Austin - witness of Trayvon Martin's murder by George Zimmerman

The Orlando Sentinal interviews a teenager who saw what happened in part to Trayvon Martin. He clearly gets the message that the Sanford police is sending to Black youth across the nation. Justice must be served.

Trayvon Martin Born February 5, 1995 Died February 26, 2012 (aged 17) Sanford, Florida, US Cause of death Shot by George Zimmerman Nationality American Other names Nicknames: Tray; Slimm[1] Ethnicity African American Known for Controversy surrounding his fatal shooting Home town Miami Parents Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin Trayvon Martin (February 5, 1995 – February 26, 2012) was an African American teenager who was shot and killed by George Zimmerman, who is Hispanic.[2] Zimmerman described the shooting as self-defense.[3][4] His death and circumstances around his death caused a national outrage and calls for an in depth investigation from the community of Sanford, Florida and civil rights leaders like Al Sharpton. Contents   [hide]  1 Racial slur on 911 tape 2 Shooting 3 Aftermath 4 History of alleged racist actions by Sanford police 5 References 6 External links [edit]Racial slur on 911 tape Zimmerman is heard on one of the 911 calls saying "these fucking coons." This can be heard at about the 2:20 mark on the referenced video.[5] Police officers and George Zimmerman's family have not acknowledged or addressed this remark.[citation needed]

Shooting According to his family, during the halftime break in an NBA basketball game on TV, Trayvon left his father's girlfriend's home in a gated community in Sanford, Florida to go to a nearby convenience store to buy some candy. While returning, Trayvon was seen by neighborhood watch member George Zimmerman, [6] who called 911, stating, "This guy looks like he is up to no good. He is on drugs or something." He further stated that he had his hand in his waistband and was walking around slowly in the rain looking at homes.[7] The police dispatcher recommended that Zimmerman not take any action, and informed him that police were on the way. [8]  By the time the police arrived Martin was dead with a gunshot wound in the chest. Zimmerman was bleeding from the nose and the back of the head and had wet grass stains on his red jacket. Zimmerman claimed self-defense. One witness said he came upon the scene and saw Zimmerman on his back on the ground, which accords with statements by the police that he was covered in grass and blood. Another witness has said in a TV interview that "there was no punching, no hitting going on at the time, no wrestling", but police say that that witness gave an official account to them that agreed with Zimmerman's story. The only things in Trayvon's pockets were a package of Skittles for his little brother and a can of Arizona iced tea.[9] Zimmerman told police he had stepped out of his truck to check the name of the street he was on when Trayvon attacked him from behind as he walked back to his truck. He said he fired the semiautomatic handgun because he feared for his life.[10]

Aftermath Zimmerman, who was previously arrested for resisting arrest with violence and battery against a police officer[11], has not been charged with any crime.[12]Recordings of a number of 911 calls made the night of the shooting were publicly released by the city of Sanford on March 17, 2012.[13][14] Press reports indicate that the recordings include the sound of a single shot followed by a voice pleading or begging for help; a second shot is then heard, and immediately upon the second shot being heard, the voice stops. Zimmerman told police at the scene that he was the one crying out for help.[15] Other witnesses have stated that Trayvon was the one calling for help, and that the police tried to "correct" them into changing their assertion.[16] Sanford police accepted Zimmerman's account at face value that night and Zimmerman was not tested for drugs or alcohol on the night of the shooting, even though it is standard procedure in most homicide investigations.[17] Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee has said he does not have enough evidence to arrest Zimmerman. "In this case Mr. Zimmerman has made the statement of self-defense," Lee said. "Until we can establish probable cause to dispute that, we don't have the grounds to arrest him." "We are taking a beating over this," said Lee, who defends the investigation. "This is all very unsettling. I’m sure if George Zimmerman had the opportunity to relive Sunday, Feb. 26, he’d probably do things differently. I’m sure Trayvon would, too."[18] Multiple police investigations are ongoing. "The hysteria, the media circus, it's just crazy," Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee said. "It's the craziest damn thing I've ever seen. I know in my heart we did a good job."[19] The FBI and the Justice Department have opened investigations into the incident.[20] Florida Governor Rick Scott has also asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the shooting.[21]

History of alleged racist actions by Sanford police The police department of the city of Sanford has been in the news due to racial tensions before. The police chief in 2011, Brian Tooley, was forced from office after the son of a lieutenant was caught on camera beating up an unsuspecting homeless black man, but whom the department declined to prosecute. After the footage went viral on YouTube, the perpetrator (Justin Collison) was arrested.[22][23][24]The officer in charge of that case was also the officer in charge of the Trayvon Martin shooting scene.[25] In 2005, two parking lot security guards, one the son of a Sanford police department veteran and the other a volunteer for the department, shot a black teen, Travares McGill, in the back, killing him. They claimed self-defense, and the case was dismissed in court.[22][26]