# 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:** 41
**Author:** ![OnePercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6f9a4e/32.png) [@OnePercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OnePercent)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/801 "2012-03-20T18:01:44Z")
> [@Kimmy\_Gibbler](#): > > No, I think this is incorrect. Being chased (particularly by a stranger) I think falls well within the common law definition of assault—a voluntary act by the tortfeasor that arouses a reasonable apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact. The quarry is entitled to use non-deadly force to repel the feared contact. So basically you are saying that if someone was running after you to return the wallet that you dropped unknowingly in the parking lot you have the legal right to punch them in the face or have the police charge them with “assault”? Absurd. Anyone with common sense can see that there would need to be more compounding factors than simply running at someone to prove assault. Maybe you should test it out, next time you are at the park and some jogger is running up behind you you should turn around and punch him or her and then tell the police you were being assaulted. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/802 "2012-03-20T18:01:54Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > No, actually I’m more concerned about a nation in which unarmed teenagers can get shot in cold blood and some people call them “nobodies”. This boy was an innocent victim. I don’t know and I don’t care if he punched Zimmerman, it is not a reason to take his life. There is no reason for an unarmed person to be shot. If the law says it’s okay, then the law is an ass. Zimmerman could have let the police deal with his concerns, he could have simply held the boy at gunpoint until the police arrived, he could have done a number of things except what he actually did, commit cold-blooded murder. I don’t care if Trayvon Martin was the local high school quarterback who volunteered 80 hours a week at a children’s hospital while planting flowers for old people on the weekend while taking care of his 3 sister he raises and while walking his elderly neighbor’s puppy. His death does not justify mob rule. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/803 "2012-03-20T18:04:05Z")
Well of course you don’t. Even if he was, he’d still have been a black kid. No use gettin’ worked up over those, especially during open season. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/804 "2012-03-20T18:04:17Z")
> [@Jack\_Batty](#): > > If the guy were a cop, you might have a point. The guy was a fucking Neighborhood Watch Captain, a title that carries about as much weight as Hall Monitor. But Martin didn’t know that. Zimmerman was sure acting like a plainclothes cop or private security. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/805 "2012-03-20T18:04:52Z")
> [@Lady\_of\_the\_Lake](#): > > Wow, I’d never even noticed that while reading through the thread. I gotta ask, **Martin Hyde** , what makes this 17 year old boy a **nobody**? He has no criminal record, nothing bad has been said about him other than that he wore a hoodie and might’ve been on a skittles sugar high, so…? What would make him a somebody? Could you have picked him out of a crowd before last month? Could you mention any way he’s contributed to society? I wouldn’t support but could at least understand people going into the rage of the mob over someone like MLK dying. That doesn’t excuse mob rule, but at least I can understand it. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/806 "2012-03-20T18:05:07Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I don’t care if Trayvon Martin was the local high school quarterback who volunteered 80 hours a week at a children’s hospital while planting flowers for old people on the weekend while taking care of his 3 sister he raises and while walking his elderly neighbor’s puppy. His death does not justify mob rule. Who is advocating mob rule? The mobs are demanding that justice be done. If there is a trial and a not guilty verdict is reached, it may be hard to accept. What cannot be accepted is that the police and prosecutors seemingly have no interest in pursuing a case here. In any event, YOU called him a nobody. Why? ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/807 "2012-03-20T18:05:59Z")
> [@SnakesCatLady](#): > > I’m not suggesting Zimmerman should be hung from the nearest tree, but it is upsetting to me that he wasn’t arrested. Self-defense is a defense; it should be proved in court. That goes back to something discussed earlier. Are you saying that anybody who claims self-defense should be automatically arrested? If so, then there are going to be cases where an arrest is obviously both unnecessary and harmful. If you are saying the police ought to exercise some kind of discretion, then that is what happened here. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/808 "2012-03-20T18:08:47Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > But Martin didn’t know that. Zimmerman was sure acting like a plainclothes cop or private security. Seriously? If I’m walking down the street minding my own business and a stranger starts running after me, the wisest course of action is to assume he’s an undercover cop? Brilliant advice. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/809 "2012-03-20T18:09:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > What it appears here from some posts is that some dudes want a society where the Police decide guilt or innocence, not a Judge & Jury. > > And where your guilt is not decided based upon the facts but upon the age and criminal record of the other guy. “Yes, sure, you claim he stabbed you 6 times with a knife and stole your wallet, and sure there’s a camera there that recorded that whole thing, not to mention a dozen witnesses. But you see, he’s only 17, and you’re 42, and he has no criminal record, but you were convicted of writing bad checks 10 years ago. So, we’re hauling you off to prison for ten years.” > > Look, Zimmerman’s story is rather shaky. So let us allow the Grand Jury to make it’s decision, then a Judge and jury to make theirs. It’s not up to the Police to decide guilt. No one ever said it was. We’ve just said that police have discretion in what they think meets the definition of probable cause and what doesn’t. However society recognize police are not legal experts, so we provide for a prosecutor who gets to make a final determination about whether charges should be filed or not. That’s all we’ve ever advocated. You guys advocate anytime a bunch of black people start screaming racism we need to throw people in jail. ---
**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 20, 2012, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/810 "2012-03-20T18:11:28Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > I don’t care if Trayvon Martin was the local high school quarterback who volunteered 80 hours a week at a children’s hospital while planting flowers for old people on the weekend while taking care of his 3 sister he raises and while walking his elderly neighbor’s puppy. His death does not justify mob rule. Mob rule created this SYG mess in the first place. What’s good enough for the goose is good enough for the gander. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were actually disappointed that information that contradicts Zimmerman’s claims has come forward. But you’re not disappointed at the cops, you’re disappointed that the public (i.e. “angry blacks”) refused to roll over this time and blindly take the authorities at their word. Is that the look you’re going for? Petulance? ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/811 "2012-03-20T18:12:01Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Who is advocating mob rule? The mobs are demanding that justice be done. If there is a trial and a not guilty verdict is reached, it may be hard to accept. What cannot be accepted is that the police and prosecutors seemingly have no interest in pursuing a case here. In any event, YOU called him a nobody. Why? Why would you presume him to be anything but a nobody? That’s the default. Unless you can do something to raise yourself above that baseline. ---
**Author:** ![OnePercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6f9a4e/32.png) [@OnePercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OnePercent)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/812 "2012-03-20T18:12:46Z")
> [@DianaG](#): > > Well of course you don’t. Even if he was, he’d still have been a black kid. No use gettin’ worked up over those, especially during open season. So you are saying that mob rule is desirable? Here is a simple thought experiment for people on this board who want to see Zimmerman lynched by an angry mob. If Martin had been a white kid would you even care about this case? Answer honestly please. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/813 "2012-03-20T18:15:46Z")
> [@Martin\_Hyde](#): > > Why would you presume him to be anything but a nobody? That’s the default. Unless you can do something to raise yourself above that baseline. Because he’s a human being with a family that misses him? Now if he was a glob of cells the size of a booger, you’d probably be outraged if his mother had an abortion. Since he was all of 17, apparently his failing to make the Olympics or cure cancer means that we can just shrug our shoulders and say “sucks to be him, but at least he wasn’t worth a shit, having black skin and all” ---
**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 20, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/814 "2012-03-20T18:16:20Z")
If Martin was a white kid, he’d be alive playing video games right now. ---
**Author:** ![OnePercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6f9a4e/32.png) [@OnePercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OnePercent)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/815 "2012-03-20T18:16:27Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Mob rule created this SYG mess in the first place. What’s good enough for the goose is good enough for the gander. Huh? So laws that were voted into law by the elected state government and signed by the elected governor constitute “mob rule”? I think you might be confusing mob rule with democracy. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/816 "2012-03-20T18:16:50Z")
> [@OnePercent](#): > > So you are saying that mob rule is desirable? Here is a simple thought experiment for people on this board who want to see Zimmerman lynched by an angry mob. If Martin had been a white kid would you even care about this case? Answer honestly please. Of course I would. But I wouldn’t have to, the police take deaths of white people seriously in Florida. ---
**Author:** ![DianaG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7ab992/32.png) [@DianaG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianaG)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/817 "2012-03-20T18:17:12Z")
> [@OnePercent](#): > > If Martin had been a white kid would you even care about this case? Answer honestly please. Um, yes. And while we’re being honest, this is the last time I’ll be interacting with you. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/818 "2012-03-20T18:17:18Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Mob rule created this SYG mess in the first place. What’s good enough for the goose is good enough for the gander. > > If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were actually disappointed that information that contradicts Zimmerman’s claims has come forward. But you’re not disappointed at the cops, you’re disappointed that the public (i.e. “angry blacks”) refused to roll over this time and blindly take the authorities at their word. Is that the look you’re going for? Petulance? I don’t like it when people engage in recreational fits. I have no problem with Trayvon’s parents complaining, they are expected to be irrational and stupid about things. I don’t even mind that much that college students are complaining again, they are expected to be irrational and stupid. Same goes for Alyssa Milano. Where I get annoyed is when people like “civil rights activists” start demanding an immediate arrest, which is what actually has happened. Specifically on these boards, I don’t like it when people just look at an excuse, any excuse, to bitch about the way the legal system is handling something when all signs indicate it is being handled normally. I’ve already demonstrated many self defense cases in Florida since SYG passed do not result in an immediate arrest. The fact that the defendant in this case is a 17 year old black kid shouldn’t make it materially different than the 13-15 other cases Florida police didn’t charge in which there was a person who killed someone with a gun, in which the shooting had no witnesses, and in which the shooter was not charged. I think there is no accountability for the offenderati who can smear and call racist the authorities who we have no evidence are doing anything but their jobs. I’ve always said, once this is all over, if there is evidence the authorities acted improperly then we need to do something about it. But that requires an investigation. The offenderati are happy to smear people’s names and reputations just based on half evidence and random news clippings. I had hoped that now that the State’s Attorney has said he’ll be making use of the grand jury people might accept that the legal process our society has is actually working here. But that would get in the way of Al Sharpton’s planned trip and offenderati rally. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/819 "2012-03-20T18:19:11Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Of course I would. But I wouldn’t have to, the police take deaths of white people seriously in Florida. I guess in the 13-15 other cases in that anti-SYG advocates have highlighted since the statute passed all the dead were black people. ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504/820 "2012-03-20T18:20:13Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > If Martin was a white kid, he’d be alive playing video games right now. Like I mentioned, you have no ability to look at this rationally. I personally find it so disgusting so many Americans have this “tribe first” mentality. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504.md?page=40) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-neighborhood-watch-shooter-been-arrested/615504.md?page=42)