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Zimmerman charged with second-degree murder
George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer who says he was acting in self-defense when he fatally shot teenager Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, has been charged with murder in the second degree, special prosecutor Angela Corey told reporters Wednesday.
Read the charges (PDF) | Read Corey's remarks (PDF)
Corey said that Zimmerman has surrendered to authorities in Florida and has been arrested. The charge carries a maximum possible sentence of life in prison.
Police say Zimmerman fatally shot Martin, a 17-year-old African-American, on February 26 in Sanford, Florida, after Martin began walking home from a convenience store. Zimmerman, who is Hispanic and was a neighborhood watch volunteer, had called 911 to complain about a suspicious person in the neighborhood. He was released without charges after claiming self-defense, but the case was referred to Corey for a review as thousands converged on Sanford to join in protests calling for Zimmerman's arrest.
The following are running updates on the story:
[Updated at 7:30 p.m. ET] Zimmerman's new attorney, Mark O'Mara, said that he expects to file a motion seeking bond for Zimmerman on Thursday. Currently, Zimmerman is being held without opportunity for bond.
O'Mara told CNN by phone that he thinks Zimmerman is "troubled by the fact that the state decided to charge him," but that he "understands what is in front of him," and he's "doing OK."
At a news conference outside his office seconds later, O'Mara told reporters that Zimmerman voluntarily surrendered to Florida authorities, and that authorities were in the process of moving him to custody in Seminole County, Florida.
"He's concerned about getting a fair trial and a fair presentation," O'Mara said. "There's obviously been a lot of information flowing. I think a lot of it has been premature and inappropriate."
"The worst thing that can happen in this case is that it doesn't get tried properly," O'Mara said. "Give us our chance to do it the way it's supposed to be done."
On Tuesday, Zimmerman's former attorneys Hal Uhrig and Craig Sonner told reporters they had lost contact with Zimmerman and no longer represent him.
iReport.com: What's your reaction?
[Updated at 7:04 p.m. ET] Sanford's mayor, Jeff Triplett, called "for continued calm in Sanford, its surrounding communities and around the nation."
"The case is in the hands of the justice system. Please allow it to work through the process and come to a natural conclusion," Triplett said in a news conference in Sanford, following Corey's announcement.
[Updated at 6:58 p.m. ET] Martin's father, Tracy Martin, thanked "everyone for being compassionate about this."
"As (Martin's attorney, Benjamin Crump) said, this is just the beginning. We have a long way to go, and we have faith," Tracy Martin said.
Trayvon Martin's parents and their attorneys were at a news conference with the Rev. Al Sharpton in Washington, D.C., where the parents have been visiting an annual conference held by Sharpton's National Action Network.
Tracy Martin spoke of the marches in which people called for justice in the case.
"The first time we marched, I looked to the sky and said, 'I will walk by faith,' Martin recalled. "We will continue to walk by faith. We will continue to hold hands on this journey - white, black, Latino.
"We will march and march and march until the right thing is done."
[Updated at 6:56 p.m. ET] An emotional Sybrina Fulton - who is Martin's mother - reacted to Wednesday's news:
"First of all, I want to say: Thank God. We simply wanted an arrest," she told reporters in Washington, D.C. "We wanted nothing more and nothing less, and we got it. And I say thank you. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Jesus."
[Updated at 6:49 p.m. ET] The attorney for Martin's parents, Benjamin Crump, standing with the parents and the Rev. Al Sharpton, told reporters in Washington, D.C., said that if one were to look at the facts and evidence fairly, Zimmerman "had to be arrested, and this matter had to go before a judge and a jury."
"We can take a short breath, because we are just now getting to first base," Crump said. "This is only first base. Trayvon's legacy cannot be tarnished based on people doing sick things and acting (on) ignorance or using violence."
[Updated at 6:42 p.m. ET] The Rev. Al Sharpton, standing with Trayvon Martin's parents at a news conference in Washington, D.C., said "there should be no high-fiving" over Zimmerman's charge.
"There’s no winners here. … This is not about gloating. This is about pursuing justice. We have not won anything. All we have established is we have the right to redress," Sharpton said.
Sharpton said that he believed public pressure didn't lead Corey to file the charges, but he believes public pressure caused Florida's governor and Corey to review the case.
"If we did not get this far, we would condemn them," Sharpton said. "We must say that despite the fact that we are of ... different political persuasions ... we came together and said only the facts should matter."
"We are trying to make sure that something happens so that this will not happen again," Sharpton said.
[Updated at 6:34 p.m. ET] Benjamin Jealous, president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, issued a statement following the announcement of charges against Zimmerman:
“Forty–five days after Trayvon Martin’s life came to a violent end, the wheels of justice have finally begun to turn. This is an important first step toward bringing justice for Trayvon and his family," Jealous' statement began.
"As we have seen, the system does not always work perfectly. But we have shown that when we stand together as a nation we can compel it to work. For the NAACP, this case has always been about the rule of law. We are encouraged by today’s charges, but we know that this is just the beginning. We anticipate and expect a thorough federal investigation of the Sanford Police Department and their role in exacerbating this tragedy," Jealous said.
Jealous said "Trayvon’s case moved the nation because it underscored the twin tragedies that affect so many of our young people: Trayvon was profiled because of his race—looked upon as a threat rather than the loving son he was."
"And then, once he became a victim, he was neglected by the very police department tasked with protecting our communities and families," Jealous said. "As a nation, we’ve got to address the issues of racial profiling and the valuation of black mens’ lives by law enforcement. In the months ahead the months ahead, the NAACP and our allies in the civil rights community will continue to take these issues on as well as the urgent need to repeal stand-your-ground laws.
"Tonight our thoughts and prayers are with Trayvon’s family. We are grateful for the courage and tenacity of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin that continue to help shape a national movement for justice for their son and for all of America’s children.”
[Updated at 6:20 p.m. ET] In Florida, a charge of second-degree murder carries a maximum sentence of life in prison, according to CNN and HLN legal analysts. Florida does not offer the chance for parole for those convicted of the charge. The sentence would, however, take into account several mitigating and aggregating factors.
[Updated at 6:17 p.m. ET] Zimmerman is being held without opportunity for bail, but Zimmerman's lawyers are entitled to request a bond, Corey said. Once they do so, a bond hearing will be held, she told reporters.
[Updated at 6:16 p.m. ET] While Corey said that Zimmerman surrendered and is in the custody of authorities in Florida, she declined to say exactly where, citing concerns for the safety of Zimmerman "and everyone else."
[Updated at 6:12 p.m. ET] Corey said she wouldn't discuss what led her to file the second-degree murder charge, other than her conclusion is based on her review of the evidence.
Florida state attorney Angela Corey said she spoke with Trayvon Martin's parents before telling the media about the charge against Zimmerman.
[Updated at 6:07 p.m. ET] George Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the February 26 shooting of Trayvon Martin, Corey said.
What happens now that Zimmerman is charged in Trayvon Martin death?
[Updated at 5:51 p.m. ET] George Zimmerman has turned himself in to law enforcement and is in custody in Florida, according to CNN legal analyst Mark NeJame.
Zimmerman also has a new attorney, Mark O'Mara, according to NeJame.
NeJame reported that Zimmerman, before he surrendered, was "out of the state of Florida, as I understand it, for his safety."
On Tuesday, Zimmerman's former attorneys Hal Uhrig and Craig Sonner told reporters they had lost contact with Zimmerman and no longer represent him.
[Updated at 4:55 p.m. ET] Florida Gov. Rick Scott has released a statement ahead of the special prosecutor's news conference:
"We are fortunate in our state that most Floridians and local civic leaders are law-abiding, responsible citizens who all want justice to prevail. No matter what State Attorney (Angela) Corey determines following her investigation of the Trayvon Martin tragedy, I trust in the goodness of all Florida citizens to allow our justice system to reach an appropriate conclusion in this case."
[Updated at 3:34 p.m. ET] The parents of Trayvon Martin plan to hold a news conference after the special prosecutor makes her announcement.
Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, will be accompanied by their attorneys and the Rev. Al Sharpton in Washington, D.C., where the parents have been visiting a conference held by Sharpton's National Action Network.
[Updated at 3:07 p.m. ET] Many people in Sanford, Florida and around the world have been captivated by the Trayvon Martin case and have lent their support to Martin's family.
Upon hearing the news that special prosecutor Angela Corey was holding a press conference today to update the media, Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton tweeted that the case was in God's hands now.
[tweet https://twitter.com/SybrinaFulton/status/190153784981327872%5D
[Updated at 3:02 p.m. ET] The office of special prosecutor Angela Corey has confirmed that a news conference updating the media on the Trayvon Martin case will begin at the State Attorney’s Office in Jacksonville, Florida at 6 p.m. ET.
[Updated at 2:51 p.m. ET] Corey's office, which is investigating the Trayvon Martin shooting case, said that charges against George Zimmerman have not been filed. The office would not confirm whether the office planned to charge him, according to HLN's Josey Crews.
Earlier, CNN reported that Corey is expected to announce a decision Wednesday regarding whether she will file charges against Zimmerman, and a senior law enforcement source familiar with the Martin death investigation said that Zimmerman would be charged.
[Updated at 2:39 p.m. ET] George Zimmerman “will be (criminally) charged if (he) hasn’t been charged already,” according to a senior law enforcement source familiar with the Trayvon Martin death investigation.
It's not clear what the charges would be.
[Initial post, 2:29 p.m. ET] A special prosecutor in the Trayvon Martin shooting case is expected to announce a decision within the next four hours regarding whether she will file charges against George Zimmerman, CNN reports.
The news comes a day after attorneys for Zimmerman told reporters they had lost contact with Zimmerman and no longer represent him.
Police say Zimmerman fatally shot Martin, a 17-year-old African-American, on February 26 in Sanford, Florida, after Martin began walking home from a convenience store. Zimmerman, who is Hispanic and was a neighborhood watch volunteer, had called 911 to complain about a suspicious person in the neighborhood.
Zimmerman told Sanford police the shooting was self-defense, and Zimmerman was released without charges. Authorities have said Zimmerman was not immediately charged because there were no grounds, at the outset, to disprove his account that he'd acted to protect himself.
But thousands converged on Sanford to join in protests calling for Zimmerman's arrest and criticizing the police department's handling of the case. Martin's death has triggered a nationwide debate about race in America and Florida's "stand your ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of death or serious injury.
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There must be somebody in the neighborhood or community or homeowners association that assigned Zimmerman the position of neighborhood watch without the proper training and without giving Zimmerman any badge or any special identification or uniform. Whoever was responsible for Zimmerman being in that position without proper training and psychological evaluation for the position should be held accountable too.
why do they have to make it racial in my town all the African american are mad at the Hispanics and we live in TX not in Florida
I believe they are mad a Zimmerman not Hispanics but I'm not 100% sure. I haven't had anything disrespectful to occur with us white folks. I've seen the rednecks get blessed pretty badly.
We are being attacked from the inside of this coutry by colored people
Which color in the COUNTRY (sp correctly) are we being attacked? From the white color?
Race has very little to do with this. It's a culture clash. A culture cultivated by the Democrats. Segregation of the poor in Public Housing developments and government checks to buy loyalty.
Claiming race as a factor is a stereotype to claim that this is a racial thing.
Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, overcame the cultural mindset and thrived.
Now you know how they felt for 400 years. Oh wait, maybe once you've been whipped, beaten, sold off for profit, separated from your family, systematically humiliated, denied your civil rights, attacked with police dogs and water cannons for daring to march for your basic rights, hung from a tree because someone thought you looked the wrong way at a black woman, repeatedly pulled over by police simply for driving around, excluded from neighborhoods, denied jobs, kept out of schools, and generally treated like a criminal wherever you go, then you (and I) can complain about "being attacked by colored people." [Interesting, pre-civil rights era, choice of words by the way].
Lynching; anyone?
Surely there is something they can drum up.
After all,the majority or the most intimidating rules in a mobocracy.
The New Black K K K is getting a pass on their murder for hire bounty. Wow ..., the Justice Department is following orders.
Really? Lynching? An innocent black kid is dead at the hands of a vigilante and it's the latter who's being lynched?
I believe first degree murder (descriptive, regardless of proper state legal statute) could be pursued, but in that case they may have to prove he left home with intent to 'murder a black person' that day... difficult at best. In that light 2nd degree is much more applicable (ie aggravated, albeit self-aggravated). Your notation from the Florida Code on Homicide is thought-provoking, but most of the rest of us hear and see murder via 'degrees' to clarify 'what actually happened' vice how a state attorney would likley cite it in court.
Whether or not the press will use that terminology as the case moves forward is yet to be seen. Regardless of how the press comes to describe what happened anyone could already rightfully cite it as either 'homicide' or 'voluntary manslaughter'. Our collective unprofessional opinions / positions matter not as it's in the hands of the legal system now and we can collectively hope justice prevails no matter what /that/ turns out to be. It's obvious from comments that some folks are already upset with what went down today, already referring to it as a 'lynching' even though no conviction is in play and he hasn't been 'hurt'... it's all veyr painful to watch... just how broken our nation is regarding politics. I'd wager a number of those angry posters are even self-proclaimed Christians ignoring ye ole Commandment-on-killing they often parrot when it serves them... such blades cut both ways (and that's why I accused them of racism). Blatant irony - and just as thick as you'll ever get to see it.
Anyone hearing the already available evidence and auto-deciding in favor of Zimmerman would have some 'splainin to do if they were on the jury... that's my position and I'm sticking to it. Given the known evidence, what occurred that day was a seemingly obvious travesty, however I do have an open mind... perhaps there is other unknown-to-the-public evidence in play.
George Zimmerman is about to become the sacrificial lamb to appease the angry NAACP gods.... He is probably not even guilty of anything, but he will go down in flames so that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton don't urge black people to riot again like in L.A. Lesser of two evils....
You are a Republican George Zimmerman kkk fox news Nazi sympathizer.
Do me a favor and take your racist ass some place else.
George Zimmerman made a choice to ignore 911 callers advice not to get involved and to stay away. He chose to get in a fight with the person, and he chose to pull a gun on a unarmed person and shoot him dead.
Evidence already shows that he was not injured as bad as he claims and that some of the injuries happened because Martin was defending himself. Hell the scream for help heard by the 911 caller wasn't from Zimmerman.
Zimmerman murdered an unarmed young man, that is murder!!!!!!! We can't let people shoot someone every time there is an altercation. Wake up Zimmy is a police impersonator at best, a clown, s social misfit, he's not a vigilante.
Zimmy THE CLOWN:
Zimmerman murdered an unarmed young man, that is murder!!!!!!! We can't let people shoot someone every time there is an altercation. Wake up Zimmy is a police impersonator at best, a clown, s social misfit, he's not a vigilante.
All you racist just remember Zimmerman is not white.
Here is the thing, there were a lot of people around the country who wanted the Florida Mom (accused of killing her daughter) arrested and tried. The prosecutor didn't move until they felt that they had a strong case, even though the mom was out partying after her daughter disappeared. The community, as I recall, was pretty outraged. Inspite of all that, she was acquitted. Now, sitting back at home and watching the news, I thought, "she is toast." Didn't happen. I also thought that OJ was toast. Didn't happen. So, lets not jump to conclusions about the outcome of the trial before it even happened.
Zimmy the clown pulled a gun, and decided to use it on an unarmed young man, that is murder!!!!!!!!!! He wasn't being threatened the moment the gun came out.
Zimmerman could have given verbal commands while standing his ground!!!!!!!! But he cbosse to shoot that boy who was no threat to a loaded gun!!!!!!! So George Zimmerman was not being threatened with lethal force, this whole story it was life or death only applies to Zimmerman. He choose to shoot an unamred young man instead of yell
STOP OR I'LL SHOOT YOU
STOP IN THE NAME OF A POLICE IMPERSONATOR
STOP BEATING THE CRAP OUT OF ME I HAVE A GUN
STOP I'M JUST A LOSER THAT CRUISES THE STREET LOOKING FOR INNOCENT VICTIMS TO BULLY WHILE ROBBING MY NEIGHBORS BLIND CONVINCING THEM I PROVIDE SECURITY.
Instead Zimmy decided to shoot that kid so it's time to pay the piper!!!!!!!
You really sound like a racist idiot. People like you are part of the reason why Trayvon Martin is dead to begin with!!
(yawn).....who cares
Definition of Florida Second Degree Murder:
Murder with a Depraved Mind
Murder with a Depraved Mind occurs when a person is killed, without any premeditated design, by an act imminently dangerous to another and evincing a depraved mind showing no regard for human life.
The primary distinction between Premeditated First Degree Murder and Second Degree Murder with a Depraved Mind is that First Degree Murder requires a specific and premeditated intent to kill.
Fits the bill to me..not premeditated, but Zimmerman obviously had no regard for martins life as he was you know, chasing him with a gun and all. And we will just put this in now for all the trolls who don't know what it means:
Definition of depraved (legal term):
Depravity of mind refers to the state of mind which is contrary to justice, honesty or morality. Depravity of mind is a condition where there is a deviation or departure from the ordinary standards of honest, good morals, justice, or ethics as to be shocking to the moral sense of the society
Also sounds like Zimmerman to me! normal people with morals and standards of ethics and justice don't chase people around with guns for walking in their neighborhood, then confront them after the police TOLD HIM TO STOP.
My my, chasing??? you have inserted a buzz word that you have no knowledge should be part of this case. If you google the police report you will see the word walking used. You my sweet bonehead are a bonehead
I'm sure Martin didn't have any regard for Zimmerman's life either...while he was bashing his head against the concrete.
have you completely missed the truth about this case? Zimmerman was not CHASING martin. He was following him and observing him. When told that was a bad idea Zimmerman attempted to return to his SUV. Then Martin confronted and ATTACKED Zimmerman. If you attack someone you should get shot. The filing of charges now is a clear miscarriage of justice and is being done for political reasons to get a vocal minority to shut up. This is political kowtowing at its worst. It sends the message that if you scream loud enough the laws don't apply to you. The race card is overplayed and not relevant to this story. Zimmerman did not shoot Martin because he was black, he shot him because Martin attacked him. Get over it.
Personally I think it qualifies for Murder 1 anyway, but obviously it's a minimum of Murder 2. I'm sure the defense was hoping for a manslaughter because they can get them off with a light sentence.
Its not illegal to confront someone about what they are doing in a public area and when was the gun drawn was it before during or after trayvon attacked zimmerman you choose to ignore relevant facts
I TOLD YOU SO
You're dead dude?
I would like to know what compelling evidence there is that why one attorney general would not file charges and another 2nd degree murder. That's a broad jump.
This is getting too much attention this is not any more or less tragic than any other violent deaths in the US. I wish Sharpton and his cronies would kindly stay out and let the the criminal justice system work rather than trying to incite mob justice.
Someone is running for political office this November.
Yes, this is more tragic than most murders. Reason: An unarmed child was shot and killed by an armed adult...and then not arrested. That is tragic, regardless of race.
You don't need compelling evidence to arrest someone or charge them with a crime.
Zimmerman murdered Trayvon Martin and confessed in doing so, we have the weapon we have forensic evidence!!!!! Charge him with murder, it's up to Zimmy to prove it was self defense!!!!!!!! Which he won't because the kid was unarmed!!!!!!!!! THIS IS A NO BRAINER
if the justice system was working the way it is supposed to then there would have been an investigation in the first place and none of this would have happened. I'm not gonna sit here and call these people on here commenting on Zimmerman's innocence racist however who shoots somebody and goes home with the murder weapon? stand your ground or not, Zimmerman was the aggressor. I haven't heard anyone in the media call Zimmerman guilty and no one should get away with shooting another person without an initial, proper investigation. Period. Justice doesn't mean guilty and it's been 45 days just for a simple arrest. Even though you're arrested, you're still presumed innocent until proven guilty, but that didn't happen.
You need to shut up !!! This doesn't have anything to do with Al Sharpton, the thing is that Zimmermen killed an unarmed Teenager, shot him to his death with a shot gun. And with your screwed up law in the State of Florida have totally screwed up the investigation of Martins death. I don't care how the law is run in your state and neither any other American cares when someone is shot and murdered the Police should have arrested Zimmermen and do a proper investigation to find out what really happend until proven guilty. Instead the officers took the situation as if, Oh well !! he was only protecting himself, just let him go. That's a bunch of BS the police Department had just made them self look bad as if they didn't really cared what happen to Martin. If that was your child you would expect the Police officers to arrest and do a complete investigation to find out what really happen until proven guilty especially when the boy was unarmed. I can see if the boy was armed with a weapon and tried to attack him then yes Zimmermen has that right to protect himself. The Police Department didn't handle the situation very well, it makes me wonder if the situation would have happen the other way around I think they would have arrested Martin for shooting Zimmermen to his death. So quit being a hypocrite. Let the System investigate the situation until proven guilty, if Zimmermen is proven innocent then the law can release him. But until then he needs to stay locked up.
All respects for the Black struggles are gone. Martin luther King shaken his head in heaven. They have become what the fought against.
What a shame one less black still a billion left 🙁
Kennet, you are an embarrassment to the human race.
Why don't Your race die down burn stupid
Go shoot yourself, hick!
Agree. They love to riot. Gives them an excuse to loot stores.
Great, now our justice system is at the hands of mob rule. Charging a person with a crime just because a very small and very vocal minority want them charges is yet another example of the US going down the tubes. The law is very clear. Once Martin laid hands on Zimmerman, Zimmerman had the right to defend himself. I applaud Mr. Zimmerman for defending himself and his commitment to his neighbors.
Black on white crime is statistically 700% more likely to happen than white on black crime. You have to ask yourselves an important question when reading this tripe; "Why is the media making such a big deal out of this?"
Murder is still illegal. Even in this fascist leaning country.
@ not really,
Because they didn't arrest the guy standing over the body of a dead child with a smoking gun.
That stat is Not accurate. Go back 450 YEARS and redo your math. Obviously no schooling.
If you really can't see why this is in the news than your a complete and utter moron.