Strong opinions about Trayvon Martin's murder

[csziggy]

22. Zimmerman did not act as a reasonable adult

Despite his claims of being a "neighborhood watch captain" he did not follow the protocols of any reputable neighborhood watch organization OR the advice given to the people who attended a HOA sponsored neighborhood watch organization meeting held by a Sanford Police representative. he carried a gun, he pursued a suspect, he did not wait for law enforcement.

He also did not act as a reasonable, rational person, neighborhood watch or not. He pursued someone he claimed was suspicious. If he wanted to reduce crime in his neighborhood, he should have routinely let "suspicious" people know there were eyes out there and he could have done it in a friendly manner.

When he saw Trayvon Martin approaching his vehicle while he was talking to the Sanford PD, GZ could have stuck his head out the window and said something to Trayvon Martin: "Hey, do you need directions?" "Hi, I'm neighborhood watch - do you need a hand?" Since GZ was on the phone with the police, that would have been the perfect time to confront a suspicious person - but to do it in a not accusatory way.

If Trayvon had been a criminal, that would have scared him off. If GZ had given Trayvon an opening to respond, that would have defused the situation. Instead, GZ did everything he could to escalate the situation. GZ acted in an unusual manner, following a teenager, not identifying himself, not responding to Trayvon's questions, even according to GZ's own stories.

According to GZ, when Trayvon asked him what his problem was, GZ didn't say anything about neighborhood watch, or that the police were on the way, or anything to respond appropriate to Trayvon's concern about being followed.

GZ was the adult in the situation but did not act in a mature way. He created the confrontation that led to Trayvon's death. GZ is responsible - that in my book makes him guilty of murder of some degree.