OK so first there is going to be a bit of speculation, but I’ve been reviewing so much hard data on this case I kinda want to get my thoughts out there. Since overall I feel the Zimmerman has been portrayed unfairly by the Media, the race-baiters, and the anti-rights cult, I’m going start with my admonishments of Mr. Zimmerman so I can be perfectly clear.
Mr. Zimmerman has been referred to as a “Neighborhood Watch Captain”, but from every report I’ve read there has been no such “neighborhood watch” for the neighborhood referenced, nor any subordinate watchmen coming forward for comment. It would appear that Mr. Zimmerman just had a hobby of driving around the neighborhood in the evening looking for crimes, and his frequent calls to police support that. **UPDATE** RWC links this story where another “Watch Captain” is interviewed, so maybe there was an organized watch. Thanks RWC!
I suspect Mr. Zimmerman is doing this out of his own good nature as a philanthropy. But if you want a “Neighborhood watch” organize and start one, don’t just start flying solo on your own volition. If there HAD been a watch, Zimmerman could have had almost immediate backup for both a corroborating witness, as well as potential help in the reported hand-to-hand struggle, without need for pulling his gun.
Most people just want to mind their own business, so if a watch can’t be arranged, just accept that and watch your own property, and simply be a good neighbor. My Neighbors and I are quite friendly and we like to tell each-other when we’re on vacation just so the others can keep an eye peeled for fishy behavior. It also makes a vacation more enjoyable because I know if I don’t hear a call, its likely everything is fine back at my castle.
The ONLY reason why Zimmerman was in this situation was because he was out LOOKING for situations to get involved in. I think we can all agree, guilty or innocent, none of us would like to trade places with Mr. Zimmerman right now. Remember that.
Ok so let’s just lay out the data I have. yesterday I reported on the Arrest report, and found an eyewitness account of the home owner who lived on the property where Mr. Martin died.
This sent me back to Sebastian’s place where he posted links to the 911 calls.
If you’ve read the police report and heard the witness listen to Zimmerman’s call.
Zimmerman calls to report a suspicious person wandering in the rain just looking at houses. Police ask him for a description and Zimmerman states he suspect the man is black but sounds unsure. The police ask where he is and he says he can’t give the exact address of the house he’s nearest because he can’t see the numbers from his truck. At this point he says the man spots him and begins to “Check him out”, and approach him. At this point he confirms that the man is black, and re-states he thinks something is wrong with him, and that he is carrying something in his hands, but he isn’t sure what. He doesn’t sound concerned that the person is armed, just suspicious.
From his tone I find it hard to believe he was “Profiling” a black teen. He just sees somebody in the dark wandering around in the rain. We have a saying around here where you say somebody “Doesn’t have the sense to come out of the rain”. I’ve seen pools and swimming areas clear out when rain starts falling. People are swimming in water and soaking wet, but they seek shelter when the water starts coming from above rather than below. I also think its odd that somebody would be walking in the rain without obvious direction and purpose, especially as the sun is setting.
While talking with the police Zimmerman suddenly, and with a bit of surprise notes that the person takes off running.
This is when you hear Zimmerman’s door open, and start hearing wind noise on the phone receiver. At no point do you hear feet pounding the pavement, excessive wind or breath noises, and Zimmerman continues to talk at a normal voice. The police ask if he’s following the subject, and he confirms this.
I would infer from this that Zimmerman started following Martin, but I hear nothing to imply he at all started to run, but it does sound like Martin took off at a decent jog from Zimmerman’s surprise. Honestly this is something I’d do as well. Whether he should have been there in the first place is irrelevant at this point, he’s now involved with the police of a suspicious person, I too would keep an eye on him at a safe distance.
The police tell Zimmerman no to pursue the person, and he gives them directions to the neighborhood mailboxes, and again states he doesn’t know the exact address. He tells the police to call him when they are on site and ends the call.
Now from Zimmerman’s account at this point he checked a home address and was returning to his truck when Martin jumped him from behind.
That sounds VERY believable. If Martin was afraid of Zimmerman or thought he was being pursued he could have taken off running. Martin was a tall athletic boy who played sports at school, Zimmerman is short and from his mug shot appears to have some extra weight on him. Also there is no evidence in the call that Zimmerman ever did anything but a brisk walk. If Martin had started running, even at a slow jog when reported, and Zimmerman was still in his car he could have opened a lot of distance between them.
Now listen to this 911 tape.
The first call takes place shortly after Martin has been shot and like all the calls confirms that the two men were on the ground fighting, one was yelling for “help” and then a shot was fired and Martin was killed. The second call on the clip appears to be shortly after Martin and Zimmerman made physical contact. You can hear somebody shouting for help, and the shouting goes on for some time before the single shot is heard. The 2nd Call you can hear the screaming from the first moment, and the caller immediately reports it, much of the call is redacted to protect the caller, but the gunshot is heard just under a minute into the call. That minute feels long for me, it would feel longer for the parties involved.
I can’t imagine that Zimmerman could have chased down and jumped Martin given the head start he had, and the physical differences between them. The eyewitness is the only account that identifies either party as the one shouting, and it certainly only sounds like a single voice from the call (which again is of poor quality and redacted heavily), and the eyewitness stated that it was the man with the red jacket as the person calling for help.
I can only reasonably deduce from this is that Zimmerman complied with the 911 operator’s request to not pursue Martin and simply checked a home address when returning to his truck to wait for the Police to arrive. At this point he was attacked by Martin who returned to the location. He called for help as Martin was on top of him and beating him. He may have been calling to the witness to help him, and when the guy shuttered his door he was left with the options of hoping Martin wouldn’t beat him to death, or drawing his gun.
I must say I see no evidence of the alleged “Stalking”, racist intent, or even of Zimmerman actually giving chase to Martin.
Of course like in the Rodney King trial the general public was rarely informed of Mr. King or the officer’s actions before the famous tape was made. The truth was King was drunk, possibly on drugs, and had led police on a high speed chase, was violent, and they were unable to subdue him with other devices before they turned to the batons.
The people, wildly misinformed, and stirred up by the specter of racism, rioted.
I have my concerns of history repeating itself. Be careful out there.
