“His pursuing Trayvon started the whole thing.”
Since Zimmerman isn’t a law enforcement official, maybe it’s debatable whether he started anything by contiuing to monitor Travon.
Just a thought
He was following the thug, and when the 911 operator suggested he not do that, he stopped and was walking away when he was attacked. He was hit from behind, and that constitutes an aggressive assault.... the thug then pounced on top of him and commenced to beat him mercilessy, bashing his head into the cement... the only thing the thug did not take into account was that his victim (yes the victim here is zimmerman, not the thug) was armed. It looks like the thug picked the wrong guy to assault.
From the reading I’ve done. Z’s story is more along the following - pursued him until he lost sight...at which point he turned around and headed away.. T then became the aggressor and attacked him. Z was on the ground be pummeled by Z (as per eye witness.) Z shoots T in self-defense.
If Z’s story is true, - stand your ground seems appropriate and justified.
He didn't hang back - he chased Treyvon for at least a little while. He should have reported what he saw in his 911 call, got into his SUV and watched rest of neighborhood and let the real LEOs handle the rest.
Now everything is all messed up and someone is dead and no one seems to know all of the REAL FACTS.