Posted on 03/29/2012 2:00:36 PM PDT by sheikdetailfeather
LAKE MARY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - For the first time since that fateful night on February 26, the father of a neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed an unarmed teenager sat down for a television interview.
Robert Zimmerman, father of George Zimmerman, said he decided it was time to speak out for his son, against the advice of others. He shared with us what George said happened on the night that 17-year-old Trayvon Martin died.
"It's my understanding that Trayvon Martin got on top of him and just started beating him," the 64-year-old Robert Zimmerman said.
He said he felt his son has been portrayed in the wrong way. He also said he and his family have received death threats and asked that we not show his face on camera.
Because there has been a lot of break-ins in the area, Robert said George thought it suspicious that someone would not be walking on the street or the sidewalk on a rainy night -- that Martin would be walking between the town homes. He said after making those observations, his son decided to call the police.
"He called the non-emergency number first, and they asked him where he was, because he was at the rear of the town houses and there was no street sign," said Robert
(Excerpt) Read more at myfoxorlando.com ...
I agree, but we need to show that.
You don't carry a firearm, do you? There is no safer place for a handgun, especially when police will be arriving, than for it to be secured in a holster.
I would have to overcome my training to restore the weapon to operational status -- live round in chamber, not an empty case, if I knew this to be the case. Zimmerman appears to have either the presence of mind to leave the weapon as is (to bolster his case of self defense), or assumed it had it fact cycled fully. In any event all guns are treated as if they are
Went back and read the police report. The gun was in the holster in waist band when officer took it. Is that normal too? Would it have been attached or “movable”?
(I suppose that would depend on the type of holster)
Was told by one freeper if it was still in holster when fired Z would have been shot in leg. ???
If I were being hit and having my head hit on ground I'd keep my hands up to fight off the blows or push assailant away. Not at my waist.
OTOH TM’s hands/arms were under his body not above his head.
Appreciate the links to the thread with discussion. It helped a lot.
Other than the article by Massad Ayoob I don’t know of another source for that. Ayoob is pretty reliable though so I suspect it is likely true.
My mother was a ace shot on Purdue rifle team. In fact they got confused because of the spelling of her name and tried to draft her.
She tried to teach me, but dad intervened.....I've forgotten everything I knew plus some.
This animation may help you understand better how a semi-auto is supposed to operate.
3D Glock Semi- Automatic Pistol (Function Animation)
Groovy music too! /s
However, some have suggested he shot TM while he was on top of him. That could very well have happened. I have my doubts.
GZ could have shot TM from a distance, and it still would be a justifiable self defense shooting. The problems, would be if he made any statements and if the science stated otherwise.
Thanks ...You all have been so kind.
Some poster here, I forget who, speculated that Trayvon may have effectively "pulled the trigger" by trying to pull the gun away from Zimmerman's hand.
It may be that Zimmerman didn't intend to fire a shot, at all. But when faced with loss of possession of his gun, well, I'm sure his state of mind changed!
Not a problem. Lots of info going around to digest.
Autopsy and some results should be back in a couple of weeks. It will answer a lot of questions if enough tests were ordered.
That is very possible. If someone grabs for your gun it would be instinctual to try to grab it first and in the normal fashion of drawing it by the grip. Not much other way to grab it from a holster. It would also be instinctual to put your finger on the trigger (and a darned good thing to do when under attack). If someone pulled it towards themselves ... bang!
Second topic of question is where did the information on Skittles and AZ Tea come from. Couldn't find it in any police report or news release. Was it you cboldt that brought it to my attention that tea = marijuana. Well, did bit of research: Skittle and AZ tea are both street names for drugs. Skittles = ecstasy and AZ tea = marijuana laced with PCP.
Some one from the area when we were looking at the relationship of the 7-11/community said area
was known for its drug use.
If the account that Zimmerman is alleged to have given to the police is true then he didn't pull his gun while following Martin. He didn't pull it when Martin confronted him and asked "you got a problem?" He didn't pull it when he was punched and knocked to the ground. He didn't pull it while being pummeled on the ground.
Only when Martin saw it in his waistband and threatened "you're going to die tonight" (however the threat was actually worded) and presumably tried to grab it did the gun leave the holster.
I would call that a lot of restraint on Zimmerman's part.
That is so cool. So the “casing” the flipped out of the top was still there in Zimmerman’s gun and it didn’t reload as pictured. If it works when police fire it didn’t malfunction but had an out side force stopping it.
Sure explains a lot. Thanks again.
No, it wasn't me.
I haven't focused any of my attention on whether the skittles/tea were literally that, or if Trayvon was out getting dope. Toxicology will reveal if he was drugged up or drinking. I've come to my point of view on blame, based on his conduct, and reasonable inferences from the uncontested evidence.
If Trayvon was drunk or on PCP, it may have given him a sense of bravado that he didn't otherwise have - but that doesn't matter for the purpose of finding him to be the physical aggressor.
Yep. I think he was willing to take a beating - he knew the cops were on the way. But he wasn't willing to have his own weapon turned on him.
It is quite amazing, that the general public has been led to the conclusion that Zimmerman is a sort of thug. Out hunting prey, taking an opportunity to initiate force, etc.
The press is despicable. Usually, their mistakes can be taken as "funny" in a sense. Not this one. This isn't funny, at all. I'd have to restrain myself from spitting on Stepanopolis, Blitzer, Grace, Shepherd, et al if I saw them in public.
IMO external force on the slide is the most likely explanation. More experienced gun nuts may disagree! ;^)
My impression of George Zimmerman from all the accounts I have seen is that the last thing he would want to do is shoot someone. He seems like a rather soft-hearted person to me. He tutors children he helps neighbors he watches out for them. His apparent restraint fits.
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