Killing of Trayvon Martin
On the evening of February 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, United States, George Zimmerman fatally shot Trayvon Martin, a 17-year-old African-American.
Map of Sanford, Florida | |
| Date | February 26, 2012 |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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, lesser included offense of manslaughter. |
| Trial | Florida v. Zimmerman |
| Verdict | Not guilty |
Zimmerman, a 28-year-old Hispanic man, was a neighborhood watch coordinator for the gated community where Martin was visiting relatives at the time of the shooting. Zimmerman became suspicious of Martin and called police; Zimmerman was injured during a physical altercation between the two and shot Martin with a pistol he was licensed to carry.
In a widely reported trial, Zimmerman was charged with murder of the second degree for Martin's death, but acquitted by the jury after claiming self-defense. The incident was reviewed by the Department of Justice for potential civil rights violations, but no additional charges were filed.