What were you reared to do when you see someone slowly walking alone through your neighborhood at night, in the rain, bearing the description of people who’ve breaking into houses in your neighborhood, and, having family members and a home of your own that you care about and being uncertain of what might happen or who might be harmed in the next break-in, you’re determined to keep the guy in sight until the cops you’ve called arrive despite the fact the apparent perp has begun to run from you?
Keeping an eye on a suspicious looking person until the cops arrive is not “starting shit.”
And all the evidence we have at this time indicates that what Zimmerman bailed himself out from with his gun was a pummeling in the face and head by a guy who by that time he had every reason to think was a criminal.