# 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:** 141
**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:** [April 2, 2012, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2801 "2012-04-02T15:20:14Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > To each their own. For me, it’s not so much about believing him as it is about Occam’s Razor. Not trying to argue you out of your opinion, but Occam’s Razor tells me that if anyone should have been yelling, it’s the unarmed teenager whose agenda that night consistent of getting some candy and watching TV. Not the guy who had a gun and deliberately inserted himself into a potentially heated situation. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2802 "2012-04-02T15:24:51Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Not trying to argue you out of your opinion, but Occam’s Razor tells me that if anyone should have been yelling, it’s the unarmed teenager whose agenda that night consistent of getting some candy and watching TV. Not the guy who had a gun and deliberately inserted himself into a potentially heated situation. And then Zimmerman had the foresight to claim that the screams for help were his, minutes later? Also, keep in mind that Zimmerman inserted himself into a situation where he was the Good Guy and Martin was the Bad Guy, at least in his own mind. So screaming for help wouldn’t be inconsistent with his perception of events, gun or not. I mean, it’s not outside the realm of possibility, but your version has more moving parts than if it was just Zimmerman screaming all along. I think Occam is on my side still. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2803 "2012-04-02T15:27:16Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > I don’t think he’s smart enough to plan a CYA ahead of time, that is, immediately (sorry Terr) after the shooting, at the scene, when adreneline is still running high. It seems like all the life to me that it must have been Zimmerman yelling, audio analyses notwithstanding. For what reason he was yelling … I’m not sure (who is?). Could be, could not be. Speculating on how clever Zimmerman was at the time seems pointless. He may be a moron, or he may not be, and anyway morons can be quick in covering their ass when they realize they’ve killed someone. Speculating on how people behave when in extreme stress is a fool’s game. Really, the only way I think you can square this away is with detailed analysis of the tapes and comparison to both Zimmerman’s and Martin’s voices. And by detailed analysis I don’t mean something run past a guy in an Orlando Sentinel article. I find those claims very questionable because they say “I doubt it’s George Zimmerman” but don’t compare them to Trayvon Martin’s voice - \*what if they have the same level of doubt? \* (And it’s 2012. I am pretty sure there is a recording of Trayvon Martin’s voice somewhere.) If so, then the analysis is worthless. But if detailed analysis comes back saying “we’re 97% sure that’s Trayvon Martin” then you have something. For all we know that’s what the state’s attorney is working on right now. If it comes out in that analysis that Zimmerman may have been lying, then again that puts his story into doubt. But I’d want to see some solid analysis, preferably by mutiple sources, comparing the 911 call to both voices, not just “I don’t think it was Zimmerman.” ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2804 "2012-04-02T15:27:45Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Not trying to argue you out of your opinion, but Occam’s Razor tells me that if anyone should have been yelling, it’s the unarmed teenager whose agenda that night consistent of getting some candy and watching TV. Not the guy who had a gun and deliberately inserted himself into a potentially heated situation. Sure. He was sitting on top of Zimmerman, beating him up and yelling for help. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2805 "2012-04-02T15:29:17Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > He said he was yelling for help to the first police officer on the scene. an officer overheard him tell it to the SFD EMT ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2806 "2012-04-02T15:31:07Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Sure. He was sitting on top of Zimmerman, beating him up and yelling for help. That does seem unlikely. It’s possible, though. If someone attacked me, I might call for help, even if at some point I gained the upper hand. Wouldn’t you? It seems a pretty logical thing to do, doesn’t it? But we don’t know that that’s the totality of the confrontation. Perhaps Martin was only briefly atop Zimmerman, and then Zimmerman managed to get up and pulled the gun, and Martin yelled for help. Maybe it was Zimmerman calling for help. Or maybe Martin started yelling for help when Zimmerman attacked him, and kept yelling. Or perhaps something else. We don’t really know yet. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2807 "2012-04-02T15:33:10Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > And then Zimmerman had the foresight to claim that the screams for help were his, minutes later? Why not? In addition to seeming like a very simple leap, Z had at least some theoretical experience with criminal justice proceedings through his schooling. It really doesn’t strike as any sort of a stretch whatsoever that he might have extemporaneously came up with the idea to mention the screaming as a cya measure. Not that I am saying that he did. It just doesn’t strike me as outside the realm of probability that he could have come up with it on the spot. But I am not sure of how long such a thing actually takes. If there’s any evidence of how much time such a thing takes, I’d be willing to look at it. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2808 "2012-04-02T15:42:35Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > That does seem unlikely. It’s possible, though. If someone attacked me, I might call for help, even if at some point I gained the upper hand. Wouldn’t you? It seems a pretty logical thing to do, doesn’t it? > > But we don’t know that that’s the totality of the confrontation. Perhaps Martin was only briefly atop Zimmerman, and then Zimmerman managed to get up and pulled the gun, and Martin yelled for help. There is actually an eyewitness to the shooting itself. The eyewitness says one was sitting on top of the other when the shots (he says there were two) were fired. > [@](#): > > We don’t really know yet. Exactly. And this is all going to come out either in the trial, if the prosecutor decides to indict, or when the papers scramble for release of the investigative materials under Florida’s very strong sunshine laws if he (she?) doesn’t. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2809 "2012-04-02T15:43:33Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > And then Zimmerman had the foresight to claim that the screams for help were his, minutes later? How much foresight does it take to know how bad it looks to shoot a person screaming for help? > [@](#): > > Also, keep in mind that Zimmerman inserted himself into a situation where he was the Good Guy and Martin was the Bad Guy, at least in his own mind. So screaming for help wouldn’t be inconsistent with his perception of events, gun or not. Zimmerman sees himself as not just the Good Guy. He’s the strong, capable, fearless guy whose willing to put his life on the line to save his community from evildoers. People who see themselves as strong and fearless are the last people I’d expect to scream for help like that. Especially if they have a gun. I do expect skinny teenagers being held at gunpoint to scream like that. > [@](#): > > I mean, it’s not outside the realm of possibility, but your version has more moving parts than if it was just Zimmerman screaming all along. I think Occam is on my side still. How many more extra moving parts are required for me say that it was Martin screaming as opposed to Zimmerman? You’re acting as though just because Zimmerman said he screamed for help, that’s supposed to change our analysis of what went down. But if Martin was alive, he’d probably say he was the one yelling. What would that do to your analysis then? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2810 "2012-04-02T15:43:39Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > Sure. He was sitting on top of Zimmerman, beating him up and yelling for help. So how did Zimmerman pull the gun out of his waistband if Martin was sitting on it? It certainly casts doubt on the witnesses who claim Martin was on top of Zimmerman. ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2811 "2012-04-02T15:45:05Z")
> [@PatriotX](#): > > But I am not sure of how long such a thing actually takes. If there’s any evidence of how much time such a thing takes, I’d be willing to look at it. My point isn’t that it’s outside the realm of possibility that Zimmerman chose to lie. Or even that it’d be difficult for him to do so, that it would take X amount of time to come up with the lie, or whatever. My point is just that it’s an extra, unnecessary step, and I’m appealing to Occam here. ---
**Author:** ![Hbns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hbns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hbns)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2812 "2012-04-02T15:58:28Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Consider this scenario **(PLEASE NOTE: I am not saying this is what happened. This is for illustration purposes only.)** > > Say that Zimmerman was trying to restrain Martin to hold him until the cops came. Martin, in response, tried to fend him off. The struggle got intense, more intense than Zimmerman had expected it would (because he’s not very bright). Maybe Martin hit him, which bumped emotions up a notch. Are you cribbing off me? Let the record show that I postulated this scenario in post 2447. > [@Hbns](#): > > 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! At this point we differ. I think what you have postulated assumes too much plotting and thought. Remember the old axiom that the simplest explanation is the most likely. > [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > So he pulled out his gun. This immediately caused Martin to scream his head off for help. > > Two things suddenly dawn on Zimmerman: 1) the kid is unarmed (otherwise he would have seen a weapon come out by now) and 2) the kid is about to cause a terrible scene that could get him trouble and ruin all his aspirations of being a cop and a community hero. At this point, it isn’t Martin’s fists that have him worried about his life, but rather his desperate screams for help. Unless he puts an end to the screaming by shooting the boy, it will be his downfall. > > So he shoots. The screaming stops. Zimmerman is smart enough to know that people heard the screaming. Since he knows what the screaming implies, he quickly volunteers _he_ was the source. Otherwise, people will know that he was the bad guy, and he doesn’t want that. His self-defense claim goes along with that, of course. But it may not have been on the forefront of his mind at that point. His main thought was explain away the screams. Given that voice analysis is only about a 50% match for Zimmerman on the screams, perhaps the more likely scenario is that as Zimmerman is on the bottom desperately trying to hand onto Martin, and Martin is struggling, shoving, banging at him to get away they both hollered for help. Zimmerman wanting help to restrain Martin so another one doesn’t get away. Martin wanting help to get away from the crazy guy clinging to him. Once Martin breaks free Zimmerman impulsively goes for his gun. End of story. Kid dead, and wannabe hero only has to spin the story a little for “self-defense”. ---
**Author:** ![Terr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/839c29/32.png) [@Terr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terr)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2813 "2012-04-02T16:06:32Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > So how did Zimmerman pull the gun out of his waistband if Martin was sitting on it? It certainly casts doubt on the witnesses who claim Martin was on top of Zimmerman. Several witnesses say one was sitting on top of the other, one of them saying that was at the time of the shot. So unless they are all lying, yes, someone was sitting on someone. One is definitely saying it was Martin on top. Since Martin’s body was found face down, I would say it was Martin sitting on top of Zimmerman when he was shot. Otherwise it’d be face up. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2814 "2012-04-02T16:16:29Z")
> [@Terr](#): > > There is actually an eyewitness to the shooting itself. The eyewitness says one was sitting on top of the other when the shots (he says there were two) were fired. But that eyewitness could not state who was on top of who when the shots were fired. [http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/03/witness-trayvon-martin-anderson-cooper.html?mid=rss](http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2012/03/witness-trayvon-martin-anderson-cooper.html?mid=rss) ---
**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:** [April 2, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2815 "2012-04-02T16:18:39Z")
> [@Hbns](#): > > Are you cribbing off me? No I’m not cribbing. Just going off my own hunches. > [@](#): > > At this point we differ. I think what you have postulated assumes too much plotting and thought. Remember the old axiom that the simplest explanation is the most likely. I disagree. You story assumes that Martin actually hit Zimmerman in a way that set him off. I haven’t ruled that out, but I don’t consider Martin hitting Zimmerman a central factor for why Zimmerman killed him. The only reason we’re even talking about Martin hitting Zimmerman is because that forms the basis of his self-defense claim. I’m inclined not to put any weight in that unless I see physical evidence that supports the kid hit him. Any pain inflicted on Zimmerman was minor enough that he could delay a hospital visit until the next day. And for all any of us know, this hospital visit was for CYA purposes, not because he really needed it. We do have evidence that someone was yelling their head off until the very end. And yelling in a blood curdling, heart-tugging kind of way. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to posit that Zimmerman may have fired his gun to stop Martin from giving his unlawful conduct away to his neighbors. We have as much evidence to support this as we do any other theory, to be honest. > [@](#): > > Martin wanting help to get away from the crazy guy clinging to him. Once Martin breaks free Zimmerman impulsively goes for his gun. End of story. Kid dead, and wannabe hero only has to spin the story a little for “self-defense”. This could be possible. I don’t know. To my ear, the yelling didn’t sound like a “give me a hand here?” kind of request for assistance. It was a desperate plea, the kind of yell someone would give if they were in a burning house. Since there is only one voice that we can clearly make out on that tape, how likely is it that Martin would have been the silent one? That’s the part I’m not getting from folks who think it could be Zimmerman. Why would Martin _not_ be the one screaming like a madman for help, if we all agree that Zimmerman likely was the aggressor? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2816 "2012-04-02T16:36:27Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > The only reason we’re even talking about Martin hitting Zimmerman is because that forms the basis of his self-defense claim. I’m talking about it because it’s consistent with the police report that says Zimmerman was bleeding. Unless you think that Zimmerman hit himself in the nose. I don’t think he was _badly_ injured, but I do think there was a fight, and that Zimmerman sustained injuries from Martin in that fight. > [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Since there is only one voice that we can clearly make out on that tape, how likely is it that Martin would have been the silent one? That’s the part I’m not getting from folks who think it could be Zimmerman. Why would Martin _not_ be the one screaming like a madman for help, if we all agree that Zimmerman likely was the aggressor? You’ve already made the assumption that Zimmerman pulled the gun on Martin. I don’t think that’s the case. I think the two actors had vastly different views on the seriousness of the fight they were in. Martin thought he was in a schoolyard fight. People talk shit, people get in fights, usually nobody ends up dead. Zimmerman thought he was in an epic battle with a drugged out burglar. And even if Zimmerman _had_ pulled the gun, screaming for help is not a standard reaction. Generally people get very quiet and very compliant when they see a gun. If Zimmerman had approached Martin with the gun drawn, there’s no way a fight would have ever taken place. Martin would have realized how serious the situation was, and wouldn’t have said “Why are you following me.” He would have either run away or shut his mouth and waited for Zimmerman’s orders. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2817 "2012-04-02T16:57:47Z")
I was thinking about what, Richard Kurtz, the funeral director, said about Martin’s body. > [@](#): > > Richard Kurtz says there were no notable marks on Martin’s hands, face or body other than the gunshot wound that killed him. Kurtz says he expected to see some marks if Martin had been in a fight. [http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/30/2722783/fla-teen-funeral-director-no-signs.html](http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/30/2722783/fla-teen-funeral-director-no-signs.html) I was think a little about what signs of bruising would show up on Martin’s body if he was killed a minute after a bruise occurred. > [@](#): > > Editorial note: a bruise – sometimes referred to as a “contusion” or “ecchymosis”. Unless it is deep within the tissue it may appear as a bluish coloured area just beneath the surface of the skin. It is caused by the rupture small blood vessels which allows the blood to escape into the tissues. The damage to the blood vessels can be caused by force from a blunt object (a blow from a fist or weapon) or by compression or crushing of the tissues or from some disease processes. The degree of force may differ significantly and may also depend upon the age of the person concerned. The discolouration involved may take some time to appear, and it is often recommended that in an autopsy situation the body be examined again after some 24 hours.\*\* Bruising can also be revealed by the reflection (peeling back) of the skin or tissue over a site of suspected injury\*\*] [http://netk.net.au/Articles/Bruising.asp](http://netk.net.au/Articles/Bruising.asp) The short form is that if you die a few minutes after being bruised, there may not be any discoloration, but you can always detect bruising by a subcutaneous examination. The trouble is that Kurtz reports neither bruises nor an examination by the medical examiner for subcutaneous damage. This would indicate a serious error by the medical examiner. This could cause Zimmerman to walk, since the prosecution wouldn’t be able to rebut the defense claim that Martin struck Zimmerman or prove that Zimmerman grabbed Martin. If this is true, then Martin’s body needs to be exhumed ASAP before the evidence of Zimmerman’s guilt literally rots. ---
**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:** [April 2, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2818 "2012-04-02T17:19:10Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > I’m talking about it because it’s consistent with the police report that says Zimmerman was bleeding. Unless you think that Zimmerman hit himself in the nose. I don’t think he was _badly_ injured, but I do think there was a fight, and that Zimmerman sustained injuries from Martin in that fight. Again, I’m not ruling out that Martin hit him. I’m simply unconvinced that this was what caused him to shoot. As much adrenaline that was in his bloodstream at that moment, he very well might not have even felt if/when Martin hit him in his nose. I don’t know. I’m just not going to assume Martin hitting him was why Zimmerman shot him just because he made that claim. Did he go after Trayvone thinking the kid would demurely allow him to restrain him until the cops showed up? The man might not be Einstein, but I don’t think he could be that naive. He probably anticipated a fight, and that’s why he was packing. What he didn’t expect was Martin to be unarmed and to yell for help like an innocent kid instead of a hardened criminal. That’s why I think this discovery is what caused Zimmerman to panic and go into Lenny/Of Mice and Men mode. > [@](#): > > You’ve already made the assumption that Zimmerman pulled the gun on Martin. I don’t think that’s the case. If you went chasing after a scary guy and you had a gun, why would you wait until he was attacking you before pulling it out? Wouldn’t you be ready to pull that bad boy out the minute things got touchy? To buy that he didn’t have his gun out requires accepting Zimmerman’s claim that it was his phone that he reached for when Martin aggressively confronted him, not his gun. This smells fishy to me on its face. > [@](#): > > I think the two actors had vastly different views on the seriousness of the fight they were in. Martin thought he was in a schoolyard fight. How have you come into enough insight about Martin to figure that this is how he would have perceived Zimmerman? The 911 call tells us how Zimmerman perceived Martin. The same call gave us a tiny iinkling about Martin’s thoughts about Zimmerman, and that inkling was that he was afraid of him. He ran away. That’s not typical schoolyard behavior. > [@](#): > > And even if Zimmerman _had_ pulled the gun, screaming for help is not a standard reaction. Generally people get very quiet and very compliant when they see a gun. Depends on the circumstances! Maybe Martin didn’t think this man would shoot him in front of other people. Maybe he figured he was a wannabe cop, not a mugger. Yells for help would make perfect sense if this is what he thought. “Come quick, there’s a crazy dude out here sticking a gun in front of me for no reason! Help!” If find it perplexing that you think people held at gunpoint get very quiet, but find nothing “off” about the idea of an armed man, in a conflict of his own making, screaming for help. We must be living on two different planets, so maybe we just need to agree to disagree. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2819 "2012-04-02T17:22:12Z")
> [@steronz](#): > > You’ve already made the assumption that Zimmerman pulled the gun on Martin. I don’t think that’s the case. What evidence is there otherwise? I remember something about M going for the gun, but I can’t find where that came from. Z’s dad’s version and what was leaked from Z official account to the police do not contain that detail. Iirc, Z’s dad says something similar to Z “pulled his gun and did what he did” > **[FOX 35 Orlando | Local News, Weather, and Live Streams | WOFL](https://www.fox35orlando.com/)** > > Central Florida area news, weather, radar, sports, traffic, live newscasts, and more. From WOFL-TV FOX 35 News in Orlando, your weather authority. 3:30 to 4:05 or so. The actual quote comes toward the end. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c4cdca/32.png) [@PatriotX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotX)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/2820 "2012-04-02T17:25:21Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > I was thinking about what, Richard Kurtz, the funeral director, said about Martin’s body. > > [http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/30/2722783/fla-teen-funeral-director-no-signs.html](http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/03/30/2722783/fla-teen-funeral-director-no-signs.html) > I was think a little about what signs of bruising would show up on Martin’s body if he was killed a minute after a bruise occurred. > > [http://netk.net.au/Articles/Bruising.asp](http://netk.net.au/Articles/Bruising.asp) > > The short form is that if you die a few minutes after being bruised, there may not be any discoloration, but you can always detect bruising by a subcutaneous examination. > > The trouble is that Kurtz reports neither bruises nor an examination by the medical examiner for subcutaneous damage. This would indicate a serious error by the medical examiner. This could cause Zimmerman to walk, since the prosecution wouldn’t be able to rebut the defense claim that Martin struck Zimmerman or prove that Zimmerman grabbed Martin. > > If this is true, then Martin’s body needs to be exhumed ASAP before the evidence of Zimmerman’s guilt literally rots. That’s not what it seems to say to me at all. It discusses how deep bruises can be hard to detect. But it says that waiting 24 hours will help reveal other bruises. Bruises on the knuckles or forearms aren’t likely to be that deep. Why would the body need to be exhumed? There was already an autopsy done. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504.md?page=140) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504.md?page=142)