On February 26, 2012, two lives were drastically changed for the worse. Seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin was shot and killed, and his young life ended. This story has become just one of many unarmed shootings in twenty-first century America. Trayvon Martin who was only seventeen when the accident occurred. Miami Gardens native, a son, a brother and a friend. Martin had just visited his father in Sanford, Florida. For the famous 2012 NBA All-Star weekend held just a few miles away in Orlando, Florida. Martin left his father's girlfriend's apartment, while going to the store for some snacks and unfortunate events occurred that prevented him from returning home to his family. This shooting caused a chain of subsequent events, events that could not have been predicted. From taking over social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc.), to celebrity involvement, weeks of coverage across every major news outlet and cycle, to starting the Black Lives Matter movement. The Black Lives Matter Movement is a movement and organization across America that stands up for the African-American community and goes against racism towards the minority community. This particular incident changed the way the world perceived police officers as a whole. There were marches, protests and public statements by the family and friends of Martin and Zimmerman. The other life affected by this tragedy was George Zimmerman, born October 5, 1983, who was the master watch at The Retreat at Twin Lakes residential community in Sanford, Florida. Zimmerman allegedly followed the deceased's home due to his suspicious appearance and recent burglaries in the neighborhood that Zimmerman's description said Trayvon Martin was fit. Both lives were changed forever on that tragic Sunday, and that's what some people seem to forget to remember. One life ended and another life was destroyed. This deadly shooting even caught the attention of then-incumbent President Barack Hussein Obama. From the first initial report, Zimmerman told witnesses and officers who first saw that shooting was self-defense and that he was afraid for his life. The shooting incident was initially investigated by Sanford County, Seminole police. Eventually, he was turned over to Special Prosecutor Angela Corey and also investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. A separate investigation also launched to ascertain 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 Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The forensic team has covered this high-profile case in as much depth as possible. Laboratory reports dated March 1, 2012 from C. Taylor were submitted to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Forensic samples were collected from exhibit DMS-21 (the gun), swabs taken from the grip, trigger, slide and holster. Buccal swabs were also collected from Zimmerman. Trayvon Martin nail scraping. Exhibit ME-2 was collected from his left and right hands. Trayvon's clothing, exhibits ME-8 and exhibits ME-12, such as his shirt, hoodie and pants were also collected. The results of the scientific investigations were: the gun was inconclusive due to the trigger and slide but the subject was at least a male individual. The results for the socket matched the single subject George Zimmerman. It could not be determined whether or not Trayvon Martin contributed the gun.Trayvon Martin's shirt consisted of stains A, B and D which showed the chemical presence of blood. George Zimmerman's DNA was also found in blot A. Blot D was a mixed DNA profile. In exhibit ME-12, the hooded sweatshirt, the chemical presence of Trayvon Martin's blood was found. Articles of clothing of George Zimmerman Exhibit DMS-16 and Exhibit Dms-19, one item was George Zimmerman's jacket consisting of fourteen blood stains. Some of the spots covered correspondent Trayvon Martin and also some correspondent George Zimmerman. There was also mixed DNA considered inconclusive. But at least two male individuals have been identified. The test results showed that there were many minor partial DNA matches to Trayvon Martin. There was also a gunshot residue collection (GSR) kit administered to George Zimmerman. GSR was detected and identified as a result using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The GSR results do not determine that the individual merely fired the weapon, but that the individual could have simply been exposed and around when the gun was fired. Trayvon Martin's phone was also taken into evidence but was not tested for fingerprints. The medical examiner's report also stated that the bullet entered the left chest from an intermediate distance, and that the wound entry was in the pericardial sac and right ventricle of the heart. Interviews with Zimmerman and all witnesses were conducted after the shooting. Zimmerman fully confirmed this. He even returned to the crime scene with investigators where he recalled those traumatizing events. From the beginning, Zimmerman claimed he acted in self-defense. Zimmerman reported seeing someone suspicious in his neighborhood while he was on patrol. He said the suspect (Trayvon Martin) was not only walking but looking at all the houses as if he was observing them. Zimmerman then called Sanford police to let them know what was going on with the recent burglaries. Zimmerman then took his car and followed Trayvon Martin through the community. From the start, Zimmerman said Trayvon surprised him from behind and jumped out of the bushes, asking him why he was following him. Afterward, they exchanged words and Zimmerman said that's when Trayvon attacked him and that he was knocked to the ground and Trayvon was on top of him brutally beating him. At that moment he felt he had no choice. Zimmerman said he felt he feared for his life and what Trayvon would do. At this time Zimmerman took 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. "Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee said on March 12, 2012 that until we establish probable cause to dispute [Zimmerman's self-defense claim] we have no grounds to arrest him." Sanford police and detectives received enormous backlash for not making an arrest. But with the evidence provided there was no cause. “On March 22, 2012, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee was placed on paid leave. The next day, State Attorney Angela Corey, appointed as a special prosecutor by Florida Governor Rick Scott, launched an independent review of the evidence to determine whether the case merited prosecution. As previously mentioned, the FBI launched an investigation to determine whether or not Trayvon Martin's civil rights had been violated. “The federal investigation examined whether Zimmerman violated civil rights statutes at any time during hisinteraction with Martin, from their initial meeting to the fatal shooting. This included 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 was using the residential neighborhood. Investigators also examined whether there is evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman violated Section 3631 or Section 249 by using force against Martin during their fight or when he shot Martin, because of Martin's race. (U.S. Department of Justice) On March 19, 2012, the FBI found insufficient evidence to allege that Trayvon Martin's civil rights had been violated. Moreover, after this event, without even convening the grand jury. “On April 11, 2012, Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder. His lawyer Mark O'MaraZimmerman told CNN he had turned himself in." (CNN) With his bail set at just $150,000, Zimmerman is out of jail on bond. “Weeks later, Zimmerman's bail was revoked and he was sent to prison after evidence emerged that Zimmerman's wife had misrepresented the family's finances during the bail hearing. After a second hearing in July of that year, a new bail was set at $1 million and Zimmerman was re-released. (Famous Trials) Zimmerman remained steadfast in his defense saying he only pursued the chase (even though the 911 dispatcher told him not to) it was because of recent burglaries in the neighborhood and there was a recent notification given to Zimmerman about 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 in court.” (CNN) During the trial, Zimmerman's attorney, Mark O'mara, initially asked for an immunity hearing because Zimmerman had claimed self-defense. Zimmerman said he follows the "stand your ground" law. Zimmerman and his lawyer then backed out because there was no option for Zimmerman to withdraw. “Judge Debra Nelson issued several rulings on pre-trial motions on May 28, 2013. She ruled against the admission of evidence related to Martin's prior fights, marijuana use, and familiarity with weapons. He also denied the defense's request to take the jury to the crime scene. Ultimately, noting the tense circumstances surrounding the trial, Judge Nelson ruled that the jury would remain anonymous and be referred to only by numbers. (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 reasonable doubt that Travon Martin was not suspicious walking that night. But that he went to the shop 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 some of the altercations between George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin. The prosecution would assume they had a key witness. After the police witnesses were perceived more for George Zimmerman. Trayvon was on the phone before he started being followed and during the altercation. The prosecution's main witness Rachel Jeantel was talking to her friend and was still on the line until the shot. You'd think that would make her a damning witness. Because of the inconsistencies in his story, his age, and why he couldn'tattend Martin's funeral, threw the prosecution into a tailspin. “Jeantel also testified that he thought it was Trayvon's voice asking for help in recording 9-1-1. After less than an hour of direct examination, Jeantel endured five hours of sometimes withering cross-examination by defense attorney Don West. She was forced to admit on the spot that she had lied to avoid going to Trayvon's funeral, that she had lied about her age when she was first contacted about the case, and on various occasions that she had offered different accounts of what it had happened. The harsh questioning made Jeantel hostile and even made her say she would leave at the end of the day and not return to the witness stand. (Famous trials) The prosecution also called witnesses from the residential community. Numerous witnesses heard someone yell "HELP", witnesses heard or saw arguing or fighting. Witnesses from the community testified that they heard or saw fighting. Due to the darkness some could not remember which person was on top during the fight or who was on the bottom. A witness named Jonathan Good shed light on that night for the jury. Good was able to recall events that other witnesses could not. Due to the fact that Good resided in the townhome that was close to the confrontation between Zimmerman and Martin. Good also tried to intervene by shouting, “What was going on.” “He also described the person straddling him as appearing to have lighter colored skin. He testified that he saw "multiple" downward thrusts of one arm by the person above that "felt like punches" and that he heard the person below yell for help. When he turned to enter his home and call 9-1-1, the shot rang out in the night. After showing photographs of both Zimmerman and Martin, Good identified Martin as the person on top and Zimmerman as the person on the bottom. He also helped the defense by stating that he thought it was Zimmerman's voice screaming for help. This statement provided truth to what Zimmerman had said that Trayvon Martin was on top of him during their physical altercation. The prosecution witnesses were most helpful in helping Zimmerman's case when it came to the actual testimony, especially the police officers. Detective Christopher Serino, for example, testified that there was evidence that Zimmerman followed Martin after being told not to. Zimmerman's "f*$%?# punks" comment led Serino to question Zimmerman's level of hostility. Both Sanford Police Officers Ricardo Ayala and Doris Singleton testified that Zimmerman did not appear angry and that Zimmerman was not confrontational. The 9-1-1 tape shook America when it was released, which you would think this tape would do for the prosecution. Instead, the recording has been shown to help neither the prosecution nor the defense because the experts are unable to tell which voice was screaming HELP. The prosecution did not get the sympathy it had hoped for at the start of the trial. The main fact of the prosecution's closing arguments is that walking home from the store is not a sign of suspicion. Yes, Zimmerman has never seen Martin before and was very familiar with the residents who lived at The Retreat, but that doesn't make him suspicious. Martin could have simply been a new family in the neighborhood. You should be able to walk to the store and back home without being followed and feel like you have to defend yourself at all times. Getting the jury's sympathy for the defense was also no easy job. The defense would have to prove that Zimmerman had nothing else.