Rally This Week For Miami Teen Killed In Sanford
SANFORD (CBSMiami/AP) – This week the Rev. Al Sharpton will lead a rally demanding justice for the family of a black teen who was shot and killed by a white neighborhood watch volunteer in a gated Sanford community.
The rally will held Thursday at the at the First Shiloh Baptist Church in Sanford.
No charges have been filed in the February death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin of Miami.
Martin's family has criticized police for not arresting 28-year-old George Zimmerman, who admitted to shooting the teen but said he fired in self-defense.
Trayvon's parents said he was a good teenager and was working toward a career in aviation mechanics. They said he had never even been in a fight at school. In contrast, Zimmerman's arrest record shows he's been in trouble with the law before.
On the night of the shooting, Martin was walking back to his father's fiancé home from a nearby convenience store when he was spotted by Zimmerman who called 911 to report a suspicious person.
Sanford Police released eight 911 calls made during and after the shooting. On the first call Zimmerman told police on the first call that he was following Martin and said Martin was running.
A dispatcher told Zimmerman not to follow Martin.
"This guy looks like he is up to no good. He is on drugs or something," Zimmerman told the dispatcher.
He also said the teen had his hand in his waistband and was looking at homes as he walked.
"These *expletives.* They always get away," Zimmerman told the 911 dispatcher.
Zimmerman has claimed that he acted in self-defense when he shot and killed Martin. The family of Martin has said that is far from the truth and that Zimmerman chased Martin before shooting him.
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Martin's family says 911 calls show the teen was terrified as he tried to flee Zimmerman.
"He was yelling for help, and no one could help him," Tracy Martin said. "He saw his life being taken away from him."
Just after Zimmerman's first call, 911 dispatchers were inundated with calls about a scuffle between two men, some screaming, and then a gunshot.
"I just heard a shot right behind my house," a male caller said. "They're wrestling right behind my porch. The guy is yelling, "Help!" I'm not going outside."
Zimmerman's father says his son has been unfairly portrayed as a racist.
Sanford Police refused to file charges against Zimmerman for the shooting. The family of Martin said Friday they'd like the FBI to take over the investigation because they no longer trusted the Sanford Police.
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