I don't check in often on this case, it just really makes me so uneasy, as I believe it has become something much more than it actually is, due to media sensationalism and lot of bias on both side. I am glad that it is playing out in court, where we can see letter by letter what the evidence shows.
At this point, it boils down to me as a perfect example of how misunderstandings can go awry. It seems to me that perhaps both parties are at fault here. Here is what I mean, based soley on what I have read:
GZ-while well-meaning to protect his neighborhood, I think he may have gone too far with so many calls to 911, etc...and likely became hyper-vigilant. In other words, his sense of paranoia was far beyond what should be reasonably expected from a typical, non-LE person.
TM-even though his baby-faced photos have been repeatedly shown on TV, this is not what he appeared as a 17 year old. He was taller, more muscular and far more imposing a figure than what we see on TV. I can't imagine that a 17 year old boy like TM could possibly be so intimidated by this older, shorter, less in-shape man. It is apparent from his phone conversation that while TM believed he was being followed, that he did not seem fearful of the man. Instead he called the man 2 racial slurs and confronted him.
I also do not think that GZ started the scuffle. I do not believe he intended to use his weapon in any other way than self-defense, and he certainly wouldn't want to tangle with a taller, younger guy. I firmly believe that TM reacted to GZ in a threatening and menacing way and likely provoked the physical part of the altercation.
I believe that GZ was at that point engaged in a physical fight with TM and was losing. You can see the injuries to the back of his head and his nose. TM would certainly have had the upper hand in this fight-I am not sure how anyone can doubt that.
After that, I am really not sure. GZ says that TM saw the gun, said he would die that night and then tried to take it away from him. I'm not sure how much all of that sits with me. That's kind of a lot to happen in a very short window of time-noticing the gun, saying all of those words, going for the gun and then GZ able to access the gun quicker while on the ground in a position of weakness. I do realize that sometimes things happen very fast. I also wonder who things would have turned out if TM would have been able to get that gun instead. Would he have used it to shoot GZ? Would he have held it on him and called police? Would he have just run away? I'm not real sure.
I do know, however, that GZ stayed at the scene and cooperated fully with LE and has never changed his story from the get-go.
It is my opinion, at this point, until I see further that this was an incident of self-defense that was recognized early on by LE. But the media onslaught that occurred afterwards put them in the position as to have no other choice but to prosecute GZ with everything they have.
It's a big burden to prove that GZ intended to kill anyone that night. I do believe he was somewhat reckless and paranoid in his pursuit of TM. And I also believe that some sort of conviction and punishment be had-but I am thinking reckless homicide, or something to that effect. But I am afraid that there are those who will not be satisfied unless GZ goes down with a charge of M1 or at least M2 and goes to jail for the rest of his life.
I am scared to post my opinions on this or even state them publicly for fear of being called a racist or something. This case is so racially charged it is completely out of control. I am truly afraid of where the verdict will take us regardless of what it is because there is just so much passion on both sides of the fence.
Please keep in mind that this is just my opinion at this time and my opinion only.
