Charges Coming in Trayvon Martin Death

A law enforcement official says that charges are being filed in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. The official with knowledge of the investigation says a prosecutor will announce charges against George Zimmerman on Wednesday night.

Published

about 1 year ago

Categories

US

Topics

United States

People

Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman

Places

Florida

Companies

Australian Associated Press Pty Limited

Tags

neighborhood watch, shooting

Transcript

Script[Location - Date:file][Source:AP/handout police surveillance video][VO:][VOICE-OVER]TRACK#1 CHARGES ARE EXPECTED TO BE FILED IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF TRAYVON MARTIN. A PERSON WITH KNOWLEDGE OF THE INVESTIGATION SAYS A PROSECUTOR WILL ANNOUNCE CHARGES AGAINST GEORGE ZIMMERMAN WEDNESDAY. THE OFFICIAL DIDN'T KNOW THE CHARGE AND SPOKE ON THE CONDITION OF ANONYMITY BECAUSE HE WASN'T AUTHORIZED TO RELEASE THE INFORMATION. ZIMMERMAN IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING MARTIN AFTER FOLLOWING THE 17-YEAR-OLD IN A GATED COMMUNITY OUTSIDE ORLAND. ZIMMERMAN SAID THE TEEN ATTACKED HIM... AND THAT HE SHOT THE UNARMED TEEN DURING THE FIGHT. ZIMMERMAN WASN'T ARRESTED AFTER THE FEBRUARY 26TH SHOOTING IN PART BECAUSE OF FLORIDA'S "STAND YOUR GROUND" SELF-DEFENSE LAW. THAT LED TO PROTESTS ACROSS THE NATION AND SPURRED A DEBATE ABOUT RACE AND THE LAWS OF SELF-DEFENSE. ZIMMERMAN'S FATHER IS WHITE AND HIS MOTHER IS HISPANIC. MARTIN WAS BLACK.[SIGOUT/REPORTER, LOCATION, ASSOCIATED PRESS]