On February 26, 2012, two lives were radically transformed for the worse. Seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and his young life ended. This story is just one of many unarmed shootings in 21st century America. Trayvon Martin, who was only seventeen when the incident occurred. Miami Gardens native, son, brother and friend. Martin had just visited his father in Sanford, Florida. For the famous NBA All-Star Weekend in 2012, held just a few miles away in Orlando, Florida. Martin left his father's girlfriend's apartment while heading to the store to get some snacks and unfortunate events occurred that prevented him from returning home to his family. This shooting set off a series of events that could not have been predicted. From taking over social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), to celebrity involvement, to weeks of coverage on all major media outlets and news cycles, and to the start of the Black Lives Matter movement. The Black Lives Matter movement is a movement and organization across America that campaigns for the African American community and against racism towards the minority community. This particular incident changed the way the world viewed police officers as a whole. There were marches, protests and public statements from family and friends of Martin and Zimmerman. The other life that was affected by this tragedy was that of George Zimmerman, born October 5, 1983, who was the primary caretaker of The Retreat at Twin Lakes residential community in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman allegedly followed the deceased home due to his suspicious appearance and recent burglaries in the neighborhood which Zimmerman said Trayvon Martin was in good shape. Both lives were changed forever on that tragic Sunday, and that's what some people seem to forget to remember. A life ended and a life was destroyed. The deadly shooting even caught the attention of then-president Barack Hussein Obama. From the first initial report, Zimmerman told witnesses and officers who first noticed that the shooting was self-defense and that he feared for his life. The shooting incident was initially investigated by Sanford and Seminole County police. Eventually, he was turned over to special prosecutor Angela Corey and was also investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A separate investigation was also launched to determine whether or not Trayvon Martin's civil rights had been violated. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayThe forensic team handled this high-profile case in the most thorough manner possible. Laboratory reports dated March 1, 2012 by C. Taylor were submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Forensic analysis was collected from samples of Exhibit DMS-21 (the gun) taken from the grip, trigger, slide and holster. Buccal swabs were also collected from Zimmerman. Coin ME-2, scraped by Trayvon Martin's fingernails, was collected in his left and right hands. Trayvon's clothing, Exhibits ME-8 and ME-12, was also recovered, including his shirt, hoodie and pants. The results of the scientific tests were as follows: the gun was inconclusive as to the trigger and slide, but the subject was at least one male individual. The results for takingcorrespond to individual subject George Zimmerman. No determination could be made as to whether or not Trayvon Martin contributed to the weapon. The Trayvon Martin shirt consisted of stains A, B and D which showed the chemical presence of blood. George Zimmerman's DNA was also found in Stain A. Stain D was a mixed DNA profile. Exhibit ME-12, the hoodie, consisted of the chemical presence of Trayvon Martin's blood. George Zimmerman's Clothing Items, Exhibit DMS-16 and Exhibit Dms-19, one of the items was George Zimmerman's jacket consisting of fourteen bloodstains. Some of the spots consisted of matching Trayvon Martin and some also matched George Zimmerman. There was also mixed DNA that was considered inconclusive. But it was identified that they were at least two male individuals. Evidence results showed that these were numerous partial minor DNA matches to Trayvon Martin. There was also a Gunshot Residue Collection (GSR) kit administered for George Zimmerman. GSR was detected and identified using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The GSR results do not determine that the individual only fired the weapon, but that the individual could have simply been exposed and present at the time the weapon was fired. Trayvon Martin's phone was also entered into evidence but was not tested for fingerprints. The medical examiner's report also indicated that the bullet entered the left chest at an intermediate distance, with the entrance to the wound being the pericardial sac and the right ventricle of the heart. After the shooting, interviews were conducted with Zimmerman and all witnesses. Zimmerman fully corroborated this. He even returned to the crime scene with investigators where he reconstructed these traumatic events. From the start, Zimmerman said he was acting in self-defense. Zimmerman said he saw someone suspicious in his neighborhood while he was on patrol. He stated that the suspect (Trayvon Martin) not only walked, but looked at all the houses as if he was examining them. Zimmerman then called Sanford police to let them know what was happening due to recent burglaries. Zimmerman then got his car and followed Trayvon Martin through the community. Early on, Zimmerman said Trayvon snuck up behind him, jumped out of the bushes and asked him why he was following him. Afterward, they exchanged words and Zimmerman said that's when Trayvon attacked him and he was laid out on the ground and Trayvon was on top of him beating him brutally. He felt at that moment that he had no choice. Zimmerman said he feared for his life and for what Trayvon would do. At that point, Zimmerman grabbed his gun while he was supposedly still on the ground and shot young Trayvon Martin in the chest to prevent him from injuring him further. “On March 12, 2012, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee stated that until we could establish probable cause to dispute [Zimmerman's claim of self-defense], we had no basis to stop it.” Sanford police and investigators received tremendous backlash for not making an arrest. But with the evidence provided, there was no reason. “On March 22, 2012, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee was placed on paid leave. The next day, Prosecutor Angela Corey, appointed special prosecutor by Florida Governor Rick Scott, began an independent review of the evidence to determine whether the case merited prosecution. As previously mentioned, the FBI opened aninvestigation to determine whether or not Trayvon Martin's civil rights had been violated. “The federal investigation examined whether Zimmerman violated civil rights laws at any time during his interaction with Martin, from their first meeting until the fatal shooting. This involved investigating whether there was evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman violated Section 3631 by approaching Martin in a threatening manner before the fatal shooting because of Martin's race and because he used the residential area. Investigators also considered whether there was evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman violated Section 3631 or Section 249 by using force against Martin, either during their struggle or by shooting Martin, due of Martin's breed. (U.S. Department of Justice) On March 19, 2012, the FBI did not find sufficient evidence to support that Trayvon Martin's civil rights had been violated. And this, after this event, without even convening a grand jury. “On April 11, 2012, Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder. His lawyer, Mark O'Mara, told CNN that Zimmerman had turned himself in. (CNN) With his bail set at just $150,000, Zimmerman was released from jail. “A few weeks later, Zimmerman's bond was revoked and he was sent to prison after evidence surfaced that Zimmerman's wife had made a false statement about the family's finances during the hearing on the deposit. After a second bond hearing in July of that year, a new bond was set at $1 million and Zimmerman was released again. (Famous Trials) Zimmerman stuck to his defense that he only continued the chase (even though the 911 dispatcher told him not to) was due to recent burglaries in the neighborhood and a recent notification was given to Zimmerman regarding two recent burglaries. There was also a notice in The Retreat at Twin Lakes newsletter. “Zimmerman enters a written plea of ​​not guilty and waives his right to appear at his arraignment.” (CNN) During the trial, Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'mara, initially requested an immunity hearing because Zimmerman was claiming self-defense. Zimmerman said he follows the “stand your ground” law. Zimmerman and his attorney then withdrew because Zimmerman did not have the option to withdraw. “Judge Debra Nelson issued several rulings on pretrial motions on May 28, 2013. She ruled against allowing evidence related to Martin's prior fights, his marijuana use, and his familiarity with firearms . She also rejected the defense's request to take the jury to the crime scene. Finally noting the tense circumstances surrounding the trial, Judge Nelson ruled that the jury would remain anonymous and be designated by numbers only. (Famous Trials) The jury was decided on June 20, 2013, there were six female jurors selected, five white jurors and one mixed race juror. The prosecution had to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Travon Martin had no suspicion while walking that night. But he went to the store for his brother. The prosecution also had a witness who was the 911 dispatcher that night repeatedly saying there was no need to follow Trayvon Martin. The prosecution had several witnesses from The Retreat community who heard or saw part of the altercation between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin. The prosecution would assume they had a star witness. After police heard witnesses favored George Zimmerman. Trayvon was on the phone before he started being followed and during the altercation. The star witness ofthe prosecution, Rachel Jeantel, was talking to her friend and was still on the line until the shooting. You'd think that would make her a slam dunk witness. Due to inconsistencies in her story, her age and why she was unable to attend Martin's funeral, the accusation was thrown into a loop. “Jeantel also testified that she thought it was Trayvon's voice calling for help on the 9-1-1 recording. After less than an hour of direct questioning, Jeantel endured five hours of sometimes painful cross-examination from defense attorney Don West. She was forced to admit against him that she lied to avoid going to Trayvon's funeral, that she lied about her age when she was first contacted about the affair and that she She had, on several occasions, offered several different accounts of what had happened. The difficult questioning made Jeantel hostile and even made her say she was leaving at the end of the day and would not return to the witness stand. (Famous Trials) The prosecution also called witnesses from the residential community. Several witnesses heard someone shouting “HELP”, witnesses heard or saw scuffles or fighting. Community witnesses reported hearing or seeing fighting. Due to the darkness, some could not remember which person was upstairs during the fight, or who was downstairs. A witness named Jonathan Good shed light on that night for the jury. Good was able to remember events that other witnesses could not. Due to the fact that Good resided in the townhouse which was near the confrontation between Zimmerman and Martin. Good even tried to intervene by shouting and asking “What was happening.” “He also described the person being ridden as having lighter colored skin. He testified that he saw "multiple" downward arm thrusts from the person above that "felt like punches" and that he heard the person below scream for help . When he turned to go into his house and call 9-1-1, the gunshot rang out into the night. Showing photographs of Zimmerman and Martin, Good identified Martin as the person on top and Zimmerman as the person on the bottom. He also assisted the defense by stating that he believed it was Zimmerman's voice screaming for help." This statement confirmed what Zimmerman had said that Trayvon Martin was on top of him during their physical altercation. Prosecution witnesses were given more help in making Zimmerman's case when it came to the actual testimony, especially police officers. Detective Christopher Serino, for example, said there was evidence that Zimmerman followed Martin after he was told not to. Zimmerman's comment "f*$%?# punks" causes Serino to question Zimmerman's level of hostility. Officers Ricardo Ayala and Doris Singleton of the Sanford police said Zimmerman did not appear angry and was not confrontational. The 9-1-1 Tape shook America when it was released, and you would think that this tape would favor the prosecution. Instead, the recording was proven to help neither the prosecution nor the defense because experts were unable to tell which voice was screaming for help. The prosecution did not receive the sympathy it had hoped for at the start of the trial. The main facts presented in the prosecution's closing arguments were that returning home from the store is not a sign of suspicion. Yes, Zimmerman has never seen Martin before and he knew the residents who lived at The Retreat very well, but that doesn't make him suspicious..