George Zimmerman is being charged second-degree murder in the admitted shooting death of Trayvon Martin in late February.
Zimmerman has already turned himself into the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to his lawyer Mark O’Mara.
Special prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charges at a special news conference in Tallahassee, Fla., the state capitol.
Police say Zimmerman fatally shot Martin, a 17-year-old African-American, on February 26 in Sanford, Florida, after Martin began walking home from a convenience store. Zimmerman, who is white and Hispanic and was a self-appointed neighborhood watch volunteer, had called 911 to complain about a suspicious person in the neighborhood. Despite being told not to continue to follow Trayvon Martin, Zimmerman did and eventually exited the vehicle.
What transpired next is the basis of this case that has transfixed a nation and even inspired comments from major political leaders, including President Obama. Zimmerman was released without charges after claiming self-defense, but the case was referred to a special prosecutor as thousands converged on Sanford to join in protests calling for Zimmerman’s arrest.
– terry shropshire
