# Why hasn't the Neighborhood Watch shooter been arrested? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 12, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504 "2012-03-12T00:53:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 123
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2441 "2012-03-29T20:45:18Z")
Where are his tweets, I have not seen them? ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2442 "2012-03-29T20:46:31Z")
Did Martin never attack Zimmerman? Did Zimmerman flip out and shoot someone because he was tired of fucking coons always getting away with it? Was Zimmerman constantly on the lookout for black kids in the neighborhood, calling 911 dozens of times to report even black kids as young as 7? Did Zimmerman make up a story about being attacked post hoc because he realized that he fucked up big time? ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2443 "2012-03-29T20:47:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Nope. Bricker, please explain to her. Explain what to me? What part of what I said is controversial? If the cops saw blood on Zimmerman’s head and he’s telling them the kid dribbled his head on the sidewalk like a basketball, are you seriously telling me the cops should just shrug if the guy refuses to see a doctor? ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2444 "2012-03-29T20:47:47Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Kids who want to sound tough do. Look at the gangsta rappers, they have a huge twitter following. > > I think Magiver is correct when he sez “ I think it more likely that he attacked Zimmerman than the other way around ..” but what I don’t know is why Martin jumped Zimmerman or how much in danger or hurt Zimmerman was. Was Zimmerman really fearing for his life or just pissed that a kid jumped him and knocked him down? Did Martin jump Zimmerman to hide something, to act tough or because Martin was scared? Well if we want to go on speculating, I think it likely that Martin may have attacked Zimmerman as a means of escape, if Zimmerman may have been trying to impede his progress. IOW, Zimmerman may have believed Martin was trying to escape “justice” and Martin believed he was trying to escape Zimmerman. Who laid the first hand on who may never be known for certain. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2445 "2012-03-29T20:48:13Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > From an eye witness who saw it. You should have no problem providing a link to this. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2446 "2012-03-29T20:50:58Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Take a look at the photo I linked to in [post 2363](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=14914562&postcount=2362). There is a nearly vertical black streak going through the balding part of his head. It _might_ be a laceration or a streak of dried blood. It is also not visible in any of the other parts of the video where his head is clearly visible. So unless it’s a magical wound of some kind, it’s a shadow. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2447 "2012-03-29T21:00:35Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I think it more likely that he attacked Zimmerman than the other way around because Zimmerman knew the police were enroute and was trying to keep Martin in sight. I just don’t see why he would attack Zimmerman. I find it much more likely that Zimmerman tried to restrain him (police were on the way). And we know Zimmerman felt these guys always get away. A struggle ensued. In the course of the struggle they ended up on the ground. Zimmerman on the bottom clinging to Martin and calling out for help (to restrain him). Martin struggling to break free more and more desperately the longer the struggle ensues. In the process striking Zimmerman in the face and banging his head against the ground. Finally free of Zimmerman’s grasp Martin begins to rise to flee. Zimmerman snaps knowing another one will get away, goes for his gun and BANG! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2448 "2012-03-29T21:03:32Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It is also not visible in any of the other parts of the video where his head is clearly visible. So unless it’s a magical wound of some kind, it’s a shadow. I would think it’s more likely Photoshopped in rather than a naturally occuring shadow, but I’m not an expert. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2449 "2012-03-29T21:21:20Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Kids who want to sound tough do. Look at the gangsta rappers, they have a huge twitter following. Thanks for the laugh. “Gangsta rappers” are celebrities, not street toughs. ---
**Author:** ![EasyPhil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e47c2d/32.png) [@EasyPhil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EasyPhil)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2450 "2012-03-29T21:25:29Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > If Zimmerman had collapsed and died in the cops’ custody because something in his brain had ruptured and they’d neglected to take the man to the ER for evaluation, that’s got lawsuit written all over it. The only way I could imagine that they’d get around this is if Zimmerman had signed an official declination form for medical care. But if he did that, it undercuts his claim of serious injury. His claim is further undercut by the police video showing no scars, no swelling, no blood on Zimmerman. If his nose had been broken, after 4 hours his face would be swollen even if he had some of the best corner men in the business on his team. ---
**Author:** ![Gadarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Gadarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gadarene)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2451 "2012-03-29T21:52:11Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > It is also not visible in any of the other parts of the video where his head is clearly visible. So unless it’s a magical wound of some kind, it’s a shadow. > [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I would think it’s more likely Photoshopped in rather than a naturally occuring shadow, but I’m not an expert. So either way, it’s not a laceration. Right? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2452 "2012-03-29T21:52:11Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > Come on, give it a break. Unless you think Officer Smith is lying in his report and if you do, explain why he is protecting a total stranger. Jack Batty’s ability to satisfactorily explain any of smith’s motivations doesn’t mean that they were not there. Consider what information Smith had at the time. Whats might Smith’s pov’ve been? > [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > If you want to rant, start with the fact that Officer Smith never bothered to check if Martin was alive or dead. The was a man with a gun in the immediate vicinity who had just shot someone. Smith have prioritized. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2453 "2012-03-29T21:57:58Z")
> [@Gadarene](#): > > So either way, it’s not a laceration. Right? I don’t know. Just a seconds ago another blown up shot was put up on the screen on the Chris Matthews show, along with a flat out statement that it shows a laceration. Problem is, the pic they put up looked even sketchier (to my eyes) than the one that I linked to. And people are still arguing even about whether Zimmerman said “coon” in the audio tape. I think he unambiguously did, but apparently lots don’t. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2454 "2012-03-29T22:00:05Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > He probably should have been. Unless the state this took place in had castle laws, he probably had a duty to retreat from the situation. If someone’s close enough to strike you with a knife and they have the knife in their hands, you may not have time or ability to retreat. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2455 "2012-03-29T22:02:01Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > [FYI, this page has a link](http://motherjones.com/politics/2012/03/trayvon-shooters-911-calls-potholes-piles-trash-black-men) to a document purportedly release by the city of Sanford detailing all Zimmerman’s 911. I count about 40 separate dates of calls. I haven’t examined it closely enough to say whether there may have been more than one call on any given day. Also, I can’t tell from the coding what the outcome was or whether an officer was dispatched. > > In any case, certainly “dozens” of calls. from here Trayvon Martin Investigation [http://sanfordfl.gov/investigation/trayvon\_martin.html](http://sanfordfl.gov/investigation/trayvon_martin.html) George Zimmerman 911 Call History [http://www.sanfordfl.gov/investigation/docs/911CallHistory.pdf](http://www.sanfordfl.gov/investigation/docs/911CallHistory.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2456 "2012-03-29T22:02:14Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > [FYI, this page has a link](http://motherjones.com/politics/2012/03/trayvon-shooters-911-calls-potholes-piles-trash-black-men) to a document purportedly release by the city of Sanford detailing all Zimmerman’s 911. I count about 40 separate dates of calls. I haven’t examined it closely enough to say whether there may have been more than one call on any given day. Also, I can’t tell from the coding what the outcome was or whether an officer was dispatched. > > In any case, certainly “dozens” of calls. I checked on Officer Smith and responded on two of the previous calls. 1/29 and 2/2. Based on these, I suspect might have actually enjoyed putting the cuffs on Zimmerman, since I doubt they enjoy responding to calls about kids playing in the street. I wonder if the Detective wanted to arrest Zimmerman just so he couldn’t call 911 anymore? ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2457 "2012-03-29T22:05:49Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Kids who want to sound tough do. Look at the gangsta rappers, they have a huge twitter following. > > I think Magiver is correct when he sez “ I think it more likely that he attacked Zimmerman than the other way around ..” but what I don’t know is why Martin jumped Zimmerman or how much in danger or hurt Zimmerman was. Was Zimmerman really fearing for his life or just pissed that a kid jumped him and knocked him down? Did Martin jump Zimmerman to hide something, to act tough or because Martin was scared? My unsupported speculation is that Zimmerman tried to grab Martin and hold him for the cops. Not like a tackle or bear hug or anything, but just one of the patronizing hand on the shoulder deals. And when he did that, Martin punched him. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2458 "2012-03-29T22:07:10Z")
> [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](#): > > Did Martin never attack Zimmerman? Did Zimmerman flip out and shoot someone because he was tired of fucking coons always getting away with it? Was Zimmerman constantly on the lookout for black kids in the neighborhood, calling 911 dozens of times to report even black kids as young as 7? Did Zimmerman make up a story about being attacked post hoc because he realized that he fucked up big time? Find out next time on SOAP! ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2459 "2012-03-29T22:09:35Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > Find out next time on SOAP! Ha! ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2012, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2460 "2012-03-29T22:14:10Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > Well if we want to go on speculating, I think it likely that Martin may have attacked Zimmerman as a means of escape, if Zimmerman may have been trying to impede his progress. IOW, Zimmerman may have believed Martin was trying to escape “justice” and Martin believed he was trying to escape Zimmerman. Who laid the first hand on who may never be known for certain. If it’s confirmed that Zimmerman’s story is as fishy as it’s been reported, that could cause people to find Zimmerman himself suspicious. Details that have made the rounds like: checking which of his neighborhoods three streets he was on having one direct encounter w/ Martin while Zimmerman was in his truck rolling his window up against Martin between the time he got off the phone w/ the PD and a second encounter where Martin came up on Zimmerman from behind a building and told Zimmerman that Zimmerman had a problem Various things that have come out that can’t be officially sourced–at least not yet anyway. They’re coming out from people who say that police department personnel told me so-and-so. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504.md?page=122) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504.md?page=124)