Whether he said punk or coon it doesn't really matter.
He followed while armed with a gun because the kid was young and black. The racism involved is obvious.
Whether he said punk or coon it doesn't really matter.
He followed while armed with a gun because the kid was young and black. The racism involved is obvious.
Whether he said punk or coon it doesn't really matter.
He followed while armed with a gun because the kid was young and black. The racism involved is obvious.
Let me preface this with the fact that I am a middle aged, gun owning, conservative white male.
This is a case where simple law is adequate.
Mr Zimmerman while acting as a "Neighborhood Watch" called a police dispatcher to report a suspisious person. At that time he was advised that police were on the way, and when he told the police dispatcher he was following the individual he had called about, he was advised not to do so.
At that point, Mr Zimmerman lost all potential of a "stand your ground" defense. He was acting in direct defiance to advice from law enforcement. He pursued young Trevon, initiated a confrontation with Trevon, and ultimately shot and killed him. When the poice arrived they found a young man dead, "armed" with an iced tea and a package of candy. He had been on the phone with a friend at the time of the shooting, telling her he was being chased by a stranger, and was in fear.
This was not self defense. Neither Mr Zimmerman or any other person were threatened by Trevon. Mr Zimmerman threatened Trevon. Then killed him. Mr Zimmerman followed Trevon with the intent to "apprehend" him. Trevon was violating no law, and was a guest of a resident of the community. The "stand your ground" defense does not apply in a situation where the shooter sought a confrontation. This is murder.
No, murder is a different intent. At the end of the day what Zimmerman did was manslaughter. He didnt set out that day to kill the kid. Its one of the most misused legal terms. The only way it would be murder if the defense could prove his intent was to shoot him in cold blood or Zimmerman was in the act of committing a felony (beyond the killing, ie robbing a liquor store, this is known as felony murder). I doubt there is even a murder charge. The 911 tape proves his intent, the fact he was on watch proves his intent, the fact he followed to see what he was up to proves his intent.
Think of it this way. If you kill a guy drinking and driving, you are charged with a form of manslaughter. Your stupid act of getting behind the wheel might have been premeditated, (ie having a gun when you are a voluntary neighborhood watch) , but your intent wasnt to kill someone.
I wish the asshat could be charged with murder, but it would be overcharging him and if the manslaughter charge isnt on the table, the jury would be forced to acquit. (although the judge would most likely throw out the murder charge before the trial even began)
The protests were on my bball court btw. I'm out of town at the moment, but I'm usually there 2-3 times a week. Crazy.
Orlando sucks and Florida in general