17 yo Trayvon Martin Shot to Death by Neighborhood Watch Captain #35

[mercuriod]

Zimmerman had only been part of the newly formed watch group since November. Perhaps the times Martin had previously visited were before Zimmerman had formed the watch group. Or, perhaps Zimmerman, did,
as you suggested, know Martin, and had witnessed him doing something suspicious previously, and not been able to report it, and Martin, was in fact, one of the a**holes who got away.

JMO

So you are saying that GZ actually did stalk and target TM over a long period of time. That raised the level of the crime, yep that would be 1st degree premeditated murder!

 

[wishuwerehere]

Perhaps.
But that was not what the post said.

I personally think it's the "everybody does it" / "its no big deal" kind of attitude that gives our children a free pass (so to speak) to feel they can break laws and use illegal substances.

I am far from perfect, but I have never put an illegal drug in my body. I was taught it was wrong, stupid, and very dangerous. To each their own but I feel our children should be taught to respect authority and obey the laws of our great nation.

JMO

BBM - Just like stalking a teenager, trying to detain them, and then shooting them dead. (Oh, and smoking cigarettes is just dandy.)

JMO

 

[Lovelymountains]

When GZ stalked and finally murdered TM, (And yeah, I believe he did just that) he had no way of knowing whether or not Trayvon had a record, was an honor student, was headed to West Point or prison. GZ knew nothing about Trayvon except that he was walking in the rain wearing a hoodie and GZ was offended by his presence. So whether or not Trayvon was a or anything else, GZ had no knowledge of it. The fact that subsequent to Trayvon's death things not flattering to him have come out, true or not, has no bearing whatsoever on GZ's actions. I am amazed that anyone could think after the fact that he deserved his fate because of past actions.
I may be proven wrong about GZ's motives. I may be proven wrong about what TM was doing. I will not however, be proven wrong that GZ knew nothing of Trayvon's past and that has no bearing whatsoever on the events of that night.

 

[kimpage]

You do understand about hair, and capillary action, and how someone WITH hair would have the blood follow the lines of hair and spread faster than someone with little to no hair? Oh, and you are a DIFFERENT PERSON from GZ. And the concrete was different (unless, of course, you had your head bashed at the SAME PLACE as GZ, in which case, I have to point out the REMARKABLE odds taking place here)

So do you think TM hit GZ's head against the ground at ALL? If not, where do you think the marks came from?

It was in Jacksonville so no not same place....And i think GZ fell trying to detain TMand smacked his head.....Not serious at all..IMHO JMHO and all that

 

[Phoenixfla]

And by that logic, than since they were not reported stolen then they were NOT stolen.

Again, I have to ask when did this forum change stance regarding VICTIMS?

They were confiscated by the police. If he had them for ANY possible legitimate reason, surely the rightful owner would have stepped forward and claimed them.

 

[mercuriod]

What about physical evidence or other eyewitnesses?

You mean the physical evidence that the SA's office says is inconsistent with GZ's multitude of statements?

 

[AngelWings444]

It's all moot until we have an actual account of what Zimmerman says happened. If he stopped, or paced back and forth, or walked slowly, or ran, or did something that's not in the contrived timelines I've seen, they simply won't be accurate. It's a lot of assumptions based on very little.

Zimmerman is charged with murder, of course he will say and do anything to try to stay out of prison.

The lead investigator (although not prepared and didn't come off good in court) stated GZ's stories didn't add up. Not those words, but you get what I mean. The prosecution has enough probable cause to charge GZ with murder and the judge signed off on it.

So at this point, we either go with the charging documents, state prosecutor, investigator's, or believe George. :seeya:

 

[zenreaper]

ok......what? Now the concrete where GZ supposedly got his head banged was different than most concrete? :floorlaugh: GMAB.

<Mod Snip>. Yes, there ARE different types of concrete. Premixed, fiber reinforced, countertop, etc. Next time you are out and about, look down and notice how DIFFERENT the sidewalks look in different areas. Some are SMOOTH, some are rough and have a "pebbly" appearance. So yes, there are quite a few different types of concrete/cement (cement is actually a COMPONENT of concrete).

 

[AngelWings444]

Anyone else having trouble with the forum? Will a new thread help? It's SO slow for me. :blushing:

 

[mercuriod]

Nor did anyone in this case. Mischaracterizing statements, much?

Oh thats right that is only what GZ told his brother who went on national TV to relay that message to the world.

 

[katydid23]

Because teenagers frequently do stupid things like that? Not all of them get arrested and turn into criminals. Sheesh.

YES, they do. And having worked at a high school in So. Central for several years, I saw many fights. There were kids fighting nearly every single day. Teens punched and slapped and kicked one another with great frequency.

So it does not seem unusual or unlikely, imo, that TM might have been the one that began the physical altercation.

 

[imamaze]

Anyone else having trouble with the forum? Will a new thread help? It's SO slow for me. :blushing:

They are working on it, it has been slow.

 

[SoSueMe]

It has become obvious to us that there is a small faction of members that are only here to inflame and incite this forum. We've given you the opportunity to discuss this case intelligently and respectfully, but some choose to post in a flippant or condescending and rude manner.

We're issuing timeouts tonight. Accounts will be reviewed and BANS will be forthcoming.

We will not have our members turn Websleuths into a mud pit and we will not let our serious members be subjected to this type of behavior.

 

[raeann]

Whew....open again?? I took a long shower, folded a load of laundry, put another in the dryer and another in the washer....unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher....

What are the mods trying to do to me? Make me catch up on ALL the work around here???

jmo

 

[Gin]

Whew....open again?? I took a long shower, folded a load of laundry, put another in the dryer and another in the washer....unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher....

What are the mods trying to do to me? Make me catch up on ALL the work around here???

jmo

I had to step away to watch Idol. Yes, I admit it. :lol:

 

[Velouria]

YES, they do. And having worked at a high school in So. Central for several years, I saw many fights. There were kids fighting nearly every single day. Teens punched and slapped and kicked one another with great frequency.

So it does not seem unusual or unlikely, imo, that TM might have been the one that began the physical altercation.

But that's a generalization based upon your own experience in a different state and different setting. What specifically about TM's background indicates he was likely to have instigated a fight? Unlike GZ, he was never charged with a violent crime, nor do we have evidence he ever was disciplined for violent behavior at school.

 

[csziggy]

Yes, I would be livid too. But mostly, I would be more livid that any of that info was released to the media about a minor. And I would not rest till the culprit (s)that released that private info to media was removed from the school. Just a matter of principle.
Guess the Martins are a lot nicer than me.

The school system involved should have already fired whoever was responsible or investigating whoever it was that leaked that information.

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is very strict about what can be released by any educational system that receives federal funds. University of Florida had the best description I could find for a Florida educational institution:

What is FERPA?

The 1974 Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, also known as the Buckley Amendment, is a federal law (20 U.S.C. 1232g) that protects the privacy of a student’s educational record. FERPA applies to all educational institutions receiving funds from the United States Department of Education, from kindergarten through university level.

At the University of Florida, the privacy of academic records is also protected by Florida Statute Section 1002.22 (2007).

The U.S. Department of Education summarizes the rights afforded to students by FERPA as follows:

• The right to inspect and review their educational records within a reasonable period of time and no more than 45 days after the institution has received the request
• The right to request to amend inaccuracies in their educational records
• The right to limit disclosure of some personally identifiable information
• The right to file a complaint with the Family Policy Compliance Office if they feel their FERPA rights have been violated.

<SNIP>
What is an Education Record?

An education record is any record directly related to a student that is maintained by an educational agency or institution, or by a party acting for the agency or institution.

Examples of an academic record include, but are not limited to

• Biographical information including date and place of birth, gender, nationality, information about race and ethnicity, and identification photographs
• Grades, test scores, evaluations, courses taken, academic specialization and activities, and official communications regarding your status
• Coursework including papers and exams, class schedules, as well as written email or recorded communications that are part of the academic process
• Disciplinary records
• Financial aid and financial aid records
• Internship program records

http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/ferpa.html

BBM

As indicated in the above information, Florida has its own student privacy laws:

1002.22 Student records and reports; rights of parents and students; notification; penalty.—

(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to protect the rights of students and their parents with respect to student records and reports as created, maintained, and used by public educational institutions in the state. The intent of the Legislature is that students and their parents shall have rights of access, rights of challenge, and rights of privacy with respect to such records and reports, and that rules shall be available for the exercise of these rights.
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/filestores/web/statutes/fs07/CH1002/Section_1002.22.HTM

 

[katydid23]

But that's a generalization based upon your own experience in a different state and different setting. What specifically about TM's background indicates he was likely to have instigated a fight? Unlike GZ, he was never charged with a violent crime, nor do we have evidence he ever was disciplined for violent behavior at school.

Just the fact that he was an impulsive teenager, and an ex football player so he knew how to physically 'hit' someone with his body if he needed to, and he was impulsive and rebellious, given his three suspensions.

That is a lot of suspensions, imo.
Many kids stop being a discipline problem at one suspension. But he went into a closed part of the campus and spray painted a curse word on private property. That says something about his impulsive personality, imo. Students doing something destructive like that in broad daylight have little impulse control, imo.

I know this is going to bring me a lot of flaming and anguish, but you asked me the question, and I am answering from my experience working in schools with 'at risk' kids. Three suspensions is a lot. And ten days is a very big deal. They do not like to send kids away from campus any longer than necessary because they miss the ada $ every day a kid is gone. And they don't want a kid to get behind in classes either. So this was quite a long suspension. And that tells me that the school was concerned with his behavior. JMO

So to answer your question, I think he had poor impulse control, knew how to fight, and was angry that day being grounded by his dad for his 10 day suspension. So when this scary weirdo was following him, he was angry.

 

[LolaMoon08]

no....that is not what I was saying at all....just that twelve pieces of jewelry is no big deal. It very well COULD have belonged to a friend, the friend's girlfriend or anyone! I am pretty sure that there are a lot of kids who have an item or two that their parents don't know about....normal, everyday, GOOD kids!

jmo

I personally think be bought it from a cheap flea market and was selling it for a profit. I used to do that with candy in school. When I got busted, I said it was mine and mine alone and they still confiscated it. I wasn't going to tell them I was selling it! :floorlaugh:

MOO

 

[Aedrys]

Teenagers commonly take on personas as they try to figure out who they are, or do what they think is cool. Some teenagers think being tough and like a gangbanger is cool, and often it is to their teenage friends. However, this doesn't mean that they all turn out to be gangbangers. Some grow out of it and go on to have productive lives. TM was not a gangbanger from the hood. His parents seem to be upstanding, and the only things he got into trouble for were minor and definitely not violent. I am not understanding how this is being stretched to him being moments from being an actual gangbanger and wanting to take out GZ. Now maybe he put on a tough persona to show GZ he wasn't afraid of him (no proof, but it's a possibility), but that doesn't mean he was an actual gangbanger out for blood. I don't think GZ is a very good judge of character at all. If someone says some words to him that sound a certain way, he jumps to conclusions about them. That doesn't give him the right to shoot and kill TM. He did not know TM at all.

Honestly, I want actual proof other than GZ's word alone that TM jumped him and made him fear for his life so he had to shoot TM. There is absolutely not one iota of evidence that makes TM violent nor the aggressor other than GZ. And there's no one to contradict the story because the only person who can, TM, is dead. It's a travesty that the assumption is still being pervasively made that TM was a violent out to kill GZ. And yet nothing about GZ's background can say anything about him, which is a complete and total contradiction. If TM's background can be held against him, then GZ's background can be held against him too. That is only fair.

Only one of them is sounding like a violent gangbanger, and it's NOT TM.