A year after the shooting death of an unarmed black teenager in this central Florida town, there is a small memorial, a new police chief and an effort to improve race relations.

Trayvon Martin, 17, was gunned down on February 26, 2012, as he walked to his father’s fiancee’s home in one of Sanford’s gated communities. The man accused of his killing, George Zimmerman, 28, a white Hispanic on neighborhood watch, is set to be tried on June 10.

A judge could grant immunity to Zimmerman at a pre-trial hearing on April 29 under Florida’s controversial Stand Your Ground law, which allows people to use lethal force in self defense if they are in fear of serious bodily harm.

Martin’s death drew top-tier civil rights leaders, such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, who brought a national spotlight to this town just north of Orlando and not far from Disney World.

That spotlight forced the town of 53,000 to confront police work that seemed to be a throwback to the days of separate and resolutely unequal racial sensibilities.

“This situation, with all eyes on Sanford is making them (city leaders) do something about it now,” said Cindy Philemon, 49, who helps run the local black heritage museum and welcome center.

A year later Martin’s family says it does not want the case considered in racial terms. “We don’t want people to see this as a black kid. I want people to see this as a teenager … who was walking, minding his own business,” Martin’s mother, Sabrina Fulton, told the NPR radio show “Tell Me More” on Monday night.

Despite the pain of losing her son, Fulton said she was glad that a debate had opened up about Florida’s Stand Your Ground law.

The family is backing an amendment to the law seeking to restrict its application. “You can’t follow, pursue and chase anyone, be the aggressor, have a confrontation with him, shoot and kill him, and then go home to your bed and nothing happens,” she said.

During the weekend, volunteers in the black community hastily worked to complete a modest memorial of stuffed animals, cards and crosses in time to remember the first anniversary of Martin’s shooting. It has also become a way for Sanford to remember the many other black victims of violence whose stories largely went untold.

City Manager Norton Bonaparte, who is black, said Sanford had begun to tackle deep-seated problems between police and the black community that were exposed in public forums after Martin’s death.

“In honoring Trayvon’s life, we have to make ourselves a better community,” Bonaparte said.

The police chief at the time of Martin’s shooting lost his job over criticism that his department and prosecutors chose not to charge or arrest Zimmerman.

The new chief starts his job in April.

“Now, it’s like the police are getting more involved in being with the community,” Philemon said. “They are starting to do their part in interacting with us. They say there is not as many shootings as there once was.”

Another resident, Thelma Holmes, 62, agreed saying, “It is better than what it was before, because we had a lot of killings of young men … The people and the police, they’re both trying.”

Trayvon’s death will not be forgotten.

“It started people to come forward. So his death is not going to be in vain,” Philemon said. “And he will always be remembered.”

Martin’s parents and lawyers will be in New York City, not Sanford, to hold a candlelight vigil on Tuesday night.

Zimmerman, who is charged with second-degree murder, was granted bond and ordered to surrender his passport, agree to be electronically monitored, reside in Seminole County, and observe a nighttime curfew.

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Here’s Metro’s pick for the top five stories that we’ll remember for years to come.

1. The shooting death of Trayvon Martin

On February 26, 2012, George Zimmerman shot and killed teenager Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. after following him on suspicion of being a burglar. What unfolded in the months after became one of the most controversial stories of the year. Zimmerman claimed he shot Martin in self-defense after the teen, who was unarmed, started attacking him. Zimmerman’s critics said he was the aggressor and his suspicion of Martin, whose father lived in the neighborhood, was purely based on the fact that he was a young black man wearing a hooded sweatshirt. Zimmerman had called 911 to report Martin and failed to follow the operator’s instructions not to follow him.

Zimmerman was charged with second degree murder on On April 11, 2012. Following the charges, a series of photos taken the night of the incident surfaced showing Zimmerman with bloody injuries, lending some credibility to his self-defense claim. He is currently scheduled for trial on June 10, 2013.

2. The Miami ‘zombie’ attack

In a story that horrified the nation, Florida man Rudy Eugene encountered Miami drifter Ronald Poppo on May 26, and literally chewed off his face in a drug-fueled craze, police said.

Eugene met Poppo on the sidewalk near a highway before smashing his face into the concrete and plucking out his eyes and and biting and chewing his flesh. About 80 percent of Poppo’s face was destroyed, doctors said. Police shot and killed Eugene when he refused to step away from Poppo.

Poppo later said he didn’t know what provoked the attack and he had never met Eugene before. He has since undergone a series of reconstructive surgeries.

(Eugene, L, and Poppo, R)

3. The presidential election

President Barack Obama won his re-election campaign against Republican candidate Mitt Romney in a highly contentious race that came to an end on November 6, 2012. The candidates spent months campaigning and squared off in three debates, spurring several pop culture phenomenons, including the “binders full of women” meme, and jokes about Obama’s sleepy demeanor in the first debate.    

Polls throughout the election season showed the candidates neck and neck with voters, but Obama and Vice President Joe Biden won in the end, with 332 electoral votes compared to 206 that went to Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan.

4. The ‘Dark Knight’ shooting

On July 20, 2012, a gunman entered a movie theater in Aurora, Colo. and opened fire on the crowd of people gathered for the midnight premiere of “Dark Knight Rises.” Twelve people were killed and 58 were wounded. Police quickly arrested 25-year-old James Holmes next to his car behind the theater, just minutes after the shooting. Police later encountered booby-trapped explosives at his apartment.

He had notably dyed his hair red in what was said to be a mimic of the “Joker” villain from the “Batman” movies. Police later revealed that Holmes had purchased several guns, including a semi-automatic rifle, just weeks before the shooting. Holmes is charged with 24 counts of first degree murder, 116 counts of attempted murder, possession of explosive devices, and inciting violence.

5. Sandy Hook massacre

Tragedy once again gripped the nation on December 14, 2012 when police said 20-year-old Adam Lanza went on a shooting rampage inside Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. 27 people were killed, including Lanza who shot himself — 18 of them were children. Several of the teachers were killed during acts of heroism as they desperately tried to protect their students from the gunman. Lanza’s mother was a teacher at the school. She was found shot to death in the home she shared with her emotionally disturbed son after the shooting.

This shocking tragedy has thrust gun control laws under the microscope, as many lawmakers are calling for a ban on assault weapons, like the one Lanza used. President Obama assigned Vice President Joe Biden to produce recommendations on how to curtail gun violence in the country.

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As the photo began to be circulated widely by the news media, lawyers on both sides disagreed about its significance to the second-degree murder case against Zimmerman.

“It’s not a game changer,” Zimmerman lawyer Mark O’Mara told Reuters. But O’Mara said the photo was significant in that it shows vividly the injuries Zimmerman incurred during his confrontation with Martin at a condominium in the central Florida town on Sanford.

On February 26, Zimmerman, who was a neighborhood watch volunteer, shot and killed 17-year-old Martin who was walking to the home in Sanford where he was staying with his father.

Zimmerman’s murder trial is set for June 2013.

Zimmerman claims he shot Martin in self defense during a struggle.

“Does it really show what happened that night to George? Yes,” O’Mara said.

Attorney Ben Crump, who represents Martin’s family, however said the photo adds nothing new to the case. Previously released evidence has indicated Zimmerman was hit in the nose during the fight with Martin.

“Trayvon Martin was defending himself. He had every right to stand his ground to defend himself,” Crump said.

O’Mara told Reuters that prosecutors in May had given him a grainy black-and-white photocopy of the image which was taken in the back seat of a Sanford police cruiser. O’Mara said he received the digital image from prosecutors after repeated demands by his office and he posted it Monday on Zimmerman’s defense website.

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Zimmerman sat down with Fox News’ Sean Hannity to give his side of the story about the night in February that ended in the shooting death of the 17-year-old Martin.

He claimed he was not “following” Martin, but instead “keeping on eye” on him so he could direct police to his location. According to Zimmerman, he fired his weapon in self-defense after Martin approached him with “confrontational” body language.

“He asked me what my problem was,” Zimmerman said. “I said I did not have a problem.”

Zimmerman claimed Martin broke his nose with a punch, bashed his head on the concrete sidewalk and tried to suffocate him. He told Hannity that during the scuffle, Martin said to him, “You are going to die tonight.”

Zimmerman denied that he acted out of racism. He stopped short of saying he regretted getting out of his car that night and said he wouldn’t do anything differently were he given the chance. Instead, he said he prays for Martin’s parents daily and wishes he hadn’t had to shoot their son.

“I feel it was all God’s plan,” Zimmerman said. “…. I do wish that there was something, anything I could have done that would have put me in the position that I wouldn’t have to take his life.”

Martin’s family members released a statement in response to the interview, saying they believe Zimmerman “does not regret anything he did that night.”

“We must worship a different God because there is no way that my God would have wanted G. Zimmerman to kill my teenage son,” Trayvon’s father Tracy Martin said.

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The woman, identified only as Witness 9, said Zimmerman inappropriately touched her and made sexual advances until she was 16 years old. There is just a two-year age difference between the woman and Zimmerman. Their exact relation has not been made public. She told investigators she came forward with her claims after Zimmerman was charged with the murder of Trayvon Martin because she was “no longer afraid of him.”

She also told investigators she has heard Zimmerman’s mother make racist comments, and even once say she didn’t like President Barack Obama because he is black.

A legal analyst who spoke to Orlando-based WFTV reporter Daralene Jones said the allegations would likely not play a role in Zimmerman’s murder trial. Jones tweeted excerpts from Witness 9′s explosive testimony.

[View the story "Zimmerman" on Storify]

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Zimmerman walked out of the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Sanford, Florida, and is expected to be moved to a temporary safe house secured by his lawyer.

George Zimmerman’s legal defense fund raised $20,000 in the 24 hours after a judge set bond at $1 million for the former neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed the unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin, Zimmerman’s official website said on Friday.

The figure is about 22 times the daily rate of donations for the previous two months, according to a statement on the website, which said the defense fund had collected $55,000 over the past two months.

Zimmerman, who had been free on a $150,000 bond, was sent back to jail in June after prosecutors alleged he misled the court about his finances and failed to surrender a valid passport.

Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said Thursday in his new bond order that he believed Zimmerman and his wife Shellie intended to flee the country but were thwarted by the judge’s requirement that Zimmerman wear an electronic monitoring device.

Defense attorney, Mark O’Mara, said Thursday that Zimmerman and his family could not post the higher bond, which typically would require a deposit of 10 percent cash and the rest secured by collateral, without donations from supporters.

Shawn Vincent, who manages the website for O’Mara, told Reuters the largest donation overnight was $1,000, and that most contributions ranged between $10 and $25.

Since May 3, when O’Mara took control of Zimmerman’s defense fundraising, donations have averaged $500 to $1,000 per day, he said.

In granting bond, Lester imposed numerous restrictions. He said that if released from jail again, Zimmerman must submit to electronic monitoring, remain in Seminole County, stay away from the Orlando-Sanford International Airport, refrain from applying for a passport or holding a bank account, avoid alcohol and obey a curfew from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.

The defense website said Zimmerman’s security team had established a temporary safe house for him to go to upon his release from jail, but that a permanent location was still being sought.

Zimmerman is charged with second-degree manslaughter in the February 26 shooting death of 17-year-old Martin in a gated community in the central Florida city of Sanford.

Martin’s killing drew national attention because police initially declined to arrest Zimmerman. They cited Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” self-defense law and Zimmerman’s claim that he used deadly force because he believed his life was being threatened by Martin.

Zimmerman, 28, was later arrested on second-degree murder charges, which carry a penalty of 25 years to life in prison.

Shellie Zimmerman has been charged with perjury for allegedly working with her husband to hide from the judge at least $135,000 that was raised by Zimmerman, through a personal website and Paypal account, prior to his arrest.

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As ABC reports, Martin’s blood and urine tested positive for THC, the active chemical in marijuana. The autopsy also revealed that Martin had a quarter-inch by half-inch abrasion on a finger, which may have been caused by a struggle. He was shot from a distance of between one and 18 inches away.

Zimmerman, who is charged with murder, has maintained that he shot Martin in self-defense during a scuffle with the teen. Photos taken on February 26, the night of Martin’s death, show bleeding abrasions to the back of Zimmerman’s head, which he claimed was slammed on the ground by Martin. Other reports have revealed that Zimmerman suffered a fractured nose and two black eye the night Martin was shot.

The autopsy report with Martin’s drug test results came to light as prosecutors prepare to make public new evidence, including videos and photos from the crime scene.

Zimmerman told police he called 911 to report his suspicion about the teen after he spotted him in the gated community where Martin’s father’s girlfriend lived. He followed Martin, despite the 911 operator’s urging him not to, and told police he shot the teen during a struggle. He has been released from jail on a $150,000 bond.

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The family of the slain teen has raised about $100,000 in donations that will go toward establishing a criminal justice advocacy foundation in Trayvon Martin’s name. Supporters made the donations through wepay.com and at rallies for Trayvon Martin. Martin’s parents will head the foundation at salaries equivalent to what they are making now, according to Slate.

Zimmerman launched his own site about three weeks ago, just before he was charged with murder. The rudimentary site was at the center of attention for its elementary design and personal plea from Zimmerman for financial support in the wake of the controversy surrounding the shooting, which prevented him from working. The site has since been taken down, but not before Zimmerman’s supporters donated nearly a quarter million dollars towards his legal fees and living expenses.

While the donations for the Martin family are going towards establishing a charity — a distinct difference from donations for Zimmerman, which are going towards legal fees — it comes as a surprise to many that Martin’s family has only raised half the amount that Zimmerman raised.

Public support has been overwhelmingly in favor of Trayvon Martin, but what do these donation amounts mean? Does the fact that Martin’s family didn’t raise as much as Zimmerman indicate a wider shift in public support as Zimmerman prepares to head into a trail that will no doubt be historic? 

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Zimmerman launched the site in early April in an attempt to collect donations for his legal fees and living expenses. On the site, which seemed to be designed by someone with no design experience at all, Zimmerman stated that he had been unable to work or support himself since Trayvon Martin’s death on February 26.

In the weeks before Zimmerman was charged, outcry across the country reached a fever pitch as thousands of activists and protesters demanded justice for Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman has maintained that he shot Martin in self-defense, even as he faces a charge of second degree murder.

Could the substantial amount of money Zimmerman has been able to raise be representative of a shift in perception? In the last week, a photo surfaced taken moments after Martin’s death, showing the back of Zimmerman’s head bleeding from several wounds. That photo could prove crucial in court for Zimmerman’s self-defense case, in which he claims Martin was attacking him and bashing his head on the ground before he pulled the trigger.

A recent Reuters report offers a glimpse into Zimmerman’s life leading up to the shooting.  It includes new details never known by the public, like how a police officer advised Zimmerman to buy a gun after a neighbor’s aggressive dog threatened his wife, and how, as a young insurance agent, he partnered his business with a friend — an African-American man.

While Zimmerman remains at the center of the most controversial court case in the country right now, the public continues to learn more about the man who claims he shot a teenager to death in a backyard inside a Florida suburb because he was being attacked. Does Zimmerman’s wealth of donations indicate that he is slowly turning public hatred into public support? 

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Wearing a brown jacket, jeans and carrying a brown paper bag, Zimmerman walked out of the John E. Polk Correctional Facility in Seminole County moments after midnight after posting bail and meeting other conditions set for his release at a hearing on Friday.

Zimmerman was met by another man and quickly climbed into a white BMW sports utility vehicle that drove off. He made no comments to a handful of journalists gathered outside the jail.

Under the conditions set by Judge Kenneth Lester Jr., Zimmerman must wear an electronic monitoring device and he may be allowed to leave the state. He also must observe a dusk-to-dawn curfew and is prohibited from consuming illegal drugs or alcohol or possessing a firearm.

Attorney Daryl Parks, who represents Martin’s parents, said the family respected the judicial process that allowed Zimmerman to be released from jail but was “devastated by him being able to walk the streets.”

“It’s with a very, very heavy heart that they’ve seen him walk freely late last night back into the public,” Parks said on CNN.

Zimmerman attorney Mark O’Mara, appearing in on CBS’s “This Morning” program, said there had been no recent threats against his client but his whereabouts still are expected to remain a closely guarded secret until his next appearance in court.

Zimmerman shot and killed Martin is a gated community in Sanford in central Florida on February 26 in an incident that triggered civil rights protests nationwide and fired a national debate over guns, self-defense laws and race in America.

No date has been set for Zimmerman’s trial.

Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic, has said he shot the 17-year-old Martin in self-defense following a confrontation that occurred as Martin was returning to his father’s house in the community after buying candy from a convenience store.

Police initially declined to arrest Zimmerman, citing Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which allows people to use deadly force when they believe they are in danger of being killed or suffering great bodily harm.

The lack of an arrest led thousands to march in protest rallies in Sanford and across the country. The public outrage forced the Sanford police chief and regularly assigned prosecutor to step aside.

At the Friday hearing, Zimmerman apologized to Martin’s family, stunning a rapt courtroom after he appeared in a suit and tie and with shackles around his waist and wrists.

Governor Rick Scott appointed Angela Corey as special prosecutor. She charged Zimmerman on April 11.

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ABC News reported that the photo was taken just three minutes after Martin was shot and killed. The photographer who snapped the photo said Zimmerman asked him to call his wife. When the photographer asked what he should tell her, he said Zimmerman said, “Man, just tell her I shot someone.”

The photographer did not witness the scuffle, but said that he could hear it.

Zimmerman told police that he shot Martin in self-defense after the teen broke his nose and bashed his head against the ground. However, that claim was debated within the media after surveillance video was released that didn’t clearly show any injuries on Zimmerman the night of the shooting.

A police report did include an officer’s summary of the incident, including that he noticed Zimmerman’s head was wet and that he was bleeding.

Zimmerman, who was charged with second degree murder, is in court seeking bond today. On the stand, he addressed the Martin family, saying, “I am sorry for the loss of your son. I did not know how old he was.”

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According to the probable cause affidavit, released by the Orlando Sentinel, Zimmerman “confronted Martin and a struggle ensued.” Zimmerman has told police that he did follow Martin, but Martin confronted him, forcing Zimmerman to use his firearm against him in self-defense.

The affidavit also said that during the 911 call Zimmerman placed before the shooting, he “made reference to people he felt had committed and gotten away with break-ins in his neighborhood.”

The document goes on to state, “Martin was on the phone with a friend and described to her what was happening. The witness advised that Martin was scared because he was being followed through the complex by an unknown male and didn’t know why.”

Martin began to run home, but “Zimmerman got out of his vehicle and followed Martin,” according to the affidavit.

At Zimmerman’s first appearance in court today, he barely spoke. His new attorney, Mark O’Mara, did not request bail. Instead, he told reporters he would try the request in a couple weeks. Zimmerman’s formal arraignment has been set for May 29.

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In a press conference held in Sanford, Florida this afternoon, two of Zimmerman’s attorneys said they’ve been unable to contact him for several days and will no longer represent him. According to attorneys Craig Sonner and Hal Uhrig, Zimmerman has not responded to texts, calls, or emails from them since Sunday.

“On Sunday, we lost track of George,” Sonner said to reporters.

Sonner and Uhrig said they believe he is safe, but he may be struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and is not in “complete control of what is going on.” Uhrig would not comment on Zimmerman’s whereabouts but said he believes he is in hiding somewhere in the United States, and later implied that he is no longer in Florida.

“There’s a bounty out there on his head, whether it’s believed to be a real bounty or not, it’s out there,” Uhrig said.  

The attorneys also made it clear that they are still willing to represent Zimmerman if he approaches them and reasonably explains his absence as a result of the mounting pressure surrounding the case. Both attorneys proclaimed that they still believe Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in self-defense.

“We hope for the best for George Zimmerman and we hope for the best for the Martin family as well,” Uhrig said.

The attorneys also addressed the website Zimmerman recently launched to solicit donations toward his legal fees and living expenses. According to the lawyers, Zimmerman decided to launch the site without notifying his lawyers, even though his legal team was planning to create a website on his behalf.

Zimmerman as not been charged, but his former legal team said it believes a decision by the special prosecutor assigned to the case is forthcoming.

“We believe most of the information they need to make a decision is now in their possession,” Uhrig said. 

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The victim has been identified as a 31-year-old man from Arlington, Va. Two different videos posted online show the event unfold. The man, who appears intoxicated, can be seen standing near a wall as revelers dance around him. Another man grabs something out of his pocket. The victim tries to follow him to retrieve it, and the pickpocket punches him in the face, knocking the victim to the ground.

The second video shows a group of men stripping the victim of his clothes — even his underwear— and taking what is in his pockets, before leaving him naked and alone in the street. No one tries to stop the attack. The people shooting the video and those nearby can be heard laughing and mocking the victim.

The videos have sparked shock and outrage among the public, as illustrated by comments posted on YouTube. Many Internet users insist this was a hate crime, as the victim is white and all of his attackers are black. The clip has incited a slew of counter-racist comments.

“Idiots. ANIMALS. Nothing to be proud of, and everyone of them should be caught, prosecuted to the FULLEST extent of the law…,” one user said.

Some users have drawn a connection to Trayvon Martin’s death on Feb. 26 from the video.

“That was for Trayvon….. [expletive] the crackas!” another user posted.  

According to CNN, Baltimore police have identified one suspect, but have yet to make an arrest.

“Not only did they rob him, but they attempted to strip him of his dignity. They tore his clothes off; they mocked him. That behavior just will not be tolerated,” said Detective Nicole Monroe.

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Zimmerman has been in hiding since a media frenzy sparked following Martin’s death on February 26. Now, through the website TheRealGeorgeZimmerman.com, he offers a statement about his role in the incident and asks for financial support.

“I am the real George Zimmerman,” he begins. “As a result of the incident and subsequent media coverage, I have been forced to leave my home, my school, my employer, my family and ultimately, my entire life. This website’s sole purpose is to ensure my supporters they are receiving my full attention without any intermediaries.”

A Paypal account is attached to the website. Zimmerman says any donations will go toward “living expenses and legal defense” in lieu of his “forced inability to maintain employment.”

The website includes a section labeled “The Facts.” Where one might expect to see Zimmerman’s interpretation of the incident, instead a quote from author James W. Loewen is posted: “People have a right to their own opinions, but not to their own facts. Evidence must be located, not created, and opinions not backed by evidence cannot be given much weight.”

Below it is another short statement from Zimmerman thanking friends for aid and support and for understanding that he cannot discuss the details of “the event on February 26th.”

“Once again, I thank you for your patience and I assure you, the facts will come to light,” Zimmerman promises.

In another section of the website titled “My Race,” Zimmerman includes two more quotes, including this one from Thomas Paine: “The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion.”

The website’s “album” includes a photo of a spray-painted message on a brick wall that reads “Long Live George Zimmerman.” According to the Huffington Post, the wall belongs to Ohio State University’s black cultural center. Another photo on the site shows a hand-written sign that reads “Justice For Zimmerman.”

A special prosecutor assigned to the case has dismissed the possibility of a grand jury’s involvement. Zimmerman has not been charged and remains free, though his request for donations could suggest that he is expecting charges in the future.

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Now, for the first time, the report made that night by Sanford Police has been posted online, offering insight into the moments following the shooting, according to officers who responded to the scene.

The report includes written narrative from two officer which speaks to several hotly contested details. Perhaps the most discussion has centered around whether or not Zimmerman really did suffer injuries that he claimed occurred during a physical altercation with Martin, which ultimately ended in him shooting the teen in self-defense.

Sanford Officer Timothy Smith’s account reveals that Zimmerman alerted police that he had shot Martin when they arrived on the scene and that he still had the gun with him. Smith cuffed Zimmerman and removed a 9mm gun from his waistband. Smith also noticed Zimmerman was bleeding.

“While I was in such close contact with Zimmerman, I could observe that his back appeared to be wet and was covered in grass, as if he had been laying on his back on the ground,” Smith wrote. “Zimmerman was also bleeding from the nose and back of his head.”

According to Officer Ricardo Ayala, police did try to resuscitate Trayvon Martin after they discovered his body face down on the ground. Two officers performed CPR on Martin until paramedics arrived and took over.

“Sanford Fire Rescue arrived on scene and attempted to revive the subject, but could not. Paramedic Brady pronounced the subject deceased at 1930 hours,” Ayala wrote.
 
The narrative reveals that officers secured the area with crime scene tape and called “Major Crimes” to the scene. That night, at least two officers obtained statements from neighbors who served as witnesses. Zimmerman received first aid in the back of a police car before he was transported to the Sanford Police Department.

Officer Smith wrote that he overheard Zimmerman state while he received medical care, “I was yelling for someone to help me, but no one would help me.”

In the weeks after the shooting, Zimmerman’s family and attorney have claimed the voice heard crying for help on a neighbor’s 911 call belonged to him. Trayvon Martin’s parents, though, claim the frantic cries came from their son.

The police report states that Zimmerman was put into a room and interviewed by an investigator the night of the shooting. His gun was confiscated and placed into evidence. Zimmerman has not been charged and remains free. A special prosecutor recently re-launched the investigation from the beginning.

Trayvon Martin police report

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As Gawker reports, the hacker posted Martin’s alleged Facebook messages on a 4chan “pol” message board on Tuesday, with the comment, “Today /pol/, tomorrow CNN.”  One post was titled “Trayvon Martin Used Marijuana Habitually.” It included a conversation between Martin and a friend about smoking weed. In another entry called “Trayvon Martin was a Drug Dealer,” Martin is pictured with a large amount of cash.

Klanklannon also posted log-in information and passwords for Martin’s Gmail, Yahoo, MySpace, and Twitter. The passwords, which were likely changed by the hacker, were racial slurs. Gawker reports that a “source” tried the username and password for the Gmail account and was able to log in to what appeared to be Martin’s email. The source deleted the account after noticing that other people had also logged in and sent messages from the account, posing as Martin, according to Gawker.

It wasn’t long before Martin’s private messages and photos spread to white supremacist websites. They were posted on Stormfront.org, a site that boats “white pride, world wide,” under the header “A fellow white-nationalist at 4chan’s /pol/ has hacked Trayvon Martin’s online accounts, and has uncovered further evidence that Trayvon was drug dealer, a thug, and possibly even an identity thief. Here are the images that he posted.”

George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch caption who admitted to shooting the unarmed teen, has still not been charged. However, the investigation has been handed to a special prosecutor and witnesses are reportedly being re-interviewed.

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The investigation, which has been the target of criticism since Martin was killed a month ago, has become so convoluted with so many leaks, that witnesses need to be re-interviewed, according to CBS News.

Police questioned Zimmerman for five hours the night Martin was killed. Zimmerman was reportedly “bleeding from the nose and the back of the head.” Police went back to the scene with him to re-enact the shooting. They also interviewed six witnesses, none of whom actually saw the shooting happen.

The Sanford Police Department tried to bring manslaughter charges against George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who admitted to shooting the unarmed Martin, for the first six weeks of the investigation. However, police were eventually told by the state attorney that there wasn’t enough evidence to pursue charges.

Now, after mounting public pressure, a new special investigator has been assigned to the case who is reviewing the evidence and once again interviewing witnesses — “essentially starting from scratch,” according to CBS. Meanwhile, George Zimmerman has still not been charged as he continues to assert that he acted in self-defense. 

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Representative Bobby Rush, a democrat from Illinois, was thrown off the floor of the House today after slowly stripping off his suit jacket to reveal a cozy, form-fitting sweatshirt (fleece, maybe?), flipping up its hood and then putting on a pair of sunglasses, as reported by The Hill. However, hats (or hoods, apparently) are not permitted on the House floor.

Rush’s act was an effort to draw attention to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an incident that has captivated the nation for the past week. Martin was wearing a hooded sweatshirt (but not sunglasses, someone should have explained that to Rush) on his way back home from a convenience store when a neighborhood watch captain shot and killed him.  

“Racial profiling has to stop, Mr. Speaker,” Rush said as he slid off his coat, revealing his hooded sweatshirt.” Just because someone wears a hoodie, does not make them a hoodlum.”

Rush went on to quote a Bible passage while presiding officer Representative Gregg Harper banged his gavel and tried to interrupt him. Chaos ensued.

“The gentleman will suspend!” demanded Harper, but Rush continued. “The member is no longer recognized,” Harper stated. 

Eventually Rush’s voice trailed off and we assume he was escorted off the floor. Harper then addressed the House, explaining that hats are prohibited in the chamber while the House is in session according to Clause 5 of Rule 17. Duh, everyone knows that…

If C-SPAN starts seeing more action like this, we might actually tune in! …. Nevermind, we probably won’t.

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The law, which is active in 20 other states, grants citizens the right to use deadly force in self-defense from an attacker or to prevent a felony. George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watchman who admitted to shooting Martin, has not been charged with any crime, his claim that he shot the unarmed 17-year-old in self-defense, making the law a flash-point in the controversy.

Critics argue that “Stand Your Ground” is too broad and allows citizens to act unreasonably within the law. Here’s a look at exactly what the law empowers a citizen to do, according to Wikipedia:

776.012 Use of force in defense of person. — A person is justified in using force, except deadly force, against another when and to the extent that the person reasonably believes that such conduct is necessary to defend himself or herself or another against the other’s imminent use of unlawful force. However, a person is justified in the use of deadly force and does not have a duty to retreat if:

(1) He or she reasonably believes that such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony; or
 
(3) A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

776.032 Immunity from criminal prosecution and civil action for justifiable use of force.—

(1) A person who uses force as permitted in s. 776.012, s. 776.013, or s. 776.031 is justified in using such force and is immune from criminal prosecution and civil action for the use of such force, unless the person against whom force was used is a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 943.10(14), who was acting in the performance of his or her official duties and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law or the person using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person was a law enforcement officer. As used in this subsection, the term “criminal prosecution” includes arresting, detaining in custody, and charging or prosecuting the defendant.

776.041 Use of force by aggressor. —The justification described in the preceding sections of this chapter is not available to a person who:

(2) Initially provokes the use of force against himself or herself, unless:

    (a) Such force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that he or she has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant; or
    (b) In good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use of force.

That last part may prove crucial, as Zimmerman has told police that he was on his way back to his car after following Martin, when the teen retaliated and attacked him, bloodying his nose and slamming his head against the concrete, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

However, since “Stand Your Ground” extends the right to act in self-defense to a citizen “who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked
in any other place where he or she has a right to be,” that would mean Martin would be protected under the law for attacking Zimmerman if he felt threatened after realizing he was being followed.

Such convoluted points are fodder for critics who claim the law prevents police from pursuing murder charges if someone says they acted in self-defense. “Stand Your Ground” laws are currently moving forward in Iowa and Illinois, despite the controversy surrounding them following Martin’s death.

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The “1,000,000 Hoodie March for Trayvon Martin” will leave at 6 p.m. tonight from Union Square. Participants are encouraged to wear hooded sweatshirts as a symbol of racial profiling, which many say played a role in Martin’s death.

Check out photos of the march here

Martin, 17, was walking back to his father’s house from a convenience store when he was shot and killed in a backyard. Volunteer neighborhood watchman George Zimmerman placed a 911 call requesting police assistance when he saw Martin walking. 911 recordings revealed that he began following Martin, even after the operator told him he didn’t need to do that. Zimmerman later admitted to police that he shot Martin. He has not yet been charged, though the FBI is now involved in the investigation.

Tonight’s march was planned by InterOccupy, an organization that fosters communication throughout different faucets of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

“A black person in a hoodie isn’t automatically ‘suspicious.’ Let’s put an end to racial profiling!” organizers declared on the invitation to the march.

Martin’s death has sparked nationwide outcry and several notable celebrities have called for justice. As Complex reported, director Spike Lee tweeted about tonight’s march, asking for more information.

InterOccupy is also asking supporters to sign a petition posted on Change.org by Martin’s parents. It calls for the prosecution of George Zimmerman. More than 800,000 people have signed it.

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The office of state prosecutor Norm Wolfinger made the announcement as the victim’s family lawyer said The case of a black teenager shot dead by a white neighborhood watch captain who has not yet been arrested will go before a grand jury beginning April 10, Florida prosecutors said on Tuesday.

The office of state prosecutor Norm Wolfinger made the announcement as the victim’s family lawyer said 17-year-old Trayvon Martin was on his cellphone with a girlfriend, giving her a chilling, minute-by-minute account of what was happening, in the moments before he died.

Martin was unarmed and the case, which has been in the national media spotlight since the release of 911 emergency tapes last week, has fueled widespread public outrage.

The family lawyer, Ben Crump, said the girlfriend’s testimony shed new light on the killing and would show that neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman targeted Martin because he was black.

“This confirms that Trayvon Martin was killed only because he was a young black man who was profiled by Zimmerman,” Crump told Reuters.

Phone records show the girl, who Crump would not identify because she is a minor, had been talking to Martin off-and-on all day, and can provide convincing evidence that he was behaving normally, Crump said.

“Her call connects the dots to completely destroy what Zimmerman said (to the police) about ‘this kid was up to no good,’” Crump said. “This kid was simply trying to walk home and get out of the rain while he talked to his little friend. And that’s all he was doing. He was completely innocent.”

Martin was walking home from a convenience store, where he went to buy snacks on February 26 shortly before the NBA All-Star basketball game, when Zimmerman spotted him. Zimmerman called Sanford Police to report a suspicious person in the neighborhood, then followed Martin despite the police dispatcher telling him not to.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the FBI announced Monday that they had opened an investigation into the shooting.

Police have declined to arrest Zimmerman, and turned the case over to prosecutors, because of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, enacted in 2005 and now in effect in about 20 other states.

The law provides a shooter with wide latitude to claim a killing was in self defense.

Crump said Martin got off the phone with the girl for a few minutes because it started to rain and he was running to get under shelter.

The two reconnected via cellphone for the last time at 7:12 p.m. for four minutes. Police say they arrived at the scene at 7:17 to find Martin dead, Crump said.

The girl told Crump that Martin told her he was being followed and that she had encouraged him to run.

“She knew details about what went on because he was telling her,” Crump said.

He said the girl heard the initial confrontation between Martin and Zimmerman.

“Trayvon said, ‘Why you following me, man?’” and Zimmerman said, ‘What are you doing here?’” Crump said.

He said the girl could tell by Martin’s voice that he was then pushed. She thinks Martin’s cellphone headset came off and then the call was disconnected, Crump said.

He said that when she called back, the girl did not get an answer and knew nothing else until she heard of her friend’s killing on the news.

The girl was so traumatized after learning what happened that she was unable to attend Martin’s wake and had to be hospitalized, Crump said.

Martin was unarmed and the case, which has been in the national media spotlight since the release of 911 emergency tapes last week, has fueled widespread public outrage.

The family lawyer, Ben Crump, said the girlfriend’s testimony shed new light on the killing and would show that neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman targeted Martin because he was black.

“This confirms that Trayvon Martin was killed only because he was a young black man who was profiled by Zimmerman,” Crump told Reuters.

Phone records show the girl, who Crump would not identify because she is a minor, had been talking to Martin off-and-on all day, and can provide convincing evidence that he was behaving normally, Crump said.

“Her call connects the dots to completely destroy what Zimmerman said (to the police) about ‘this kid was up to no good,’” Crump said. “This kid was simply trying to walk home and get out of the rain while he talked to his little friend. And that’s all he was doing. He was completely innocent.”

Martin was walking home from a convenience store, where he went to buy snacks on February 26 shortly before the NBA All-Star basketball game, when Zimmerman spotted him. Zimmerman called Sanford Police to report a suspicious person in the neighborhood, then followed Martin despite the police dispatcher telling him not to.

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the FBI announced Monday that they had opened an investigation into the shooting.

Police have declined to arrest Zimmerman, and turned the case over to prosecutors, because of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, enacted in 2005 and now in effect in about 20 other states.

The law provides a shooter with wide latitude to claim a killing was in self defense.

Crump said Martin got off the phone with the girl for a few minutes because it started to rain and he was running to get under shelter.

The two reconnected via cellphone for the last time at 7:12 p.m. for four minutes. Police say they arrived at the scene at 7:17 to find Martin dead, Crump said.

The girl told Crump that Martin told her he was being followed and that she had encouraged him to run.

“She knew details about what went on because he was telling her,” Crump said.

He said the girl heard the initial confrontation between Martin and Zimmerman.

“Trayvon said, ‘Why you following me, man?’” and Zimmerman said, ‘What are you doing here?’” Crump said.

He said the girl could tell by Martin’s voice that he was then pushed. She thinks Martin’s cellphone headset came off and then the call was disconnected, Crump said.

He said that when she called back, the girl did not get an answer and knew nothing else until she heard of her friend’s killing on the news.

The girl was so traumatized after learning what happened that she was unable to attend Martin’s wake and had to be hospitalized, Crump said.

The post Trayvon Martin was on phone call with girlfriend moments before he was killed appeared first on Metro.us.

One of the recordings is a 911 call placed by George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch captain who admitted to police that he shot Martin, who was reportedly walking back from a convenience store to his father’s home in the gated community on February 26.

“This guy looks like he’s up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something,” Zimmerman told the 911 operator. “He’s just staring, looking at all the houses.”

At one point, Zimmerman told the operator that he was following him as he ran away.

“We don’t need you to do that,” the dispatcher told Zimmerman.

One of the calls includes a chilling recording of panicked cries for help just before Martin was shot and killed.

“Help!” can be heard on the recording followed by a single gun shot. The screaming then stops.

“You hear a shot, a clear shot, that we can only assume is a warning shot,” said Natalie Jackson, a family attorney, according to the Huffington Post. “Then a 17-year-old boy is begging for his life. Everything tells me that that was Trayvon Martin.”

In a move that is causing controversy, Sanford police have not charged Zimmerman, who admitted to shooting the unarmed teen, though the case is still under investigation.

Prior to the shooting, Zimmerman had been the source of complaints by his neighbors over his volunteer watchmen tactics.

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