Trayvon Martin death: latest reconstruction (3/27/2012)

Summary

The transcript describes the tragic events surrounding 17-year-old Trayvon Martin’s death. Martin, while walking home from a 7-Eleven, was spotted by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer. Zimmerman called the police, and despite being advised not to follow Martin, he did. After a confrontation, Martin was fatally shot. Witnesses and a phone call from Martin's girlfriend offer differing accounts, with some suggesting Zimmerman instigated the confrontation. The incident sparked national debates on race, gun laws, and self-defense laws in the U.S.

Takeaways

• 😀 Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old, was walking home from a 7-Eleven after buying Skittles and iced tea when the incident occurred.
• 😀 George Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watch captain, noticed Martin and called a non-emergency police line.
• 😀 Zimmerman described Martin as looking suspicious, possibly on drugs, and mentioned it was raining while Martin was walking around.
• 😀 Zimmerman was asked if he was following Martin and was told not to do that by the dispatcher, although he continued.
• 😀 After the call, Zimmerman claimed to have stopped following Martin, but said Martin approached and attacked him from behind.
• 😀 Zimmerman said Martin punched him and repeatedly slammed his head into the sidewalk.
• 😀 The police source who leaked the information to the media said there were witnesses who corroborated Zimmerman's account of the incident.
• 😀 A dispatched patrol car arrived to find Martin dead on the ground, with Zimmerman reportedly bleeding from his nose.
• 😀 An unnamed girlfriend of Martin's, who spoke to him just before the incident, stated that Martin was being followed and was planning to confront his follower.
• 😀 Martin's girlfriend recalled Martin asking Zimmerman, 'What are you following me for?' before the call went dead.
• 😀 911 callers reported hearing two men wrestling and someone calling for help, followed by Martin's death. Neighbors later reported Zimmerman telling them to call the police.

Q & A

What was Trayvon Martin doing when George Zimmerman first noticed him?

Trayvon Martin was walking home from a 7-Eleven after buying Skittles and iced tea.

What did George Zimmerman do when he saw Trayvon Martin?

George Zimmerman, a self-appointed neighborhood watch captain, called a non-emergency police line to report Trayvon Martin, stating that he looked suspicious and was possibly on drugs.

How did Trayvon Martin respond when George Zimmerman followed him?

According to Martin's unnamed girlfriend, Trayvon Martin called her and told her he was being followed, saying he was about to lose his follower. He then reportedly asked Zimmerman, 'What are you following me for?' before the phone call ended.

What was George Zimmerman's version of the events?

Zimmerman claimed that he stopped following Trayvon Martin, but that Martin then confronted him from behind, punched him, and began slamming his head into the sidewalk.

What did the 911 dispatchers tell Zimmerman during the call?

The dispatcher told Zimmerman that they did not need him to follow Trayvon Martin and instructed him to stop.

How did the police become involved in the situation?

After the 911 call, the dispatcher sent a patrol car to the scene, and when the officer arrived, Trayvon Martin was found dead on the ground, while Zimmerman was reportedly bleeding from the nose.

What did Trayvon Martin's girlfriend report hearing before the phone call ended?

She reported hearing Trayvon Martin ask Zimmerman, 'What are you following me for?' and then she heard a noise, which she believed was someone pushing Martin, followed by the line going dead.

What did neighbors witness during the confrontation?

Neighbors who called 911 reported seeing two men wrestling on the ground, with someone heard calling for help. Moments later, Trayvon Martin was found dead.

How did Zimmerman react after the incident?

According to neighbors, Zimmerman was calm and nonchalant after the incident, telling them to call the police.

What is the key difference between the versions of the events told by Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin's girlfriend?

Zimmerman stated that Martin initiated the confrontation by attacking him, while Martin's girlfriend, who was on the phone with him, believed Zimmerman instigated the situation by following him.