Logging Tape Is Key In Shooting Death

Telephone call logging tapes have been released by the Sanford (Fla.) police department in the aftermath of a fatal shooting of a 17 year-old by a neighborhood watch captain, helping piece together the sequence of events. There was immediate criticism after the Feb. 26th shooting that George Zimmerman should not have continued to follow Trayvon Martin after dialing 911 to report him as suspicious. Some critics of Zimmerman say the 911 dispatcher told him not to follow Martin. However, the logging tape shows the dispatcher’s statements were less definitive. Zimmerman says there was a confrontation with the youth, there was a scuffle and that he shot Martin in self-defense. Zimmerman has not been arrested or charged. Criticism of police inaction mounted until Friday, when police released the tape of Zimmerman’s call. During the call, a dispatcher asked Zimmerman if he was following the person, and then told him, “We don’t need you to do that.” However, Zimmerman continued to drive along following Martin, and eventually the fatal confrontation occurred. Several citizens dialed 911 to report the incident, and one call captured the sound of a gunshot and yells for help. The incident has sparked tension in the town of 55,000 residents north of Orlando, and calls for a federal investigation. Listen to the logging tapes here to determine if the dispatcher’s statements were definitive enough, and read more about the incident here.