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Killing of Trayvon Martin
2012 killing of teenager in Sanford, Florida / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
On the evening of February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, United States, George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African-American, who was visiting his father.
![]() Map of Sanford, Florida | |
Date | February 26, 2012 (2012-02-26) |
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Time | 7:09 p.m. EST (start) 7:16 p.m. (gunshot on 911 call) 7:17 p.m. (police car arrives) 7:30 p.m. (Martin declared dead) |
Location | The Retreat at Twin Lakes in Sanford, Florida, U.S. (See aerial views of points of interest.) |
Coordinates | 28.79295°N 81.32965°W / 28.79295; -81.32965 (The Retreat at Twin Lakes Community in Sanford, Florida) |
Type | Homicide by shooting |
Participants | George Zimmerman (shooter) |
Deaths | Trayvon Martin |
Non-fatal injuries | Fractured nose, lacerations to the back of the head. (Zimmerman) |
Charges | Second-degree murder,[1] lesser included offense of manslaughter.[1] |
Trial | Florida v. Zimmerman |
Verdict | Not guilty |
Zimmerman, a 28-year-old multiracial man who identifies as Hispanic,[Note 1] was a neighborhood watch coordinator for the gated community where Martin was visiting relatives at the time of the shooting.[3][4][5] Zimmerman became suspicious of Martin and called police; Zimmerman attacked Martin and then shot him with a pistol he was licensed to carry.
In a widely reported trial, Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder for Martin's death, but acquitted by the jury after claiming self-defense, although Martin had no weapon. The incident was reviewed by the Department of Justice for potential civil rights violations, but no additional charges were filed.