Yes, that was my first thought before I spent some time really reading about the case. From all that is known, particularly about the timeline and locations (none of which is dependent upon Zimmerman’s account) the one thing that I am absolutely certain did not happen is Zimmerman chasing, pursuing or stalking Martin.
Zimmerman first saw Martin a 3-4 minute walk (or less) from the house where Martin was staying. Zimmerman’s call lasted more than four minutes. Zimmerman lost sight of Martin two minutes before hanging up with police, and Martin, at that time, was only about 100 yards from home.
If Martin was nervous, or even if he wasn’t nervous, but he just wanted to go home, he had more than enough time to do so before Zimmerman’s initial call even ended.
Yet five minutes after leaving Zimmerman’s sight, he lay dead on the ground, not 250 feet from Zimmerman’s car.
I do not know why he didn’t go home, I only know that he could have done so if he wanted to, and Zimmerman couldn’t have stopped him without the police operator hearing the whole thing.
Obviously, I have no idea exactly what happened in the two and a half minutes between Zimmerman hanging up and the beginning of the 911 calls, but Martin fleeing from a pursuing Zimmerman is the least likely possibility.
Let's put it this way. From Martin's point of view, this guy was watching him and making phone calls. For all Martin knew, this guy was calling his gang buddies to come jump him, and keeping him in sight so that they'd all know where to go when they arrived. What's to prevent a gang from breaking down the door or the windows of the house, if they really want to get him?
I'm not condemning anyone here. I'm saying that what I think happened is a tragic series of events, in which intentions were misread on both sides. I do not know for sure, though--just like no one else commenting knows either.