed a few lines on what NBC and CNN had done. My point is that The Associated Press is not interested in it unless it suits their agenda.

http://www.inquisitr.com/217011/nbc-producer-fired-for-editing-george-zimmerman-911-call/

You got blacks you got problems: racism, crimes and so on.
Blacks come to a neighborhood, everything goes down!

Now THIS is what the media OUGHT to be about. NBC when it doctored the 911 tape to have Zimmerman saying “he looks suspicious. He looks black.” instead of what he did say, served notice that they are willing to lie to spin a story. Which means we cannot trust them again. Thank you for this story. It says nothing about whether Zimmerman had the right to kill Trayvon but it does let me get a sense of Zimmerman.

Where did the shooting take place?. If it was by Zimmerman’s vehicle, Martin must have followed Zimmerman as Zimmerman was going back to his vehicle and Martin was probably the aggressor. If the shooting took place far away from Zimmerman’s vehicle, then Zimmerman probably didn’t take heed of the 911 operators advice about breaking off the pursuit of Martin and Zimmerman was probably the aggressor.

First the media called him white, then white Hispanic. Now he could be white black. It gets tricky. There will be plenty of faces with egg upon them.

Not one documented fact has been offered that contradicts Zimmerman’s account of what happened that night. Given the absents of such facts, there was [no probable cause] to arrest Zimmerman. Therefore, Zimmerman’s arrest was [illegal]. The prosecutor’s probable cause affidavit consisted of only conjectures and legal irrelevancies. Needless to say, a legitimate probable cause affidavit can’t be based on conjectures and [alleged facts] that have zero legal significance.

The probable cause affidavit offered against Zimmerman is [entirely] based on conjectures and legal irrelevancies.

The outstanding legal irrelevancy offered by Angela Corey is her [assertion] that Zimmerman disobeyed the police dispatcher’s instruction not to follow Trayvon. Even if this [conjecture] were true, Zimmerman would still have retained the legal right of self-defense.

Incidentally, Angela Corey knows that.

The simple fact is, persons have the legal right to follow other persons. Not only that, they have the legal right to approach persons and question them, though the approached person is under no legal obligation to answer their questions or remain in their physical presence.

As I said, the prosecutor’s probable cause affidavit consisted of nothing but conjectures and legal irrelevancies. In other words, the affidavit did not demonstrate the probable cause that would justify Zimmerman being indicted for second degree murder.

At the next pretrial hearing, should the presiding judge grant Zimmerman immunity from prosecution because there was objectively [no probable cause] justifying his arrest, he will be in position to sue Angela Corey for legal malfeasance.

Most amazing was Angela Corey’s lead investigator testifying at Zimmerman’s bond hearing that the prosecution had [no evidence] which contradicts Zimmerman’s account of what happened!

Yes, he actually said that.

But in spite of having [no evidence] to contradict Zimmerman’s account, Angela Corey, nevertheless, asserted the existence of probable cause justifying Zimmerman’s indictment for second degree murder.

Not only should Angela Corey be sued by Zimmerman, she should have her law license revoked for abuse of office.

There were a few beatings by animals who wouldn’t know how to protest or organize if they wanted to. The cameras were turned off and Al Sharpton was gone before it got dark. But generally, the first wave of Trayvon-mania did not result in sufficient racial unrest to satisfy the Left. Reuters (and others) are now re-stoking the fire and hoping for better results. Be careful what you wish for.

Anyone who is interested in seeking justice in the Zimmerman-Trayvvon Martin case needs to read this! It’s always unfortunate when anyone is killed–especially a young person. However, it does happen. I’m sure we’ll never know the responsibility Trayvon bears or does not bear (beyond his attack of Zimmerman) in the situation. We’d all like to not paint Trayvon in any particularly bad light—since he paid an ultimate price, which we all—including Zimmerman—wish he wouldn’t have suffered.

However, it is obvious that “the race card” was thrown into this (initially by Obama, and then by so many others ) to make it a divisive issue in our society. We, as a people, are being manipulated—just as Andrew Breitbart said—in the hopes that we will tear each other up, burn our cities, and create a state for martial law and takeover. The “Occupy” movement of attempted class warfare fizzled out. Unfortunately, this racist movement probably will not fizzle out. We will probably see the fruit of it in the not-so-distant future. Regarding this trumped up “race” “murder,” I heard such lies thrown into the mix as “Didn’t you know that Trayvon was actually shot in the back of the head?” (That was a lie–dreamed up and spread, irresponsibly, by Jesse Jackson in order to foment outrage. After all, who needs any facts if a lie will serve his purposes better). And, “How could the aggressor be shot in the back of the head?” Also, regarding the witness who said he called 911 in response to Zimmerman’s screaming for help when he (Zimmerman) was having his head pounded on the cement by Trayvon Martin, I was told—-strongly and absolutely–as though it was established fact—that that witness was “a paid informant of the FBI.” I have no idea where that “fact” emanated from (possibly from Al Sharpton or Jesse Jackson, as well). But, wherever it emanated from, it was accepted as gospel truth by those who get their news from whatever that source was.

THAT’S the danger our society is coming into at this point. And there’s a HUGE, politically-correct move to “stir this pot” and create what Charles Manson once wrote about in his book, “Helter Skelter”—race riots that will ultimately destroy our society as we know it. At that time, in the ’60s, the prospect seemed very far fetched. Today, it looks more like a question of “when,” not “if.” What’s ludicrous about this is that America is probably the most racially-integrated country in the world today. And, as guilty as we’ve been in the past of terrible atrocities concerning racial discrimination, we are SOOO much better in that respect today. Yet, we are having these fomentors, stirring the pot—to pit us against one another at every turn.

Add those comments to the two media outlets who lied and even DISTORTED the narration/filming they had to cast a condemning light on Zimmerman. First, NBC editing out the 911 call where Zimmerman was asked the question concerning the race of the man he was spotting, and the ABC broadcasting video footage that denied Zimmerman had any signs of harm to his body.

It must have been Zimmermans black roots that turned him into such a monster. Can’t wait until they do away with the “stand your ground” law, make gun ownership illegal and do away with community watch organizations. Then me and the gang won’t have to worry about much resistance when we want to break into whiteys home, do a home invasion, carjacking, rape and murder. That will be a great day for us.

George Zimmerman is being used by the politicians in the USA as a scapegoat.
He was not charged for over a month because he was within the law to protect himself. The prosecutor went along to get along, and bent to political pressure in this case, and should be ashamed of herself.

It is the HATE MONGERS like Sharpton and Jackson and the New Black Panthers who THRIVE on HATE against Whites! Zimmerman’s heritage is Black, Hispanic, and White. As you can tell by this report, he is a gentle man. A caring man. There is more to George Zimmerman that is not in this report…like the time he spent his own money and printed flyers to help a Black homeless man, who was beaten badly by the son of one of Sanford’s White police officers. The New Black Panthers have never been brought up on felony charges of putting out a bounty of DEAD or ALIVE on Zimmerman. Why? Because IMHO, US Attorney General Holder is as corrupt and as much a racist as these people, and as his boss President Obama. For those of you overseas that read this…the USA is run by a bunch of haters, Chicago thugs, and Muslims who plan to take over the USA. And Obama is their wing man, IMHO! Corruption has taken over the USA. The innocent and law abiding citizens who work for a living are being used, hurt, and killed by this crime syndicate.

Back to the report:

I would be proud to have George Zimmerman in my neighborhood, and as a friend!

I agree with GeorgeC. “We are all George Zimmerman.” I really want to pray for that poor, innocent, decent man who was trying to help his fellow citizens of all colors protect themselves from criminals of any color. It’s absolutely ABSURD that this has been made a “race” issue. Few incidents are so blatantly non-race based! I hope against hope that George will get the peace and safety—even the respect–that he deserves.

I don’t know about Trayvon. We all (including George Zimmerman) wish it hadn’t come to his death. He certainly had some responsibility in that happening. How much? We’ll probably never know. But we do—at this moment, at least—still have George Zimmerman alive. We need to all hope and pray that he is not railroaded into something he doesn’t deserve just for defending himself.

It seems to me that the fundamental question STILL remains… exactly what was Martin doing to be considered “suspicious” by Zimmerman? While Zimmerman provided details about Burgess – i.e. he was peeking into windows… I’ve yet to hear anything even remotely equivalent regarding Martin. Perhaps I’ve missed it… but seems to me that the *specifics* regarding what “suspicious” meant in Martin’s case hasn’t been adequately explained and I think that is fundamental in trying to get a grasp on what really entailed with the two came into contact with each other.

My only complaint is that current law isn’t set to deal with use of riot ammo. We should fix the laws so if I shoot a suspect with a rubber bullet and knock him down for ease of collection and live delivery to a judge, I’m not penalised. That way someone like Zimmerman can carry a shotgun loaded with ‘beanbag’ riot rounds and legally defend his neighbourhood without adding to the body count and without antagonising the neighbours he’s supposed to be protecting.

I’ve been following the Martin/Zimmerman information since March and am holding reservations on all information. Retaining what I know so far, I can’t help but wonder if this article is a Public Relations attempt to gussie up Zimmerman. This article actually reiterates everything I have read about Geo. Zimmerman.

Furthermore, I am aghast at posters who try to bring politics into the senseless, tragic death of a young boy who had just turned 17 years of age before his life was ended, Feb.26th. “Liberal” and “Obama” is stated so frequently, you would think we are slated to go to the polls for a special vote on the Zimmerman/Martin trial soon. Give it a rest. This article is not a political forum. This country is divided enough without bringing political hatred and racial bias into the mix. Much of the commentary here is doing exactly the same things they accuse Sharpton and the Black Panthers of doing. Both commentaries from each side have no place here or anywhere else.

It makes no difference what we think. A jury of his peers will decide Zimmerman’s innocence or guilt (based on the evidence.) Let the Justice System do their jobs.

i think the truth is that trayvon was scared of this strange man following him so he tried 2 run but zimmerman chase and haunted him down, and likely tried 2 detain this kid until the police got there. thats when the fight started by zimmerman tring 2 detain this kid that only wanted 2 go back home.i dont think 4 one minute that zimmerman turn and tried 2 walk away like he said. i think everything he said was a lie. every body knows a dead man cant talk.

“who disregarded authority by pursuing the 17-year-old”

911 operators have no authority.

oh. please,give us a break and leave this to the courts!! besides you seem to be over simplifying this. not going to get away this time…….boom the kids dead!!

Several people have made the comment that the tragedy happened late at night.
Correction: Trayvon Martin was shot dead at 7:13 pm.

i think zimmerman will b found guilty

What a white-wash.

Zimmerman got his money’s worth from his PR company, on this story.

So many red-herrings and other unrelated details designed to try and portray Zimmerman in a sympathetic light. I’m agahst that Reuter’s editors allowed this through.

Since the early days of shoddy reporting, I have listened and observed. Thanks for a “true” article on Zimmerman. Unfortunately, many news outlets go by the adage “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” I appreciate you doing in depth reporting, and putting the other side out there. In truth, if I were walking in Z’s shoes, the only difference would have been that I would probably have not had the courage or guts to fire a shot. It sounds like George is the kinda guy I would hope would be doing “neighborhood watch” in my neighborhood.

Since the early days of shoddy reporting, I have listened and observed. Thanks for a “true” article on Zimmerman. Unfortunately, many news outlets go by the adage “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” I appreciate you doing in depth reporting, and putting the other side out there. In truth, if I were walking in Z’s shoes, the only difference would have been that I would probably have not had the courage or guts to fire a shot. It sounds like George is the kinda guy I would hope would be doing “neighborhood watch” in my neighborhood.

Since the early days of shoddy reporting, I have listened and observed. Thanks for a “true” article on Zimmerman. Unfortunately, many news outlets go by the adage “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” I appreciate you doing in depth reporting, and putting the other side out there. In truth, if I were walking in Z’s shoes, the only difference would have been that I would probably have not had the courage or guts to fire a shot. It sounds like George is the kinda guy I would hope would be doing “neighborhood watch” in my neighborhood.

Guy, use your head for once. This Zimmerman guy is a red herring. The fact the media defends him should raise all red flags. The police let him out. The same police that arrested and persecuted Hutaree militia that committed no crime. The same police that throw people in jail for selling raw milk and organic food. So clearly this is clearly a psyop.

Thank you Reuters for this article on George Zimmerman. It’s nice to get some facts and details before foaming at the mouth with racial epithets from the likes of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton (so-called reverands I might add).

I would love to see this article talked about on Fox News or any of the other MSM outlets, but I’m not holding my breath. All you race baiters are too busy contriving up a false paradigm regarding Mr. Zimmerman.

Well, it’s the good folks like Reuters that will shut you up and your race baiting back-biting.

Again, thanks Reuters for this very insightful article!

“This time, Zimmerman was not so patient, and he disregarded police advice against pursuing Martin.”

Do you know this for fact? He may have, he may not have. Other than that line, this was a great write up.

After reading this, it appears that George Zimmerman had good reason to follow Travon Martin that night. It is interesting to learn about his background being so clean…just wondering what kind of Background Travon Martin had? Would his be so positive??

Not one documented fact has been offered that contradicts Zimmerman’s account of what happened that night. Given the absents of such facts, there was [no probable cause] to arrest Zimmerman. Therefore, Zimmerman’s arrest was [illegal]. The prosecutor’s probable cause affidavit consisted of only conjectures and legal irrelevancies. Needless to say, a legitimate probable cause affidavit can’t be based on conjectures and [alleged facts] that have zero legal significance.

The probable cause affidavit offered against Zimmerman is [entirely] based on conjectures and legal irrelevancies.

The outstanding legal irrelevancy offered by Angela Corey is her [assertion] that Zimmerman disobeyed the police dispatcher’s instruction not to follow Trayvon. Even if this [conjecture] were true, Zimmerman would still have retained the legal right of self-defense.

Incidentally, Angela Corey knows that.

The simple fact is, persons have the legal right to follow other persons. Not only that, they have the legal right to approach persons and question them, though the approached person is under no legal obligation to answer their questions or remain in their physical presence.

As I said, the prosecutor’s probable cause affidavit consisted of nothing but conjectures and legal irrelevancies. In other words, the affidavit did not demonstrate the probable cause that would justify Zimmerman being indicted for second degree murder.

At the next pretrial hearing, should the presiding judge grant Zimmerman immunity from prosecution because there was objectively [no probable cause] justifying his arrest, he will be in position to sue Angela Corey for legal malfeasance.

Most amazing was Angela Corey’s lead investigator testifying at Zimmerman’s bond hearing that the prosecution had [no evidence] which contradicts Zimmerman’s account of what happened!

Yes, he actually said that.

But in spite of having [no evidence] to contradict Zimmerman’s account, Angela Corey, nevertheless, asserted the existence of probable cause justifying Zimmerman’s indictment for second degree murder.

Not only should Angela Corey be sued by Zimmerman, she should have her law license revoked for abuse of office.

“unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin”
^ Why did this have to be added. This shouldn’t be about race

There is going to be a riot if this man gets a fair trail and the politics of these charges are laid bare. Criminal racists seek control of the American judicial system to make the world safe for criminals.
I say let them riot so we can cull the herd.

THANK YOU GEORGE! THANK YOU FOR STANDING ON PRINCIPLE AND DOING THE RIGHT THING. UNFORTUNATELY, THE REAL RACISM IS BEING EXPLOITED BY ANGRY BLACKS AND THIS WILL BE THE REAL PROBLEM FOR ALL OF US. Without black racism there would be harmony and we can’t have that now because Al Sharpton and Jessy Jackson would be out of work which is to promote hostility and hatred and division.

Finally! A real, honest reporter rather than a lazy propagandist.
This guy deserves a Pulitzer prize.

@FrankWhite “…et I still can’t see any justification for the shooting and killing of this boy….”

Let’s see what you’ll do if a 6’3″ football player gets on top of you and starts banging your head against the pavement. You also know if you black out, it will be likely you will die, and the perp will get away. Get real man. Or should you sacrifice your life in the name of race relations. I’m sure you’ll get a plaque somewhere commemorating that (NOT)

@MalikTous… the perp will claim great bodily injury, and sue your butt to kingdom come. for your good suggestion to work, we need to get rid of the Sharptons and Jacksons and ambulance chaser lawyers.

Thomas Wolfe was prescient. This is “Bonfire of the Vanities”–from the leaves of fiction to the fall of our civilization.

Good to see, lynching is still in vogue, what with Supreme Court Justice Sharpton and Chief Judge, the never did anything wrong, Jessie Jackson the decision is in, Zimmerman is Guilty. How in the World is this poor guy going to get a fair trial, not in Sanford and most defiantly not in Miami, the jury pools are all tainted. We have a publicity hunting political prosecutor and Attorney General who according to Harvard University professor and noted legal mind, Allen Dershowitz who has stated that Mr. Zimmerman was overcharged; in fact, he never should have been charged in the first place. However, in reality this whole thing is nothing more than kicking the can down the road so the people in office can avoid the ultimate riots when the black community doesn’t get the blood its demanding.

This is becoming a Racial Incident It seems like Zimmerman and his wife are Bigots from this article .

The bottom line is, if this man and his wife wanted to carry a firearm, that is their right to do. I carry one at all times. I’m a police officer, but I’m also a citizen and concerned parent. I would like to see more law abiding citizens carry concealed firearms. Now, with that said, and knowing that someone is going to accuse me of taking up for Zimmerman, in his shooting case… I’m not taking a side on that. As an investigator, I would need to see the evidence for that. If Zimmerman is guilty, he’ll be punished.

A fair trial is impossible, the president has ruined all chances of that happening.

If this were a more typical black on black crime instead of someone who speaks real English and carries a white sounding name it would never be prosecuted.

They sweep these drug culture hoodlums dead off the street every day with no one but the morgue taking any notice.

There will be race riots if there is no conviction. I liver in this town I’d have several sawed off 12 gauge auto-loaders on hand to protect life and property.

Its the only smart option at this point.

George will never be able to get a fair trial since all of the racists and the king racist (Obama)chimed in. Even the lame stream media exhiled him to a death sentence. These racists have to always be at the top of the ladder since Obimbo was elected as the socialist president of the United States.

George Zimmerman is an American Hero.

In the end, he still shot and killed an innocent victim. He pursued him. I still wonder what everyone would be feeling if the unarmed victim on the street were a white guy and the one who shot him were black. I think a lot of people would flip-flop their opinions. An un-armed person that is not doing anything wrong is a victim. Zimmerman caused the trouble here. Let the judge/ jury decide.

I think its a well-written article, but I do take
issue with one part of it. That is, when the
dispatcher suggested, (clearly not ordered), that
Zimmerman curtail his following of Martin, (for
his own personal safety), all indications are he
did so, as he agreed to do.

Unless Zimmerman now disputes that, I don’t see how
this writer came to the conclusion that he was
overzealous in his subsequent pursuit. He stopped
following and went to await the arrival of the
police. But he never got the chance to call them.
This was even indicated in the report from the city.

He was then approached and punched by Martin, breaking
his nose. Or that’s the story we have so far.

The latter part of this rendition seems to shed an
unfair light on what actually took place at that point.

I wonder if Zimmerman knows the difference between shooting a dog and a 17 year old human being. Are we saying now that there was a pit bull named Big Boi menacing him that night? What a sham!

“Reason he — and his wife — carry guns”

This is a trick question, right? For the same reason that all law abiding citizens carry guns, so that they don’t become victims.

Al Sharpton has already condemmded this person in “his court” of racisim. Where was Al in Mobile when a white guy was beaten for being white? Obama wants to promote racial indeferences? He’s doing a great job.

Now let’s hear the innocent life story of Martin. All the way up to his teen thug years. Haa. That won’t happen because they’ll be showing how he went from the sweet school grade photo to a hoodie wearing burgular.

Now let’s hear the innocent life story of Martin. All the way up to his teen thug years. Haa. That won’t happen because they’ll be showing how he went from the sweet school grade photo to a hoodie wearing burgular.

This ia a total disgrace of an article so onesided like Zimmerman is an Angel. I can tell you now if Trayvon was white and Zimmerman was white, black or hispanic we would not be having this discussion because Zimmerman would have been arrested on March 26th and would still be in jail. Lets keep this real!! The bottom line is Zimmerman got out of his car and Trayvon is DEAD!! Zimmerman has an anger management problem, he had a restraining order against him, he called over 47 times mostly on blacks for nothing and much more. I am not seeing much of that side of his story. So reuters, whoever wrote this try again and next time get the facts straight,

Oh I see, so let me get this straight then. Trayvon fit the description of the pitbull that “menaced” his wife so he followed the pitbull and shot him for revenge, have I got that right? Good reason to have his gun with him that night. Idiot.

With George Zimmerman’s arrest record. he should never have been allowed to own a gun much less carry one.

BKWoman, why do you think that my or other people’s opinions would be reversed if the races were reversed? That is nothing more than blatantly calling us all racists if we think it is likely self defense. I supported justice for James Byrd because I agreed with the facts. The Tulsa shooter probably deserves the death penalty even though there was some injustice that was involved with the death of his father.

What the devil does “pitbulls” have to do with Trayvon Martin’s death?
Zimmerman was merely a neighborhood “watchman” and his only job was to watch the neighborhood for hoodlums and burglars.
Neighborhood watchpeople are not, by law, supposed to carry weapons when simply on a neighborhood watch. They are not policemen or military personnel, period.
Martin was simply on an errand to a grocery store and bought a few snacks and was on his way back home talking to his girlfriend on a cell phone.
Martin was followed by this maniac, Zimmerman, who disobeyed orders from his command not to continuing following Martin.
This attempt to picture Zimmerman as simply doing his “duty” is preposterous and a complete “white-washing” of this murderous assault on Trayvon Martin.
So just cut all this crap out!

the bottom line regardless of all the b.s. is that if gz had stayed in his vehicle like they told him trayvon would still be alive. but no, he had to be a big shot vilgilante. it doesnt matter one whit about trayvons past etc. and just because some reporter chose to post this article does not mean it is true. duh……. he took it too far period. and now he has to pay the price. justifiably.

the president didnt ruin anything. if anyone ruined anything it was the sanford police by not arresting gz in the beginning!!!!

We are not all George Zimmerman. This article proves that Mr. Zimmerman has a good lawyer who is working to rebuild his image. Let’s get real, George Zimmerman did not approach Trayvon Martin because some other person got away. He apporached Trayvon Martin because he had a gun and felt powerful. I don’t blame any person, black or white, for protecting their property and family. If young black men are robbing a community, you may “notice” people who fit that description and watch them closely. While you have made an assumption based on race, that does not AUTOMATICALLY make you a bad person. Trayvon Martin fit a certain description BUT he was not doing anything wrong. Trayvon Martin was not a criminal robbing his neighborhood. He was where he was supposed to be. Trayvon Martin was minding his business. George Zimmerman SHOULD have waited for the police. He chose not to. George Zimmerman DID kill an innocent 17 year old. I don’t care how many black criminals had robbed his neighborhood that does not absovle him from killing the black kid in his neighborhood who was walking from the store, talking on the phone and minding his business.

Raymond,

I hope you are not getting bored with this subject, but you have to view this latest commentary by Alan Dershowitz.

The video link:

http://www.the-alternative-conservative.com/2012/04/alan-dershowitz-blasts-prosecution.html

In keeping with what he says, I posted the following:

Not one documented fact has been offered that contradicts Zimmerman’s account of what happened that night. Given the absents of such facts, there was [no probable cause] to arrest Zimmerman. Therefore, Zimmerman’s arrest was [illegal]. The prosecutor’s probable cause affidavit consisted of only conjectures and legal irrelevancies. Needless to say, a legitimate probable cause affidavit can’t be based on conjectures and non-documented [alleged facts] that have zero legal significance.

The probable cause affidavit offered against Zimmerman is [entirely] based on conjectures and legal irrelevancies.

The outstanding legal irrelevancy offered by Angela Corey is her [assertion] that Zimmerman disobeyed the police dispatcher’s instruction not to follow Trayvon. Even if this [conjecture] were true, Zimmerman would still have retained the legal right of self-defense.

Incidentally, Angela Corey knows that.

The simple fact is, persons have the legal right to follow other persons. Not only that, they have the legal right to approach persons and question them, though the approached person is under no legal obligation to answer their questions or remain in their physical presence.

As I said, the prosecutor’s probable cause affidavit consisted of nothing but conjectures and legal irrelevancies. In other words, the affidavit did not demonstrate the probable cause that would justify Zimmerman being indicted for second degree murder.

At the next pretrial hearing, should the presiding judge grant Zimmerman immunity from prosecution because there was objectively [no probable cause] justifying his arrest, he will be in position to sue Angela Corey for legal malfeasance.

Most amazing was Angela Corey’s lead investigator testifying at Zimmerman’s bond hearing that the prosecution had [no evidence] which contradicts Zimmerman’s account of what happened!

Yes, he actually said that.

But in spite of having [no evidence] to contradict Zimmerman’s account, Angela Corey, [nevertheless] asserted the existence of probable cause justifying Zimmerman’s indictment for second degree murder.

Not only should Angela Corley be sued by Zimmerman, she should have her law license revoked for abuse of office.

So many ignorant people… they just love to ignore the facts (as we know them to date). Anyone with an iota of common sense, knowledge the law, and the ability to look at a situation objectively KNOWS there’s been NOTHING to substantiate a charge of 2nd degree murder against George Zimmerman. Furthermore, if you see someone you consider suspicious walking around in your neighborhood, it isn’t against the law to walk down the street (following them) to see what they’re up to and/or where they’re going. This isn’t unusual nor is it an unreasonable thing to do in neighborhoods where neighbors look out for one another. Nothing George Zimmerman did that evening (based on what we know) would legitizimize a physical response by Martin IF Zimmerman’s claim that Martin attacked him is indeed what happened. Furthermore, as for those who are using this incident to argue for the repeal of ‘Stand Your Ground’, if you’re flat on your back getting the piss pounded out of you, you still maintain your rights to self-defense in the traditional sense. Stand Your Ground is irrelevant in this case! The decision to arrest George Zimmerman was 100% political. The authorities and politicians in Florida have allowed the usual cast of bad characters and race husslers to rule their decision making process. The prosecutor hasn’t got a snowball’s chance in hell of getting a conviction on 2nd degree murder. Short of some explosive new evidence that we’re unaware of, George Zimmerman walks…

From both the girlfriend and Zimmerman we have an acknowledgement that Zimmerman did chase after and lose Martin. No one should be disputing either of those facts. We know that Martin was very close to the place he was staying when he lost Zimmerman.

From Detective Gilbreath we have an acknowledgement that they have no evidence that Zimmerman was not doing exactly what he said and returning to his vehicle/attempting to go meet the police.

We also have no evidence that Zimmerman assaulted Martin. The closest proof that we have that Zimmerman was assaulted by Martin is the injuries that Zimmerman sustained and the eyewitness accounts that Martin was on top of Zimmerman. We also have the statement from the funeral director that the only injury to Martin was the gunshot wound. (Remember, that statement was made before anyone saw the bloody head of Zimmerman and everyone was jumping to the conclusion there was no real fight.)

Detective Gilbreath admitted that both the Orlando Sentinel and the FBI have done voice analysis. Neither has provided any insight. This was from the bail hearing transcript. Thus they really don’t know who was yelling for help. They just have Zimmerman’s and the eyewitness account that it was Zimmerman yelling for help.

Both Martin and Zimmerman had a legal right to be in the neighborhood that night. Both had the legal right to approach and talk to the other. Zimmerman had the legal right to carry the gun that he was carrying. No one broke any laws until someone took the first swing. Who did it and can they prove it?

after reading some of the posts here it is clear that some Zimmerman haters want this to be a race issue. They continue to ignore the very facts of recorded 911 calls and of witnesses whose statements are known. The refuse to recognize any fact pointing to Zimmerman’s innocence. And there are others that think Zimmerman is guilty just because Tra

zanytothemaxx, having an arrest seven years ago doesn’t stop you from getting a permit. Not when there was no conviction and the charges were dropped. You know there pretty much bogus if an assault on an officer is dropped.

All this for what…doesn’t change what he did. I understand wanting to protect your community but that doesn’t give you the right to play judge jury and executioner. Doesn’t excuse him not backing off when told to. Doesn’t excuse him shooting someone. He is scum in my book. But anyone who kills someone in an unjustified manner is.

languagecounts wrote:
When will news writers start using the language properly? Zimmerman did not “pursue”, He “followed”. “Pursue” implies a purpose and intent to confront or capture. “Follow” implies nothing more than keeping and eye on the person being followed and observed. There is nothing in the public record that would support assigning to Zimmerman the motive or intent to confront or capture. The words “Follow” and Pursue” are not interchangable.

What he did was pursue. He decided that since he did not know the kid he was guilty of some crime. I don’t feel sorry for him getting his butt kicked. good for him and some jail time to boot will be great. Next time let the real police do their job. He didn’t back off nor did Trayvon follow him. They weren’t found near his vehicle. He has already been proven to have lied that night. I can’t believe anything he says. Not even that he is sorry. I do think he wanted to protect his community. Being a vigilante is not protecting.

Isthisok said: The probable cause affidavit offered against Zimmerman is [entirely] based on conjectures and legal irrelevancies.
————-

Prosecutors hold case information close to their vests. They don’t get specific in their Charges (which is the beginning.) To do otherwise, tips off the Defense as to what the prosecution has. And that’s the last thing a Prosecutor wants to do.

It is also interesting that Detective Gilbreath would not swear that the affadivit was true.

It is sad that politicians don’t do more to control the nationwide pitbull problem. Normal dogs bite and release, pitbulls maul. Mortality, Maiming and Mauling by Vicious Dogs, a study of dog injuries in U.S. hospitals was published in Annals of Surgery, April 2011. It found that a person is losing a body part to a pitbull attack every 4-5 days now; pitbulls turn on owners and children more than other breeds; pitbulls cause much higher hospital costs, pitbulls cause more permanent disability, loss of limb, disfigurement, and permanent disability than all other breeds comined. The study also noted that you have a more than 2500 times higher chance of dying if attacked by a pitbull instead of a Lab. Denial is deadly and it is family owned and loved pitbulls that suddenly turn after years of living peacefully without signs of aggression. If pitbulls were banned this young man might still be alive. I am taking a class now at 51 yrs old to protect myself against the pitbulls in my neibhorhood as I can no longer walk my dog here. I pitty the kids who will be mauled. The excuses have got to stop and Miami Dade has to keep their pitbull ban people. These dogs were created for evil and evil is what you get back. They were never nanny dogs and only guns can stop them. Less than 2 percent of pitbull attacks make the news so don’t blame the media. When the media does get involved it is only because the families are calling the police for help and the news gets on the scanner. My daughter was bit by a dog before. No police were needed. In fact, most dog bites don’t even break the skin. Hers did not even require a bandaid. All normal dogs bite, Pitbulls Maul. Lions maul too which is why we can’t keep them in the city. Turn off the EDITED reality t.v. and quit following idiots who have no concern for victims. Get rid of the pitbulls.

PITBULLS suck. If you don’t think so you live your life in denial and live following the EDITED unreality t.v. You care not about victims and only about yourself. I see a pitbull owner I see STUPID and selfish. Politicans that bow down to the pitnutters who email from out side the area need to be voted out. Kids can’t pack heat and Miami Dade needs to keep its Pitbull ban. They are nothing but problems.

What are you saying George could not distinguish whether or not Trayvon Martins was a pit bull? Really, I know you are not saying that but why did not write about how George could have acted responsibly with a firearm. I don’t think George intended to kill Trayvon but this kid is dead and will never see his 28th birthday. George Zimmerman could very well be a very nice person but what he that night in that apartment complex was wrong. He does not have to be a vigilante but he killed this kid nonetheless. I don’t hate him or anything but he acted recklessly. He needs to face the truth and admit to his actions for killing Trayvon Martin. He is not the first person in society to have killed someone and realized a mistake was made. George said on the stand “I did not know if he was armed or not,” if someone is jumped from behind why would he wonder if the person is armed or not. He approached this kid, a fight started in which he was getting his ass whipped. He already had the gun in his hands that is why he wondered if the kid was armed or not. He shot and killed Trayvon Martin.

We all are not George Zimmerman.

In that picture, he had classic CRAZY EYES! I dont think this will help his image of innocence since he looks totally deranged here. Oops!

You neglected to mention that when the 911 operator told Zimmerman not to follow Martin we have a car enroute he acknowledged and said “OK”. He then said he was going to get an address for the police which presumably would have been on the front of the building. Martin had been reported in the back of the building. It seems quite clear that it was Martin who pursued Zimmerman then attacked him apparrently believing that Zimmerman didn’t have the right to walk where he wanted. It was Zimmerman who was racially profiled first by Martin then by the race pimps like Sharpton and Jackson then by the racist white liberal news media. It now appears that if our foot in mouth President did indeed have a son he might look more like Zimmerman than Martin.

To me the biggest mistake Zimmerman made was when he did not take 911′s advice and stop following Trayvon. He should have let the police handle it even though they may not have handled it right to his satisfaction. Now he has messed up his own life. If he gets off he will forever have to look over his shoulder for some black stud trying to “avenge” a wrong doing. It sounds like he was a decent person as also the victim may have been in this case. It seems to be a tragic mistake on his part. God bless him and the Trayvon’s family.

CORRECTION: The reason he carries a weapon: He is a United States Citizen without a criminal conviction who’s “RIGHT TO KEEP AND CARRY” is guarenteed by the Constitution of The United States of America.

Looks like Angela Corey may go down just like Duke Lacrosse prosecutor Mike Nifong.

That’s what happens when public outcry drives political prosecutions.

Barring the very few sane exceptions, virtually ALL of these comments demonstrate for me the very dire straits of the Un-United States of America.

We seriously need to get our act together…or else we falter.

All you people hailing Zimmerman as some type of hero should be ashamed of yourself. He murdered an INNOCENT black child. God forbid the tables would have been turned and it was a black man that did this to a white child you people would be out for blood. Whites don’t need to arm themselves if he gets a fair trial. All minorities need to arm themselves against racists like you people. While the article was well done, Zimmermans life story has nothing to do with the fact that he murdered a child who was only “armed” with a bottle of iced tea. You want to have someone like this living in your neighborhood good for you until he murders your child. All you people see is race and assume that Martin was a thug and that he must have attacked first. Open your eyes; but i am sure that is asking far too much from ignorant people.

morose wrote:
Barring the very few sane exceptions, virtually ALL of these comments demonstrate for me the very dire straits of the Un-United States of America.

We seriously need to get our act together…or else we falter.
———————–

Couldn’t have said it better, Marose.

I’m suprised this story was published.Finally some good journalism.This story showed some harsh reality while showing Zimmerman’s flakyness.
Guilty or not there are many people(that don’t work) with plenty of time on there hands that will make sure Zimmerman’s life is ruined.

While I have tremendous respect for Reuters’ in-depth reporting I also find their fact-finding ambitions quite offensive since this case has not yet come to trial.

Zimmerman may have had many reasons for deciding to adapt himself to a vigilante role but the fact remains that nothing he did was either sanctioned or endorsed by the community or the police.

Did he press this kid into a corner where deadly force seemed reasonable or did he badger the kid to “the point of no return”?

None of us have any credible information yet.

It may be true that Zimmerman came from a tortured past. It may also be true that Martin reacted in an aggressive way but until all the actual facts are revealed in trial evidence it is completely irresponsible to report anything that has no merit in this case.

Reuters, ABC, NBC, MSNBC and all you other “news” resources should simply wait to release your extremely biased reports until the trial reveals relevant information about the incident rather than reporting subjective statements that may have no signifigance at all.

We have a formal court system. Let them do their job then report on “facts in evidence” presented at the trial.

Please also remember that this is a murder charge. Jurors will decide what is or is not relevant information. Please don’t further pollute the atmosphere with your presumptions.

Jerry

You can be mixed with a lot of different races and only identify yourself as one. And I think the people who are justifying his actions disgusting but I’m not surprised. And someone made a comment about black racist jumping to conclusions. The fact is the police did not handle the case as they should and that’s where the seed was planted for this case to become what it is in the media. And the 911 tape also did not help. But bigots will be bigots. And get pissed off when people try to take a stand by accusing people of being racist. I also find it a bit ironic that there are those who are quick to call people racist but don’t recognize it within themselves. But again not surprised,even the church is one of most segregated places. For the parents of Trayvon Martin they weren’t trying to ignite a race war but trying to get justice for their son just like any of us would do.

I would like to thank the journalist who wrote this article, and Reuters for publishing it. I hope to see more of this in the future!

This guy was a loaded weapon, I’m shocked he hasn’t killed anybody before.

Why did it take months for the liberal media to face and find these highly verifiable facts?

Why has NBC gotten away with doctoring a 911 recording to frame zimmerman, without an on-air apology?

The defamation lawsuit against NBC will be bigger news than the acquittal will be. Lawyer-up, NBC, you’ll need it.

Why are the new black panthers not being charged for issuing a bounty for Zimmerman?

How peculiar. A reporter that is doing his/her job by reporting facts, rather than myth.

Zimmerman is a typical cop wannabe who would never be accepted into a bonafide academy because he’s probably flunked a basic personality test. A wise decision on their part. Unfortunately, these rejects tend to find other outlets to feed their need for that.

His rash, knee-jerk reaction to someone walking home from 7-11 minding his own business and his subsequent statements and actions mark him as this type. We already know he can snap, because he already did when he assaulted an officer. I know – it was just a little teensie assault and a little teensie restraining order– hell doesn’t everyone have those things in their background? It’s so very common for a neighborhood watch captain to carry a gun when that’s against policy? They must have been kidding! What a dumb rule! OK yeah so the dispatcher told him to stop following Trayvon but hey what if George misses his chance to be the Big Hero? He’ll detain Trayvon,and maybe even win an award! Maybe they will let him be a cop just like they are? Hell yeah he is so following Trayvon when the stakes are that high. Duh. So what? hahaha. Yeah. Were any of you by chance on the OJ jury? Casey Anthony?

I invite people to consider the fact that Zimmerman put the quote about good people doing nothing on his smarmy, money-grubbing website. After he took someone’s child away forever. He attempted to frame himself as the victim using the same quote people normally use when referring to the Holocaust or lynch mobs.

@RoaringFish and other ANTI-ZIMMERMANS

“The wing-nuts are saying Zimmerman is innocent, a hero, and totally justified in killing somebody.”

You have to cherry-pick a few hundred comments to find what you are saying…and in those cases, I would agree with you. However, a true conservative “wing-nut” believes in the law. We do not pre-judge…as it seems that many, to include you, have done based on initial media accounts. That is not how our system of justice is designed to work. If you want such a system, China would be a good start.

“So he has a history of reacting violently, just as I said. He thought his friend was being attacked, and reacted violently. He though Trayvon was a burglar, just because of his colour, and – true to form – reacted violently.”

It’s becoming quite clear to me that you, AND MANY OTHERS HERE, have not listened to the 911 tape. Evidence, AT THIS POINT, does not support your accusation that Zimmerman attacked Martin. In fact, AT THIS POINT, there is no evidence, as admitted by the prosecutor, that disputes what an eyewitness and Zimmerman has said. You can twist, speculate, and create fairy tales all you want…AT THIS POINT, it’s a self-defense case that does not even require the Stand Your Ground claim. Now, as the investigation and trial proceed, new evidence may be made public and support what you’re saying. However, AT THIS POINT, it does not.

“In your opinion, had Trayvon been white, would he be have been killed by Zimmerman or not?”

Seems to be a bit of a red herring and strawman at the same time. Oh well, I’ll indulge you. Based on the information available, which, AT THE MOMENT, looks like self-defense…I think Zimmerman would still have shot a white Trayvon in self-defense…then again, I am not Zimmerman. So, what I think is actually irrelevant. However, we must remember that there were several burglaries that many witnesses say we’re committed by black suspects. So, psychologically, it is possible that Zimmerman would be more suspicious of a black staring into homes than he would a white or latino…but, that requires mind reading and would not stand up in a court of law.

Furthermore, your comment about “a dumb law pushed through by ALEC, a right-wing activist group” is yet another strawman argument. This case is looking more and more like a self-defense by Zimmerman from the alleged aggressor Trayvon, because once again, AT THIS MOMENT, there is no HARD EVIDENCE (not speculation and mind reading) to prove otherwise. This is why most of us “wing-nuts” we’re upset when the media, Al Sharpton, and the New Black Panthers were convicting Zimmerman before he even received due process. It is not Zimmerman’s fault that the police released him after 5 hours of questioning…that does not make him guilty of murder. Possibly, as I’ve said before, the police did not have enough to book him on…in other words, no evidence to conflict with Zimmerman’s account of the incident; and as it looks right now, neither does the prosecution!

OK, Reuters, NOW you need to do such an investigation on Tryvon , so we can see what an angel he was. It amazes me that you can find out all of this information on a single person living in the USA, but you cannot even find out where the sitting President was born.

And DNA shows that Hitler likely had Jewish and African roots. Zimmerman’s no Hitler, but my point is that it doesn’t make a difference.

DrBobNM wrote:
@RoaringFish

“…He needlessly killed somebody: end of story….” If he didn’t defend himself after being attacked at his truck (physical evidence we have all supported)…”

The first thing that is wrong here is that you, like too many gun-nuts who are walking around with guns, can’t see any difference between self-defence and killing somebody. People who are unable to see that distinction should not be armed, as they are a danger to everyone around them.

The second is that there is only Zimmerman’s word that it is self-defence. Against that is Zimmerman’s lack of injuries. Wing-nut after wing-nut posts that Zimmerman had a his head pounded against the pavement and a broken nose, but the physical evidence is that the ambulance was cancelled because Zimmerman had no injury worth looking at, we can all see video of Zimmerman with no blood at all on his clothing, and it takes video-enhancement and redigitisation to reveal a tiny mark that *might* be an abrasion.

Yet from that, you expect me to believe this is a guy who had been fighting for his life? Let me spell it out: in real life, people who have had there head slammed against concrete and their nose broken are covered in blood. Zimmerman wasn’t covered in blood.

On top of that we have the recording of a 911 call with a voice in the background screaming for help. Zimmerman says it was him, but he is lying. Independent voice analysis – two of them – say it is not Zimmerman, which leaves only Trayvon ~ http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-31/news/os-trayvon-martin-george-zimmerman-911-20120331_1_voice-identification-expert-reasonable-scientific-certainty

In the real world, aggressors don’t scream for help while they are attacking their victim.

Phone records show that Trayvon Martin was on the phone to his girlfriend until moments before Zimmerman killed him. In the real world, people don’t chat to their girlfriends while they pound somebodies head against the pavement with their free hand ~ http://abcnews.go.com/US/trayvon-martin-shooter-teenager-gun/story?id=16000239#.T5qO-e3a2SN

On the other hand, Zimmerman has a history of violence. He attacked his girlfriend and then said it was self-defence – a bit of a pattern here – and he attacked a Police officer, claiming he was defending a friend and didn’t know they were police. As the police report says they had already arrested the friend, and showed Zimmerman their badges, it seems that lying is something of a pattern too.

BeeCeeEss wrote:
“Do you know who we should all be pointing fingers at?”

Yes. The guy who was holding the gun and pulled the trigger. Your kind are trying to blame everybody else, as though Zimmerman didn’t want to shoot Trayvon or something. “He is not from around here” is not an excuse to kill somebody. “He looks a bit like a description of a burglar” is not an excuse to kill somebody.

I notice that my question about whether Trayvon Martin would have been killed by Zimmerman if he had been white has never been answered. That kind of proves the point.

@roaring fish
There are two eye witnesses that put Trayvon Martin atop Zimmerman, beating him. New photos have beeen released showing the cuts on the back of Zimmerman’s head. Get more of the facts, friend.

@RoaringFish

“The wing-nuts are saying Zimmerman is innocent, a hero, and totally justified in killing somebody.”

You have to cherry-pick a few hundred comments to find what you are saying…and in those cases, I would agree with you. However, a true conservative “wing-nut” believes in the law. We do not pre-judge…as it seems that many, to include you, have done based on initial media accounts. That is not how our system of justice is designed to work. If you want such a system, China would be a good start.

“So he has a history of reacting violently, just as I said. He thought his friend was being attacked, and reacted violently. He though Trayvon was a burglar, just because of his colour, and – true to form – reacted violently.”

It’s becoming quite clear to me that you have not listened to the 911 tape. Evidence, AT THIS POINT, does not support your accusation that Zimmerman attacked Martin. In fact, AT THIS POINT, there is no evidence, as admitted by the prosecutor, that disputes what an eyewitness and Zimmerman has said. You can twist, speculate, and create fairy tales all you want…AT THIS POINT, it’s a self-defense case that does not even require the Stand Your Ground claim. Now, as the investigation and trial proceed, new evidence may be made public and support what you’re saying. However, AT THIS POINT, it does not.

“In your opinion, had Trayvon been white, would he be have been killed by Zimmerman or not?”

Seems to be a bit of a red herring and strawman at the same time. Oh well, I’ll indulge you. Based on the information available, which, AT THE MOMENT, looks like self-defense…I think Zimmerman would still have shot a white Trayvon in self-defense…then again, I am not Zimmerman. So, what I think is actually irrelevant. However, we must remember that there were several burglaries that many witnesses say we’re committed by black suspects. So, psychologically, it is possible that Zimmerman would be more suspicious of a black staring into homes than he would a white or latino…but, that requires mind reading and would not stand up in a court of law.

Furthermore, your comment about “a dumb law pushed through by ALEC, a right-wing activist group” is yet another strawman argument. This case is looking more and more like a self-defense by Zimmerman from the alleged aggressor Trayvon, because once again, AT THIS MOMENT, there is no HARD EVIDENCE (not speculation and mind reading) to prove otherwise. This is why most of us “wing-nuts” we’re upset when the media, Al Sharpton, and the New Black Panthers were convicting Zimmerman before he even received due process. It is not Zimmerman’s fault that the police released him after 5 hours of questioning…that does not make him guilty of murder. Possibly, as I’ve said before, the police did not have enough to book him on…in other words, no evidence to conflict with Zimmerman’s account of the incident; and as it looks right now, neither does the prosecution!

Well,

I would say that Zimmerman’s lawyer is doing a very good job at PR. This story is obviously meant to show us that there was a reason for him to suspect a young man just walking to where he stayed. And yet, he killed a kid who basically was just trying to get home.

@RoaringFish

Apparently, you haven’t seen the recently released photo of the back of Zimmerman’s head clearly showing blood streaming down the back of his head. The photo was taken minutes after the incident.

Let me spell it out: a person does not have to wait to be in critical condition before he defends himself! Pretty logical…but some need it spelled out.

Someone said “why is he carrying a gun? he is not a policeman or anything.” Because it is our Constitutional right. When your life and property are repeatedly threated by these black thugs and police cannot get there in a timely manner because of distance or more life threating priorities (giveb the benefit of the doubt), you must take metters into your own hands. Yes, Zimmerman must live with the consequences and he is certainly doing that now. but how bad do you let things get before you stand up for what you believe in.

@RoaringFish

It seems you’ve done some more cherry-picking…from the article you linked to:

“Arriving police said Zimmerman was bloodied. One officer wrote in a police report that he overheard Zimmerman telling a paramedic, “I was yelling for someone to help me, but no one would help me.”"

I guess now Reuters is refusing to post my comments, although I’ve read the rules. As far as I can tell, I’ve remained within them.

Rueters can find all this information about some unknown individual who lives in Florida including his linage and school records, but cannot find a single bit of information on the sitting President, including linage and school records. Strange.

NBC deserves a special Michael Moore award for manufactured “news”, having spliced together out-of-context bits of Ziimerman’s 911 call to create the impression that the shooting was all about race.

Thank you so much to the writers of and contributors to this article and thank you Reuters for doing the controversial thing in actually sticking with the facts and printing it. Reuters has just given me faith that TRUE journalism may possibly be restored in this age of Fox/MSNBC crossfire. Americans should demand this kind of journalism and learn to smell a rat when it comes to biased reporting. Americans have become addicted to anger fueled by biased news stories and it’s time for that to end. We need interesting, invigorating news pieces based on solid facts, evidence, and reason without politics rearing an ugly head into important issues of the day. Thank you again for your dedication to journalism and unbiased reporting. If ever I have seen award-winning journalism, this is it. Pat yourselves on the back.

It is important to point out how the Sanford Police Dept.Neighborhood Watch Organizers instruct and train their volunteers:

– Your purpose is to act as the eyes and ears of the community for the Sanford Police Dept. We cannot be everywhere.

– Your purpose is to observe activity and call police if you think someone is breaking the law. Police will handle the problem.

– Never approach a suspicious person–just observe.

– Never try to apprehend a suspicious person.

– You are never to act as a vigilante.

– Carrying concealed weapons is legal in FL, but Neighborhood Watch volunteers should not carry concealed weapons when observing suspicious activity and exercising volunteerism as a Neighborhood Watch volunteer. Observe and call Police. That is our job.
————-

If only Zimmerman had adhered to his training and instructions,given by the Organizers of the Sanford Police Dept.Neighborhood Watch Program as written and instructed.

roaring fish, wow…just wow. you drank way too much of their kool-aid.

actually, if a person shoots and kills someone in self defense, it is killing someone, but it is NOT murder.

zimmerman’s lack of injuries? what the heck? where have you been? you can clearly see the gashes on the back of his head in the unaltered police garage video and a close up of his broken nose when he was lead through the hallway….look closer to the front of his jacket and you will see a long dark streak going down the front on george’s left side, looks like blood to me. ABC news released a still image from an iphone just minutes after the shooting of the back of george’s head and those injuries were fresh and consistent with what george said.

you’re like a baby who needs to be spoon fed… it’s nappy time!

george was treated by a paramedic or emt from the fire department, not from an emt or paramedic from an ambulance. the intial police report even said this.

george was not the aggressor, trayvon was. george lost sight of him, trayvon could of continued to go where he was staying, trayvon was probably 20 seconds away from brandy’s unit, but chose not to do that and return to go after george (ego, pride, the need for street cred,his attitude,etc. i feel it was george who was screaming for help, as he did not want to shoot the kid. people who carry a gun for self defense have it in the back of their mind that shooting and killing someone is something you do as the last resort.

if you are getting your head slammed into the sidewalk, would you want to make that person stop or continue? trayvon did not have a weapon, but he was still causing great bodily harm to george and the law allows you to defend yourself from that. how many blows to the head is enough for you? should george have just waited it out, in hopes that trayvon would stop? only the race baiters are saying that he is using the “description of a burglar” to shoot him.

this is not an issue with race, only the race baiters are making it an issue, like you. this is a typical case of self defense. read the 47 page .pdf file on his call history to 911 and the non-emergency number and you will see that he has called on whites, blacks and hispanics, he mentored 2 black kids in orlando, he started the insurance agency with HIS african-american FRIEND, his mom is hispanic and dad is white and his wife is white. he is clearly not a racist nor a vigilante.
he can not help that the race of the recent break-ins were committed by black teens, now can he?

don’t let the facts get in the way….

george was a contributing member of his community, he helped others and he looked out for his neighbors.

where is trayvon’s list of contributions to the community? the gold grill, the tatoos, the trouble in school, the twitter nickname “no_limit_nigga”, the possibility of him refereeing after school fights and a remark of him taking a swing at a bus driver from one of his friends paints a picture of his character. a thug-like character.

“Carrying concealed weapons is legal in FL, but Neighborhood Watch volunteers should not carry concealed weapons…”

That doesn’t make it illegal to have your properly permitted weapon on you when you are performing those duties.

Stand your ground laws in Florida have nothing to do with the time leading up to the moment you feel your life is in danger. It is the moment (as long as you were not commiting a criminal act).

Let the jury decide.

…and when will the FBI begin it’s investigation into the terrorist organization that put a price on George Zimmerman’s head begin.