Trayvon Martin
Black male
Age at time: 17
Weapon: unarmed
Victim photo: Trayvon Martin at 17 years old. Photo courtesy of the Martin family
George Zimmerman
Hispanic male
Age at time: 28
Weapon: gun
Defendant photo: April 11, 2012 photo provided by the Sanford Police Department.
- Photo gallery
- Audio of the 911 calls
- Reporter Ben Montgomery speaks about the law on AM Tampa Bay radio show
- Young. Black. Male. Teens like Trayvon talk about what they have faced
Case type:
Citizen enforcing the law
Location:
public
Initiator:
defendant
Witnesses:
no
Case year:
2012
Location details: Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Seminole County, on Feb. 26, 2012
What happened: George Zimmerman was driving in his gated neighborhood when he spotted Trayvon Martin, 17, walking on a paved path between two sets of townhouses. Zimmerman, head of the Neighborhood Watch, called the police to report a suspicious person and began following Martin, first in a car and later on foot. Zimmerman's father said his son said Martin then threatened him, punched him in the nose and knocked him to the concrete. Zimmerman pulled a gun from a holster on his waist and shot Martin. Zimmerman has claimed self-defense.
The outcome: Special prosecutor filed second-degree murder charge.
Investigating agency: Sanford Police
Case decision made by: Prosecutor
Trayvon Martin’s death became controversial because circumstances leading up to the shooting cast doubt on who was to blame. The Tampa Bay Times reviewed other “stand your ground” cases for similar circumstances. The Times relied on available information, some of which may not tell the whole story. When the situation was unclear, that was noted.
| Yes | No | Unclear/ disputed |
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Did the victim initiate the confrontation? |
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Was the victim armed? |
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Was the victim committing a crime that led to the confrontation? |
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Did the defendant pursue the victim? |
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Could the defendant have retreated to avoid the conflict? |
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Was the defendant on his or her property? |
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Did someone witness the attack? |
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Was there physical evidence? |
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Click here for more information about how we compiled these cases. Know of something we missed or have a photo to share? Submit a case here.
These cases where the stand your ground law was invoked are similar to the Trayvon Martin case. Click on the "What happened" description to get more details about a case.
| Year | City | What happened | Weapon | Fatalities | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Palm Harbor | Citizen enforcing the law | gun | 1 | not charged |
| 2012 | Miami | Robbery | knife | 1 | granted immunity |
| 2011 | Tampa | Fight at bar/party | gun | none | granted immunity |
| 2011 | Royal Palm Beach | Attempted theft | gun | 1 | not charged |
| 2009 | Wesley Chapel | Trespassing | gun | none | not charged |
| 2009 | Fort Myers | Fight at bar/party | gun | 1 | not charged |
| 2009 | Homosassa | Neighborhood dispute | gun | 1 | not charged |
| 2008 | Thonotosassa | Citizen enforcing the law | gun | 1 | granted immunity |
| 2008 | New Port Richey | Fight at bar/party | gun | 1 | acquitted |
| 2008 | South Beach | Dispute over money/property | knife | 1 | pending |
| 2006 | North Fort Myers | Neighborhood dispute | gun | 1 | not charged |
Case last updated: Oct. 4, 2012
