Trayvon Maritin Shooter's Story Not Credible

by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright March 26, 2012
All Rights Reserved.                                         

             Marching with thousands today in Sanford, Florida to protest the Feb. 26 killing of 17-year-old African American Trayvon Martin, Rev. Al Sharpton pleaded for justice, while Martin’s killer, 30-year-old Latino George Zimmerman remains free, with no pending charges.  What irks the Black community is not that Zimmerman hasn’t been charged with murder but that the police accepted Martin’s story without questioning the incomplete picture surrounding the case.  Martin insists through his attorney Craig Sonner that his client acted in self-defense when the teen lunged for his gun.  Zimmerman has no explanation for how an altercation ensued where the teen broke Martin’s nose before firing the lethal shot.  When Zimmerman called 911, the dispatcher asked him whether he was following the teen, which he acknowledged.  He was told by the 911 operator that it was not necessary.

             Zimmerman went to great lengths to cover his tracks, blaming the killing on self-defense.  He seems most familiar with Florida’s controversial “Stand your ground law,” protecting citizens from criminal prosecution for operating in self-defense.  At the time of the incident Feb 26 Zimmerman’s nose and back of his head was bloodied in what he said was a life-and-death struggle against his would-be attacker.  Not long after the story broke, the media was leaked a story about Martin getting evicted from Miami’s Corp High School for possessing a baggie suspected of carrying marijuana.  Leaking Martin’s private school record to the media shows a concerted attempt to discredit the 17-year-old teenager.  Martin’s 16-year-old girlfriend confirmed that she heard via cell phone Martin ask Zimmerman, “Why are you following me, and then the man asked, what are you doing around here,” then the call dropped.

             When you look at the fact pattern, there’s too much of an airtight case already presented by Zimmerman discouraging police involvement.  Zimmerman told police he confronted Martin because he looked suspicious wearing a hoodie.  He admitted to confronting Martin.  When Zimmerman called 911 Feb. 26 to inform them he was following the suspect, he was told “we don’t need you to do that.”  Yet, given Zimmerman’s account, an altercation took place.  “The stand-your-ground law is one portion of justifiable use of force,” said veteran State Attorney Angel Corey, suggesting it makes the state’s case more difficult when claiming self-defense.  Corey claims Florida’s stand-your-ground law makes it difficult to prosecute cases.  Zimmerman’s attorney Craig Sonner admitted that Zimmerman felt “one of them was going to die that night”  was a bizarre statement.

             Zimmerman’s attorney has given the police all they need to detain the shooter for questioning. Accepting his story lock, stock and barrel is what infuriated the Black community around the country.  When President Obama weighed in March 23 on the Trayvon Martin case the right wing went wild.  “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon Martin,” said Barack, meaning, he’d be wearing similar kinds of clothing.  Sinking presidential hopeful former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) criticized Obama for commenting about the racial overtones.  When Zimmerman commented on Trayvon wearing a “hoodie,” he opened the racial debate.  Some inner city dwellers see hoodies as symbols of gang clothing, despite the fact they’re commonplace with white students at most college campuses.  Given Zimmerman’s contradictory stories, Sanford prosecutors should consider filing hate crimes charges.

             Too much emphasis has been paid by Zimmerman and his attorney in discrediting Trayvon.  How his marijuana charges leaked to the press is anyone’s guess.  More than likely, it’s related to Zimmerman’s defense attorney digging up just enough dirt to discredit the teenager’s case.  With the Department of Justice and FBI investigating, it’s a matter of time before some type of charge is filed.  “So it would depend on which charge if any we’re able to file,” said Corey.  “Before we would be able to determine one, if this is a hate crime and two, whether or no that would enhance the crime,” begging the question of whether or not Zimmerman acted in malice.  While Zimmerman insists that Martin initiated the violent contact, there’s growing evidence that the shooter provoked the altercation.  Stalking the teenager around the compound certainly indicated that Zimmerman was looking for a fight.

             When thousands of people protest March 27 wearing hoodies around the country, it’s time to once again revisit racial stereotypes and hate crimes.  Whatever the merits of Zimmerman’s case, Sanford police should have detained the shooter for more extensive interrogation.  Invoking Florida’s controversial “stand-your-ground law” raises disturbing questions about due process in Florida.  If every murderer were to claim self-defense, Florida authorities must do a better job of interrogating suspects where accidental or deliberate death takes place.  Accepting Zimmerman’s story, whether credible of not, shows no respect for shooting victims.  When Zimmerman admitted that he felt someone was going to die Feb. 26, he raised some disturbing questions about his motives.  Local authorities with the help of the Justice Dept. and FBI must do a better job of investigating potential hate crimes.

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news.  He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com.and author of Dodging the Bullet and Operation Charisma.       

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