Why isn't this murder?

[Donegeal]

I'm fairly certian that the watchman didn't just get out of his car and instantly shoot the kid. However, according to the obviously biased article Al quoted, the only details given about what happened were exactly that.

So, why wasn't he charged with murder? Because more information is needed.

[MrFun]

Don't forget the Skittles. He could have put someone's eye out.

yeah

[Al B. Sure!]

To be fair, there are reports that there was a scuffle before the shooting. However, even if this happened, I find a self-defense argument to be hard to make. The shooter called police, was instructed to wait, came out of the safety of his car to confront the youth... the extent of the confrontation was what? Did he attempt to restrain him? In such a case, the youth would be exercising self-defense against the shooter!

I imagine the can of Arizona ice tea in the jacket pocket will be described as a possible handgun.

[Al B. Sure!]

I'm fairly certian that the watchman didn't just get out of his car and instantly shoot the kid. However, according to the obviously biased article Al quoted, the only details given about what happened were exactly that.

So, why wasn't he charged with murder? Because more information is needed.

See my post above.

As for biased article?

http://news.yahoo.com/family-florida-boy-killed-neighborhood-watch-seeks-arrest-044537742.html

It's a Reuters report. Not saying mainstream media doesn't show bias, but it's hardly from a controversial source.

[loinburger]

I'm fairly certian that the watchman didn't just get out of his car and instantly shoot the kid. However, according to the obviously biased article Al quoted, the only details given about what happened were exactly that.

So, why wasn't he charged with murder? Because more information is needed.

What could have happened that would justify homicide? I'm assuming that even an incompetent/biased reporter would have mentioned it if the kid was brandishing a machete or whatever.

[Wezil]

I imagine the can of Arizona ice tea in the jacket pocket will be described as a possible handgun.

I'm going with "furtive movement" as the cause.

[Hauldren Collider]

We don't have all the facts. In cases like this, details seem to come out which are initially ignored by sensationalist press stories. It's too early to assume he's guilty of something. Considering Donegeal is actually a cop, I'm inclined to agree with his perspective.

[Donegeal]

See my post above.

As for biased article?

http://news.yahoo.com/family-florida-boy-killed-neighborhood-watch-seeks-arrest-044537742.html

It's a Reuters report. Not saying mainstream media doesn't show bias, but it's hardly from a controversial source.

My mistake. I read the 'loose cannon' part and mistaken thought is was from the writter of the article.

As for what could have happened... just about anything. That's all I'm saying. We don't know. Don't string the guy up until we get more information.

[Wezil]

We don't have all the facts.

So you're saying I should stop talking the topic so seriously?

[loinburger]

I agree that we don't have all of the facts, but what hypothetical facts would justify homicide in this case? Short of the kid actually having a handgun or machete, that is.

[Al B. Sure!]

What could have happened that would justify homicide? I'm assuming that even an incompetent/biased reporter would have mentioned it if the kid was brandishing a machete or whatever.

If the kid had fought him, would that justify it? But even in this case, why would the kid have fought him? The neighborhood watch guy (a 26-year old criminal justice student, reports are saying) almost certainly accosted him... what else could he have done? What was he trying to do to the youth? Make an arrest?

[loinburger]

As for what could have happened... just about anything.

I'm willing to entertain wild speculation on the subject. Hypothetically, what could the kid have done that would justify his being shot?

[loinburger]

If the kid had fought him, would that justify it? But even in this case, why would the kid have fought him? The neighborhood watch guy (a 26-year old criminal justice student, reports are saying) almost certainly accosted him... what was he trying to do to the youth? Make an arrest?

Okay, here's a situation in which the homicide would probably have been justified: the kid breaks into the guy's car and drags him out of it, then starts beating him, possibly using the iced tea bottle as a weapon.

If on the other hand the dude confronted the kid and started a fight, then I hardly think that he'd be justified in shooting the kid when he started to get his ass kicked.

[Al B. Sure!]

The PD held a news conference and this is the latest news from the Orlando Sentinel:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/crime/os-teen-shooting-killed-sanford-police-20120308,0,1380794.storyhttp://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/crime/os-teen-shooting-killed-sanford-police-20120308,0,1380794.story

The relevant parts:

Sanford police have interviewed George Zimmerman, the 25-year-old shooter who is white, several times and had him re-enact what happened, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee Jr. said Thursday.

Both sides agree that Martin and Zimmerman scuffled before the shooting.

Police are still investigating, trying to determine whether Zimmerman is guilty of manslaughter, according to department records. He told them he acted in self defense, and there's some evidence to corroborate that, the police chief said.

Police Thursday released an incident report that gave new clues that support Zimmerman.

When police arrived and found the body, they also found Zimmerman bleeding from the nose and back of his head, according to the report. Also, the back of his shirt was wet and had grass clippings on it, as if he'd been on his back on the ground.

And an officer overheard Zimmerman complain, " 'I was yelling for someone to help me but no one would help me,' " according to the report.

One of the things on which police are focusing is the background noise in a 911 call, the chief said.

"You can hear the struggle and the gunshot," he said.

Police want to enhance the background noise to better hear what went on, he said.

Zimmerman had spotted Martin in his gated community about 7:15 p.m. and called Sanford police on a non-emergency number, saying he'd just seen a suspicious person, both sides agreed.

That call then ended and police dispatched an officer. Before he arrived, however, the department got several other 911 calls, people complaining about two men fighting and a gunshot.

No where does it say exactly what Zimmerman was trying to do, said, or did to the youth.

Is picking a fight and then shooting the guy you started the fight with considered self-defense?

[Donegeal]

I agree that we don't have all of the facts, but what hypothetical facts would justify homicide in this case? Short of the kid actually having a handgun or machete, that is.

What if the kid went for the watchman's weapon? What if he actually managed to get the gun out of the holster during the struggle Al is talking about? What if during the struggle for the gun it went off accidentily? Hell, it could have even been the kids finger that pulled the trigger. We just don't know.