George Zimmerman gave his first public interview to the Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity tonight since being arrested for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.
Zimmerman said he joined his neighborhood watch group to keep his wife safe after break-ins. He said he carried a gun at all times.
https://twitter.com/jabriella/status/225757863853830144
Zimmerman hasn’t had time to reflect on the tragedy, other than to pray for Martin’s family.
RT @MichaelSkolnik: George Zimmerman looking back on shooting: “I haven’t really had the time to reflect on it… tragic situation."
— cande313 (@Cande313) July 19, 2012
ZImmerman says he prays daily for Trayvon's parents: George Zimmerman says he prays daily for the parents of 17-… http://t.co/SVNhC8vK
— World in a NutShell (@IndiNews) July 19, 2012
Zimmerman says he said “punks” not “fucking coons,” as some media outlets suggested.
#Zimmerman said he didn't say the word 'coons' he said 'punks'. Zimmerman said it was clear to him when the cops played it back to him
— Brother Nyght (@wondermann5) July 19, 2012
Zimmerman said he saw Martin and approached him, saying he looked suspicious.
RT @MichaelSkolnik: George Zimmerman looking back on shooting: “I haven’t really had the time to reflect on it… tragic situation."
— cande313 (@Cande313) July 19, 2012
https://twitter.com/Luke_FLYtalker/status/225761172576681984
Zimmerman reached for his phone to call 911, when he says Martin attacked him.
https://twitter.com/OhYeaImRARE/status/225761340285935616
https://twitter.com/OneProudWhite/status/225761301782212608
Zimmerman: "As soon as he broke my nose, I started yelling for help…starting slamming head into the concrete."
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) July 19, 2012
Zimmerman: I didn't know what was going to happen when Martin was slamming my head into the concrete. #hannity #Fox35
— Sonni Abatta (@SonniAbatta) July 19, 2012
When he got through to 911, Zimmerman said it was his voice, not Martin’s.
#Zimmerman says it was "absolutely" his voice screaming on the tape.
— Dan Abrams (@danabrams) July 19, 2012
Zimmerman said he wants people to know that he’s neither a racist nor a murderer, but Martin tried to kill him.
Holy shit Trayvon Martin tried to kill George Zimmerman
— Adam Spier (@Spier215) July 19, 2012
After Zimmerman fired the gun, he says Martin sat up and said something to the effect, “you got me,” at which point Zimmerman got up out from under Martin. He does not regret carrying a gun or being there. He feels the incident and his being there was all part of God’s plan.
Zimmerman does not regret getting out of the car or carrying a gun. Says there is NOTHING he was do differently: "It was all God's plan"
— ThinkProgress (@thinkprogress) July 19, 2012
“I’m sorry that [Martin’s parents] buried their child, and I pray for them daily,” Zimmerman said.
On the second-degree murder charges and whether justice will be served:
“It’s a finite situation where I’ve been placed in and I have no choice but to be confident in the system,” Zimmerman said.
Asked whether he knew he had discharged his firearm, Zimmerman said, “Yes, I thought the police would be coming, and I was terrified they would shoot me.”
He noticed Martin was hurt but wasn’t sure how bad.
"Hannity: Did you look over at Trayvon and realize he was in really bad shape?" Zimmerman: "No sir."
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) July 19, 2012
He said it was within 15-30 seconds of the end of the altercation that the police came.
To clear his name, Zimmerman said he’s been offered nothing to do the interview with Hannity: “I don’t like the way [the media] has rushed to judgement the way they have.”
https://twitter.com/viewofadam/status/225766429050408960
On the bounty put on his head by the New Black Panther Party, Zimmerman said he fears for his life.
https://twitter.com/viewofadam/status/225766429050408960
Zimmerman had a message for critics like Al Sharpton who rushed to judge him.
https://twitter.com/JDCooper17/status/225768750325051392
Regarding Witness No. 9, suggesting that Zimmerman and his family had racist views and that he had molested her for years as a child, Zimmerman said it’s ironic.
#Zimmerman denies he is racist and "ironic" that witness 9 was only one to say he's "racist" and sort of denies molestation but not directly
— Dan Abrams (@danabrams) July 19, 2012
Mark O’Mara, Zimmerman’s attorney, said he has yet to see evidence that suggests the case is worthy of a second-degree murder charge, and that Florida’s Stand Your Ground law was applicable in this incident.
#Zimmerman attorney Mark O'Mara on Fox: Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law is applicable in Trayvon Martin shooting case.
— Russell Lewis (@rdlewis) July 19, 2012
Zimmerman: "I think people assumed I was white, because of my last name…English was my second language."
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) July 19, 2012
Zimmerman said he called police at least four times before the Martin incident, about black male suspects.
“I never volunteered that information, I described it at their request,” Zimmerman said. He also made calls about Hispanic and white kids in his neighborhood.
At the end of the interview, Zimmerman gave an expanded answer to Hannity’s question, asking whether Zimmerman would have done anything differently, looking back at that fateful day now:
“I do wish there was something, anything that I could have done, that wouldn’t have put me in a position that I had to take his life,” Zimmerman said. “I’m sorry that this happened. I hate to think that because of my actions it’s polarized and divided America. I’m truly sorry.”
Zimmerman changes his tune at the end: "I hate to think that my actions have polarized America and I am truly sorry."
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) July 19, 2012
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