As officials from the U.S. Justice Department were to meet today with the family of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old black youth who was unarmed when he was shot by a neighborhood watch volunteer in Sanford last month, Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee Jr. announced this afternoon he would resign “temporarily.”
“My role as the leader of this agency has become a distraction from the investigation,” Lee said in a statement. “It is apparent that my involvement in this matter is overshadowing the process. Therefore, I have come to the decision that I must temporarily relieve myself from the position as police chief for the city of Sanford.” On Wednesday, the Sanford City Commission held a 3-2 vote of no confidence in Lee, who’s been on the job 10 months. The vote is the first step in what could lead to Lee’s ouster, though the commission can’t itself do the firing. Only the city manager, Norton Bonaparte Jr., hires and fires city staff.
“I do this in the hopes of restoring some semblance of calm to a city which has been in turmoil for several weeks,” Lee continued in his statement, released to the press and carried by the Orlando Sentinel.
Trayvon’s shooter, George Zimmerman, said he was acting in self defense when he killed the 17 year old, even though Trayvon was running away from Zimmerman. Only a can of iced tea and a bag of Skittles were found on Trayvon. Zimmerman has not been charged.
The absence of charges and the manner of Trayvon’s shooting have raised a national firestorm, drawing attention to Florida’s 2005 Stand Your Ground law, signed by then-Gov. Jeb Bush, which gives individuals the right to shoot an assailant without retreating, whether it would be reasonable to do so or not, and whether individuals feeling threatened are in their home, in their car, on the street, in a bar or in many other settings, provided it’s a matter of self-defense.
Zimmerman’s 911 Call[media id=274 width=250 height=250]
The Department of Justice opened an investigation of the shooting on Monday. The State Attorney in Seminole County is convening a grand jury that might bring charges against Zimmerman, overriding the Sanford police’s refusal to bring charges.
U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, whose district includes part of Seminole County and Sanford, said this week she has more faith in the Justice Department than Florida authorities to investigate the case.
On Wednesday, black Florida lawmakers called on Gov. Rick Scott to appoint a special prosecutor to oversee the investigation of Trayvon’s death.
Martin’s family has maintained all along that Zimmerman should be charged, and state Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, agreed, saying that if Martin had been white and Zimmerman black, Zimmerman would have been arrested by now.
Siplin said Seminole County State Attorney Norm Wolfinger, who said this week that a grand jury will review evidence in the case, should step aside because he regularly deals with the local sheriff.
“We’re not contesting the veracity of the current prosecutor, but…he has a relationship with the sheriff’s department, the police department and the city of Sanford, and we think he should step down,” Siplin said.
Siplin also announced a senatorial fact-finding mission to Sanford. He said he will be joined by two other black senators, Sen. Oscar Braynon, D-Miami Gardens, whose district includes the home of Martin’s mother, and Sen. Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale, who will be the Senate Democratic leader next year, along with three white Republicans: Sens. Joe Negron of Stuart, Lizbeth Benacquisto of Fort Myers and Ronda Storms of Valrico. The group will examine the status of African Americans in Sanford within the next month, Siplin said.
Neighbor’s 911 Call as Trayvon Screams and Is Shot[media id=273 width=250 height=250]
Siplin, who is leaving the Senate in November because of term limits, alleged that in Sanford, whites and blacks are not treated equally by law enforcement.
“The police [have] a history of stopping black folks and taking their fingerprints, or searching their cars without permission. You either let them take your fingerprints, or they threaten to take you to jail,” said Siplin.
The Seminole County State Attorney’s Office and the Sanford Police Department did not immediately return calls for comment.
Braynon said he believed the Stand Your Ground law had “empowered people to become vigilantes.”
Although Florida has been at the forefront of many gun-friendly laws passed to accommodate National Rifle Association lobbying despite opposition, especially from law enforcement, some 21 states have versions of the Stand Your Ground law.
Earlier this month in Flagler Beach, 67-year-old Paul Miller shot his neighbor, Dana Mulhall, five times, four times as Mulhall was running away, even though Mulhall was unarmed and standing in his own yard, on the other side of a fence separating the two neighbors. Mulhall had complained to Miller about Miller’s barking dogs. Miller had gone into his house to retrieve the gun during a lull and returned outside to sit on his porch. When Mulhall reappeared and the argument resumed, Miller shot Mulhall. Miller was charged with second-degree murder and is in the Flagler County jail.
Meanwhile, Rep. Perry Thurston, D-Plantation, sent a letter to House Speaker Dean Cannon, requesting that a select committee be formed to review the self defense law.
“While no action of any governmental entity can restore the life of Trayvon Martin, I believe it is imperative that the Florida Legislature take this matter seriously and action be taken to prevent future tragedies of this kind,” Thurston wrote.
Zimmerman, 28, is a criminal justice major who patrols streets as a crime-watch volunteer. He’d called 911 some 46 times in 14 months to report suspicious persons. He called in about Trayvon, calling him suspicious, too. “These ass holes, they always get away,” Zimmerman, who is Hispanic, told the dispatcher. The 911 dispatcher told him to not get out of his car because police were on their way. Zimmerman was already out of his car and began arguing with Trayvon. Sanford police said there was no evidence contradicting Zimmerman’s account. Trayvon’s parents, and screaming heard in a 911 call from a resident who heard the shooting, cast doubt on Zimmerman’s account.
Scott was asked about the law at a press conference Tuesday. “Any time we see something like that we have to review and make sure we’re not giving people the opportunity to use the law unfairly,” he said. “You want to do everything you can to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
–FlaglerLive and the News Service of Florida
Angela Smith via Facebook says
WHY is the resignation “temporary”?
Ted Bowman via Facebook says
What the hell is a temporary resignation ???????
Anonymous says
A paid vacation.
Johnny Taxpayer says
Nobody really knows what happened here, but what I do find disturbing is the reporting of this case. This article isn’t as biased as many of the others I’ve read, but still includes some assumptions and inferences that are being reported as “facts”. For example;
“Trayvon’s shooter, George Zimmerman, said he was acting in self defense when he killed the 17 year old, even though Trayvon was running away from Zimmerman” What evidence is there that Trayvon was running away from Zimmerman? In fact Zimmerman claims just the opposite, and the 911 calls from people in the neighborhood, nobody even mentions a “chase”.
“The 911 dispatcher told him to not get out of his car because police were on their way” a) It wasn’t a 911 dispatcher, it was the non-emergency line operator, and b) the operator did not tell Zimmerman not to get out of his car, he asked if Zimmerman was following him, he replied yes, and the operator said “We don’t need you to do that”.
“Zimmerman, 28, is a criminal justice major who patrols streets as a crime-watch volunteer” He is. However he wasn’t on a “crime watch” patrol during when this happened, he was actually returning home after running an errand when he noticed the victim and called the non-emergency police line.
“screaming heard in a 911 call from a resident who heard the shooting, cast doubt on Zimmerman’s account” I’ve listened to all the 911 calls, (which are available on the NYT’s site) none of them in my opinion cast doubt on Zimmerman’s story, and in fact the “Help screams” have been attributed to both Zimmerman and the victim.
And the most inaccurate reporting, which I give this site credit for not repeating, is that Zimmerman called the police and said there was a suspicious BLACK guy in his neighborhood. That’s simply not true. All one has to do is listen to the recording, Zimmerman describes a Suspicious Guy, and the operator asks “Is he white, black, or Hispanic?” Zimmerman then takes a second and responds to the operators question that he’s black.
Anon says
This guy sounds like an apologist for Zimmerman.
Anonymous says
President Obama please start creating jobs to put people back to work they have to much time on their hands.
Rebecca Fiedler OShane via Facebook says
BS….Temporarily resigned and should be thrown in jail in a cell right next to Zimmerman, that is if they ever arrest that scum
B. Claire says
Thank you Gov. Jeb Bush and 20 other NRA bought and paid for Conservative states that brought this senseless death and destruction to our doorstep.
In FL alone, after “Stand your Ground” was passed in 2005, the number of “justifiable” deaths has almost tripled to an average of 35 a year, an increase of 283% from 2005-2010.
Look no further than Paul Miller, who shot [in the back] and killed unarmed Dana Mulhall in Flagler Beach just last Wednesday…in ‘self-defense.’
What a mess right-wing NRA extremists have made of our country…and they’re proud of it! It’s my 2nd Amendment right! You really think this is what the founding fathers had in mind?
Even though it took the horrible 911 tape of an innocent 17-year old kid breathing his last breath at the hands of a racist murderer, on tape…thank God the previously silent sane have finally awakened to say ENOUGH!
Michael Stavris via Facebook says
Innocent till proven guilty
Anonymous says
Tell that to Trayvon Martin.
Angela Smith via Facebook says
@Michael Stavris: Yes, Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty, but the fact remains that he took a human life under what can best be described as “questionable” circumstances. BTW, where the hell IS Zimmerman?
Eileen G. Miller via Facebook says
Temporarily probably means he will get paid while taking a vacation at some unknown place cause he knows he is wrong..!!! Him and Zimmerman having drinks somewhere
Outsider says
First of all, the author is wrong when he/she states you can carry a concealed firearm into a bar; that is false. B. Claire, you talk in circles in your comments. You complain that the number of “justifiable” deaths have tripled since the law was enacted, and in the next breath you cite the Paul Miller case. By all accounts, the Paul Miller case was not a case of justifiable use of deadly force. The Martin case was apparently not a justifiable case either. The law specifically states that you can’t be the aggressor and then shoot someone when they get the best of you. Claiming the stand your ground laws caused these murders is like saying allowing people to have drivers’ licenses causes drunk driving deaths. It’s the abuse of the priveleges that lead to the deaths. You obviously have never read Florida statute 790. If you did, you would know that neither of these cases appear to be examples of justifiable use of force. And you consider yourself sane with your apparent belief that if someone is attacked, whether it be in your home, car, or in the Wal-Mart parking lot, it should be the victim’s duty to retreat? It sounds like you should be living in New York, where the crime victims have fewer rights than the criminals.
Anita says
@Outsider:
Do you want to compare 5.1 deaths per 100,000 in New York vs. 11.1 deaths per 100,000 in Florida? Go ahead, Google it, but meanwhile I’ll take New York odds any day.
[email protected] says
Stand your Ground was the most idiotic law pased in the state by our intelligent polliticians. The way i see it this law encourages people to pull the trigger any place knowing that they are protected. I believe the only place you should not have to retreat is in your house or on our property.
Chuck says
So what you are saying is innocent people who are attacked, raped, or robbed by criminals have no right to defend theirselves. They should “try” to get away. That’s BS. If you or your family were hurt, I bet you would change your mind. Sometimes criminals don’t let you have the chance to “retreat.
Layla says
@B Claire: Senseless death and destruction? I believe this is a law enforcement issue, NOT a political issue.
Try taking part in your own government and see if things don’t improve.
GoodFella says
Why is this getting national attention? Is it only because the 17 year old was black? I did not hear enough from the 911 tape to make a judgement call on who was yelling for help. Was it Trayvon, George, or a bystander that was watching this unfold? And does anyone have a up to date pic of Trayvon, this one with the hollister shirt looks like it was taken years back? Is this just a ploy to make him look younger for the media outlets? Lets get one with the hoodie on and most likely the sagging pants like all the other 17yr olds out there. In my opinion there are way bigger issues for the black community to get outraged over. Lets start a march over gas prices, the bailouts, corporate greed, food prices… Oh wait, thats not a “so called” black race issue to get worked up over.
The black Fla lawmakers got together to call on the Gov. to appoint a new prosecutor for the case. Why only the black lawmakers, because they have turned it into a race issue! You can clearly see this from Gary Siplins comments. The Sanford Police have a history of stopping black people, is not the city mostly black? Stop hiding behind your skin color! Alot of people are tired of it, you are not owed anything.
Anonymous says
Wow! Are you a neighborhood watch captain??? If you are, the people in your jurisdiction are safe- some of them at least!
Outsider says
@wsh302: So if you’re in your car stopped at a red light, and someone opens your front door and demands you give them your car, should you not be able to protect yourself, and possibly your family in the back seat? Should you simply give the perp the keys and say, “Enjoy your new car, and my wife as well?” The only problem with the stand your ground law is that people don’t read and understand it.
Amanda says
I think this has turned from a case of mourning a child’s death to pulling the race card. This is absolutely ridiculous and needs to stop. Caucasian folks don’t march and start these gatherings when an African American gangster kills an innocent Caucasian victim. But after this, they absolutely should. This was wrong place, wrong time for the child and his parents are the one to blame. Know where your child is at!!!!
Anonymous says
The kid was going to the store! The parents knew that! I bet if one was able to ask Trayvon- he might say Zimmerman was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Or, he possibly would have said simply Zimmerman was just wrong completely! This is Ridiculous and we disagree.
Anon says
Well Amanda , when Black people say are beaten, shot, arrested, jailed, prosecuted and even receive the ultimate and then claim it is a race based action many such as you claim Blacks are playing the race card.
When a Black person is charged with committing a crime against a white person they don’t go home and hide, they usually don’t get out of jail. The trial is just a formality, the only question is home much jail time is handed out.
Blacks can’t be guilty of playing the race card, Blacks don’t deal the cards, Blacks only play the hand that is dealt by the oppressor.
Ab says
This is a horrible tragedy and my thoughts and prayers with with this young mans family in their time of great loss. But I have to say, this whole thing has turned into a complete circus. I think this man should be prosecuted and charged for this young mans murder of course, but at the same time, would this be different if it was a white boy that had been murdered? The race card is being pulled in every direction. The black panthers and NAACP are being brought in, and marches going on. If this was a white child and a white organization was brought it would be blasted and ridiculed. If a black man killed a white boy it would not be drawn out like this. It’s sad to me that is no longer the mourning of a childs death, but a whole race issue. Yes racism is a pressing issue still today, but COME ON!
B. Claire says
“Caucasian folks don’t march and start these gatherings when an African American gangster kills an innocent Caucasian victim.”
“This was wrong place, wrong time for the child and HIS PARENTS ARE THE ONE TO BLAME Know where your child is at!!!!
…two of the singularly most unaware statements E V E R.
Ab says
I do not think they are unaware at all! Supervise your children!!!!!!! It is TRUE! People need to take the blindfolds off realize what type of world we are living in now. A lot of situations can be AVOIDED.
Anonymous says
@ Amanda: I think they knew he was going to the store to get some iced tea and candy. You certainly should be able to do that without an escort.
Suspect says
I’m a 33 year old male with a Master’s degree working in a professinal setting. The color of my skin is something that I can’t change nor do I want to to change. I have been the “suspect” becuase i fit the description. The description is vauge and oftentimes are attached to color and clothing. Outside of work, i rarely dress as confortable as I want to dress, because those clothes are normally associated with negative stereotypes towards black males. I discovered that if i dressed differently, i would be treated differently. I ‘ve explained this to friends and family as well as young men that I mentor and work with. It may be hard for those who have never been discrimination against to understand the cries and outrage of those who have had that unfortunate experience. I am not Trayvon, I am not his parents, but I am a person who has been the suspect and too often its allowed to be the norm based a vague description of color and clothing.
Ab says
I am a woman working in a professional setting. I am talked down to by men on a daily basis. It is not just race. It is gender, weight, etc. You learn to deal with it and move on.
Anonymous says
Ab: you learn to deal with it and move on if someone doesn’t murder you. Otherwise , you are dead! The math is simple and what you state does not add up!
Tell all kids not to carry a gun when they are neighborhood watch psychos. To think if Zimmerman’s parents directed him properly, this shooting/ murder would not be a part of our society today!
Ab says
What I state does not add up? Why is EVERYTHING blamed on race? It is ridiculous. The media is the first one to blame when it comes to this. And I face hate because of my gender on a daily basis. Anyone could be murdered. Crazy people carry guns all over the world. This whole story is blown so out of proportion. The man is not arrested and charged because right now he has a law protecting him under the investigation has been completed.
palmcoaster says
Caucasian folks don’t need to march and start gatherings when an African American criminal kills an innocent Caucasian victim, because justice is immediately served and the perpetrator goes to jail/prison from the start, as soon as is caught. When have anyone seeing an accused black killer let go from jail after a crime committed until the hearing, court or trial date?
I never seeing America affected by so much racial divide issues in the last 55 years, as has been since 2008 that President Obama was elected and this is the real shame. Have anyone noticed the disrespectful caricatures and the all out war against Latinos as well? Is not only this innocent 17 year old murdered, is all that preceeded it. I sure hope we didn’t need marches/gatherings for our rights. But lately and unfortunately the law is in the eye of the beholder and not on the scale of Justice. Otherwise look around us, what is taking place lately.
Sha Hood says
This should not become a race isssue but a life issue. The boy was unarmed. Bottomline, Zimmerman is innocent until proven guilty but the tragedy remains an innocent life was taken. No matter what color he was nobody deserves this.
Chuck says
You don’t need to be “armed” to kill someone by bashing their head into the ground.
Outsider says
I agree with you palmcoaster; this nation has become more divided since Obama was elected, and it is because of his actions, not because our country is a bunch of racists. He is constantly pitting one group of Americans against another, usually for his own political benefit. In talking about illegal immigration policy, he spoke of “punishing your enemies” in reference to those who had opinions different from his own. What other president has referred to fellow Americans as “enemies?” He is cynical and arrogant towards those with different viewpoints. We need a leader that recognizes he is supposed to be leading ALL Americans towards a better place. He is only concerned with himself, which is why he will lose badly in November.
Anonymous says
Outsider: you could be incorrect! Palm Coaster: There have been marches and rallies well beyond a century in this country. Protest openly and in public is what won our mothers and daughters the right to vote. I am white and I rallied in Sanford yesterday for justice, not for my skin color.
Nancy N. says
Wait a minute….Rush Limbaugh calls a college student a slut on national media for disagreeing with him on a public policy issue and you think the PRESIDENT is the one being divisive? The far right that dominates the Republican party, through their mouthpieces on Fox News and conservative talk radio, spew vile invectives against anyone that they even imagine disagrees with their agenda on a daily basis. It’s sickening, and I’m tired of listening to that party’s so-called leaders “lead” by tearing people down for not being what they consider morally correct.
Helene says
Ab and the rest of the posters who don’t think the race card should be used – Are you kidding me??!! If the roles were reversed – that is, if the kid was white and the “neighborhood watchman” was a black man – the black man would have been arrested and thrown in jail on the spot! And fyi, I am as as lily white as it gets. Before you post you should actually read ALL the facts. The father of the boy knew exactly where his son went – up to the corner store to buy some snacks. This was the boy’s neighborhood!
Chuck says
He was at his fathers fiancé’s house.
Ab says
No, actually, I am serious. And thank you, I did read all the facts. I know that my parents would have never let me wonder any street alone. Have you seen the world we are living in now!?!?! I am not saying that him not being charged is right whatsoever, but this is a PENDING investigation. And how do you know that the racism card shouldn’t be pulled? Is it that there has NEVER been a case like this with the races reversed? Or because you’ve never heard about one because the MEDIA hasn’t blown it up like this!?!??! The media is building this up because of the attention and reactions they KNEW they would get. A law right now is protecting him until the police can gather all their facts. It is how our system works.
Nancy N. says
Ab, are you actually trying to claim that when you were 17 – old enough to have both a driver’s license and a job – that your parents never let you leave the house by yourself to even walk to the corner store? C’mon, that’s stretching believability a bit there.
Come on says
There was another victim viciously murdered. Dana Mulhall. Where is the outrage over his death? Where are the follow- up stories? Where are the marches? Where is the support for justice from the President on this case? Not one word… Dana was white.
Anonymous says
I am also outraged with the death of Dana. The circumstances are somewhat different and somewhat the same. The one factor to consider in Flagler Bch. is there was an ongoing situation between the two men. Another point, Zimmerman called the law before he took the life of Martin- and Zimmerman was directed by the operator to not follow chase. Paul Miller called the law after he murdered someone. In Sanford, the victim was shot by a over zealous lunatic and so is the case in Flagler. The one stark difference is that it took one additional day to investigate Dana’s murder and Paul Miller was arrested and kept with no bond. In Sanford, there has been no arrest after an entire month or so. I believe if there was no arrest in Flagler- there would be a different response from the public. The follow-up in Flagler is that there will be a trial and I am guessing that there will be coverage of that and , hopefully, a conviction. Hopefully, there will be an arrrest and conviction in Sanford as well. Peace.
farmer says
The New YOrk scenario is that those police are patting done suspicous persons and they are usually minorites and alot of them are armed. So NY is now one of the safer places. We can’t always feel that fairness is only for theminoritys. What about O. J. Simpson and the gloating over that.
palmcoaster says
@Outsider…you only agree with my statement, but we both totally differ on the reasons of our current sad racial status quo…The reasons are the extreme conservationist aggressive rhetoric started by Sara Palin and follow suit by all the others in the extreme right, specially the Tea Party like in AZ, etc, that fuel enough hatred to incite acts like the one against Gaby Gifford and those 6 innocent victims in Tucson. Comments like, of that target shooting woman yesterday to Santorum while visiting that shooting range, about him should think aiming to our President..if that comment was made under Bush she will be in jail today, over terrorists suggestions against our Commander in Chief (why isn’t’ she?)….and many others hateful rhetoric that just makes me sick to recall. The first black president was elected and racism was revived and spread like wildfire while, Obama using his most respectful and cordial good will, wasted two years trying to reel support from those same extreme conservatives that had only one agenda…having him be a one term President only. The same ones lately attacking women as well… Never mind to create jobs or fix our economy…For them contraceptives and their conservative intrusive agenda in women’s private parts are first. Where is the logic?
@Come on. Dana’s murderer was jailed for good two days after we raised HH! The 17 years old was killed in February and the felon is still out of jail given miss handling of justice. You expect the Executive branch to call on every crime committed in our nation even when justice served?
@Anonymous I am with you and thank you for your presence at that or any other rally preserving citizens rights. Like I say, if we do nothing, nothing will improve. Maybe I didn’t express myself or was misunderstood regarding the issue. Outsider, unsuccessfully, tried to twist my words regarding my conviction about extreme right inflammatory rhetoric that incites open prejudice since 2008. Never originated by our President words or actions…to the contrary I never seeing a man invested/gifted with such a high sense of class and risponsability, quietly enduring and ignoring these most vicious attacks.
May God protect him and watch over him and his family, while serving us on his terms.
Anonymous says
I don’t believe that racism was revived in 2008. As the responsible and educated a society as we are, we are expected to make decisions and practice the protection of everyone’s freedom. I hear all the rhetoric from the right, the left, the up, the down, and, I know how I am expected to operate within our society. Unfortunately, in my view, racism is a monster of itself and not a single group or person is responsible for racism. Each and every are responsible to carry ourselves with dignity and respect for our fellow persons. I don’t feel racism ever died enough to a level that one could call it revived. It is simply been a sad constant throughout humanity.
David says
If you are not the aggressor, and in fear of being attacked or harmed. You have the right to protect and defend yourself to whatever it takes to do so. It doesn’t matter where you are. The ” Stand your Ground Law” is meant for protection for law abiding citizens.
I. M. Agoste says
So, then what you’re saying is that Trayvon should have been carrying a gun to protect himself from an armed, overly zealous wanna-be cop? Am I right? Because all Trayvon was doing was “Walking While Black”, carrying nothing lethal, just candy and a drink. Zimmerman is a MURDERER and he’s going to get off scot-free because of the “Stand Your Ground (Only If You’re White)” law.
It’s a law that defends Open Season on Minorities.
Outsider says
Sorry palmcoaster, but I honestly have no idea what you’re talking about.
JOHN R. says
I would like to see more objective reporting on this case. First of all. I would like to see a more current photo of Trayvon Martin. It is my understanding that he was six feet three inches tall, not the thin faced person we see daily. Secondly,” Stand Your Ground” does not apply. This a case . where the defense seems to be self defense. Mr. Zimmerman sustained a number of injuries, including a broken nose. Let’s wait for all of the facts to come.out. Remember he is innocent until proven guilty. Let’s not rush to judgment.
I. M. Agoste says
Mr Zimmerman knows he murdered a kid, a kid that was no personal threat to him. He went looking for an excuse to use his gun even though the police told him NOT to pursue the kid. Neighborhood watchman, eh? More like a useless, obese turd looking to bolster his pathetic manhood by killing a “coon”. His word, not mine. I hope the shooting haunts him and forces him to become a Cain (because no community will allow him entrance) for the rest of his days.
As for the “Stand Your Ground” law, it should be gotten rid of. Floridians are scared of their own shadows — the death of a 17 yr old is proof of that.