A dispatcher told him to wait for a police cruiser, and not leave his vehicle.
But about a minute later, Zimmerman left his car wearing a red sweatshirt and pursued Martin on foot between two rows of townhouses, about 70 yards from where the teen was going.
Zimmerman's pursuit of Martin did not of itself constitute a crime, Lee said.
Witnesses told ABC News a fistfight broke out and, at one point, Zimmerman, who outweighed Martin by more than 100 pounds, was on the ground and that Martin was on top.
Austin Brown, 13, was walking his dog during the time of the altercation and saw both men on the ground but separated.
The screams rattle around in his daydreams, so loud at night that sleep hasn't come easily. And he can't stop asking himself a thousand what-ifs: What if he could have stopped it? What if he had looked "suspicious" that night, and not Martin?
"I picture myself back over where I saw it, and it sticks in the back of my mind," McLendon told HuffPost Black Voices on Saturday afternoon at his family's home. "Sometimes I'll, like, not be listening to the teacher, and I'll daydream or just think off about it. I've been feeling bad for him and his family."
According to police, George Zimmerman, the self-appointed caption of the neighborhood watch at the Retreat at Twin Lakes, has admitted to shooting and killing Martin, whom he described as "suspicious" in a 911 call. Zimmerman, who claimed that he was acting in self-defense, was carrying a licensed pistol.
Zimmerman, who patrolled the Retreat at Twin Lakes development in his own car, had been called aggressive in earlier complaints to the local police and the homeowner's association, according to a homeowner who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
At an emergency homeowner’s association meeting on March 1, “one man was escorted out because he openly expressed his frustration because he had previously contacted the Sanford Police Department about Zimmerman approaching him and even coming to his home,” the resident wrote in an email to HuffPost. “It was also made known that there had been several complaints about George Zimmerman and his tactics" in his neighborhood watch captain role.
“This was not self-defense,” Cutcher said. “We heard no fighting, no wrestling, no punching. We heard a boy crying. As soon as the shot went off, it stopped, which tells me it was the child crying. If it had been Zimmerman crying, it wouldn’t have stopped. If you’re hurting, you’re hurting.”
She and her friend say they heard the sounds from a few steps away, where they were inside beside an open window. Seconds later, they dashed out to find a boy face down on the ground and a man standing over him, a foot on each side of the body on the ground, with his hands pinning the shooting victim down.
“I asked him, ‘What’s happening here? What’s going on?’ ” said Cutcher’s friend, Selma Mora Lamilla. “The third time, I was indignant, and he said, ‘just call the police.’ Then I saw him with his hands over his head in the universal sign of: ‘Oh man, I messed up.’ ”
The women, who were the first on the scene, said they saw Zimmerman pacing back and forth.
“Mr. Zimmerman’s claim is that the confrontation was initiated by Trayvon,” Police Chief Bill Lee said in an interview. “I am not going into specifics of what led to the violent physical encounter witnessed by residents. All the physical evidence and testimony we have independent of what Mr. Zimmerman provides corroborates this claim to self-defense.”
To claim self-defense, someone has to show there was danger of great bodily harm or death, Lee said. “Zimmerman had injuries consistent with his story,”
That was Feb. 27, one day after Trayvon was shot. The father thought that he was missing, according to the family’s lawyer, Benjamin Crump, but the boy’s body had actually been taken to the medical examiner’s office and listed as a John Doe.
The father called the Missing Persons Unit. No luck. Then he called 911. The police asked the father to describe the boy, after which they sent officers to the house where the father was staying. There they showed him a picture of the boy with blood coming out of his mouth.
Quote by Raine:
Morning! I am having my editor finish up the blog.
Mala, thank you for posting a stub!
Morning!
Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, thanks for the da blog. I saw stuff on FB yesterdee about it, but I was in such a state I couldn't focus on it.
Reason the state: asshat realtor's clients not showing respect for the house and letting my Cassie girl get outside. I spent a good deal of yesterday looking for her. I am fearing the worst.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, thanks for the da blog. I saw stuff on FB yesterdee about it, but I was in such a state I couldn't focus on it.
Reason the state: asshat realtor's clients not showing respect for the house and letting my Cassie girl get outside. I spent a good deal of yesterday looking for her. I am fearing the worst.
oh no, she hasn't turned up?
To claim self-defense, someone has to show there was danger of great bodily harm or death, Lee said. “Zimmerman had injuries consistent with his story,†Lee said.
Zimmerman had a damp shirt, grass stains, a bloody nose and was bleeding from a wound in back of his head, according to police reports.
“If someone asks you, ‘Hey do you live here?’ is it OK for you to jump on them and beat the crap out of somebody?†Lee said. “It’s not.â€
Quote by Mondobubba:Nope. She has no street smarts, she's an indoor kitty :(Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, thanks for the da blog. I saw stuff on FB yesterdee about it, but I was in such a state I couldn't focus on it.
Reason the state: asshat realtor's clients not showing respect for the house and letting my Cassie girl get outside. I spent a good deal of yesterday looking for her. I am fearing the worst.
oh no, she hasn't turned up?
Quote by wickedpam:
If this guy was a self appointed NW captain, does that mean there is not a real NW in the community? If there is what does the NW say, are they defending this guys actions? Has there been anyone who publicly supports this ass beside the sheriff?
IThis guy does need to have charges brought against him. The sheriff and a DA can do it, if they really wanted too that is
Quote by Scoopster:
So I just did some math...
Population of Puerto Rico (2010) : 3.7 million
Votes received by Mitt Romney in PR Primary (83% reporting) : ~98,000
Percentage of population that voted for Romney : 2.649%
Yeaaaaaaah Mittens, you really represent Hispanic-Americans...
Quote by Raine:I don't know if the Association actually has a watch program.Quote by wickedpam:
If this guy was a self appointed NW captain, does that mean there is not a real NW in the community? If there is what does the NW say, are they defending this guys actions? Has there been anyone who publicly supports this ass beside the sheriff?
IThis guy does need to have charges brought against him. The sheriff and a DA can do it, if they really wanted too that is
I am sick about this case, I really am. I know Florida has that crazy gun/self defense law but this is just all kinds of wrong. He was pursuing Martin.
I feel at this point, the local authorities have screwed this case up too much. to have nothing done is as big a tragedy as the murder itself.
Quote by Mondobubba:
Thanks for the support folks. As you can imagine, I am livid. I'm not mad at my real estate agent, I am angry people who aren't showing respect for my home and the various notices in the listing about the cats.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:I don't know if the Association actually has a watch program.Quote by wickedpam:
If this guy was a self appointed NW captain, does that mean there is not a real NW in the community? If there is what does the NW say, are they defending this guys actions? Has there been anyone who publicly supports this ass beside the sheriff?
IThis guy does need to have charges brought against him. The sheriff and a DA can do it, if they really wanted too that is
I am sick about this case, I really am. I know Florida has that crazy gun/self defense law but this is just all kinds of wrong. He was pursuing Martin.
I feel at this point, the local authorities have screwed this case up too much. to have nothing done is as big a tragedy as the murder itself.
They are at the least bumbling inbisules(sp) at the worst completely biasted(sp) - who is the next step over local authorites? Can the State police get involved?
Quote by Raine:
WTH.I am looking for a copy of the entire presser. If anyone can get it for me, I would really appreciate it. I ask because I am already seeing people say that this was not what it appears to be, but -- I gotta tell you, it's bad enough.
The kid was with CANDY for chrissakes.
Quote by wickedpam:
wtf? now I love chicken but that would not be the first thing I would ask that he eat - he was a fricken TEENAGE boy - they eat EVERYTHING! What was the need to get specific?
Quote by wickedpam:
omg! I forgot to mention I had a conversation with some kids in my neighborhood this weekend - what I learned
they believe they only have 7 months to live cause of they Mayan apocolypse(sp)
the I have a Dream speech and Rosa Parks are all about freedom so they can play were ever they want including in the street of around anyones property
George Washington signed the Declaration of Independence
One of them said she wanted to be like Snooki (I told her to aim higher)
I swear I fear for the future
Quote by Raine:Oh dear.Quote by wickedpam:
omg! I forgot to mention I had a conversation with some kids in my neighborhood this weekend - what I learned
they believe they only have 7 months to live cause of they Mayan apocolypse(sp)
the I have a Dream speech and Rosa Parks are all about freedom so they can play were ever they want including in the street of around anyones property
George Washington signed the Declaration of Independence
One of them said she wanted to be like Snooki (I told her to aim higher)
I swear I fear for the future
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Thanks for the support folks. As you can imagine, I am livid. I'm not mad at my real estate agent, I am angry people who aren't showing respect for my home and the various notices in the listing about the cats.
can something be done against the realtor who is supposed to be responsible for the people who get let into your home?
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Thanks for the support folks. As you can imagine, I am livid. I'm not mad at my real estate agent, I am angry people who aren't showing respect for my home and the various notices in the listing about the cats.
can something be done against the realtor who is supposed to be responsible for the people who get let into your home?
Done. Spoke with my agent. she is moving the lockbox off the door to another location, so an agent that will need content her office for the location of the box.
If figure out the agent is, I will be calling him or her and ripping them a new one.
Quote by wickedpam:
OMG! Alan West said that aloud!? wowser!
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
OMG! Alan West said that aloud!? wowser!
What? I was distracted... What did that dude say now?
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
OMG! Alan West said that aloud!? wowser!
What? I was distracted... What did that dude say now?
Snopes says its false
Quote by Raine:The dude had said things just as crazy.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:
OMG! Alan West said that aloud!? wowser!
What? I was distracted... What did that dude say now?
Snopes says its false
Quote by BobR:
Homebrewing for the zombie apocalypse
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by BobR:
Homebrewing for the zombie apocalypse
a must have for the world to go on
Good idea brushing up on medival times (not the restaruant) for survival
Quote by BobR:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by BobR:
Homebrewing for the zombie apocalypse
a must have for the world to go on
Good idea brushing up on medival times (not the restaruant) for survival
One of the comments on the FB post was "mmmm... GRAINS!...."
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Thanks for the support folks. As you can imagine, I am livid. I'm not mad at my real estate agent, I am angry people who aren't showing respect for my home and the various notices in the listing about the cats.
can something be done against the realtor who is supposed to be responsible for the people who get let into your home?
Done. Spoke with my agent. she is moving the lockbox off the door to another location, so an agent that will need content her office for the location of the box.
If figure out the agent is, I will be calling him or her and ripping them a new one.
Do you think it was the same agent that let the cats out before?
Heck if you find out I would also find them online and write a review of what they did. Prospect sellers and buyers have a right to know this person doesn't repect other people's pets, property or rules
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Mondobubba:
Thanks for the support folks. As you can imagine, I am livid. I'm not mad at my real estate agent, I am angry people who aren't showing respect for my home and the various notices in the listing about the cats.
can something be done against the realtor who is supposed to be responsible for the people who get let into your home?
Done. Spoke with my agent. she is moving the lockbox off the door to another location, so an agent that will need content her office for the location of the box.
If figure out the agent is, I will be calling him or her and ripping them a new one.
Do you think it was the same agent that let the cats out before?
Heck if you find out I would also find them online and write a review of what they did. Prospect sellers and buyers have a right to know this person doesn't repect other people's pets, property or rules
Oh I like this idea.
Quote by BobR:
Homebrewing for the zombie apocalypse
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Mondo, I hope Cassie shows up soon. Appears to be obvious that said asshat agent only care$ about the $ale and not a bit about other people's property and pets.
So, when the move to Current TV happens, does that mean the end of uDon'tstream? Not that it matters (as long as the Stephcast is still going), but Comca$t isn't getting any more of my $ for me to sign up for Current.
Quote by Raine:Ustream is going away.Quote by trojanrabbit:
Mondo, I hope Cassie shows up soon. Appears to be obvious that said asshat agent only care$ about the $ale and not a bit about other people's property and pets.
So, when the move to Current TV happens, does that mean the end of uDon'tstream? Not that it matters (as long as the Stephcast is still going), but Comca$t isn't getting any more of my $ for me to sign up for Current.
Not sure if Current airs the shows live, tho.
Quote by Raine:Ustream is going away.Quote by trojanrabbit:
Mondo, I hope Cassie shows up soon. Appears to be obvious that said asshat agent only care$ about the $ale and not a bit about other people's property and pets.
So, when the move to Current TV happens, does that mean the end of uDon'tstream? Not that it matters (as long as the Stephcast is still going), but Comca$t isn't getting any more of my $ for me to sign up for Current.
Not sure if Current airs the shows live, tho.