Trayvon Martin: Family of neighborhood watch death victim wants justice

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The controversial case of an unarmed teen shot to death by a neighborhood watch captain in a Sanford, Florida neighborhood has been handed over to the State Attorney’s Office. The State Attorney will decide whether to criminally charge neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman in the teen’s death.

“In this case, Mr. Zimmerman has made the argument of self-defense,” Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee said. “We don’t have the grounds to arrest him.”

WATCH THE LATEST UPDATE ON THE TRAYVON MARTIN CASE
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Attorney Natalie Jackson, who is representing Trayvon Martin’s family, said Zimmerman, 25, should be arrested and charged with the 17-year-old’s death. The family says they want justice.

“My son left Sanford, Florida in a body bag,” said Martin’s father, Tracy Martin. Jackson said Martin was unarmed while walking back to his father’s home from a convenience store. He was carrying a bag with Skittles and iced tea inside.

When Zimmerman spotted him, he called 911 to report a “suspicious-looking” person.
According to the family’s attorney, Zimmerman then disregarded a 911 operator’s instructions not to approach the teen.

Martin was shot and killed in ensuing the confrontation. “I don’t know if the whole thing was a racial issue, it may have been a ‘Zimmerman wants to be a hero’ issue. It becomes racial because Zimmerman thought that black males with hoodies are criminals,” Jackson said.

Zimmerman was arrested in 2005 for resisting an officer with violence and battery on a law enforcement officer. The case was dismissed because no evidence could be found.

Zimmerman attended a pre-trial diversion program and a deal was made with his attorney to get the case dropped. It’s unclear whether the State Attorney’s Office will pursue charges in Martin’s death.