Shooting mystery: Miami-Dade teen killed by a crime watch captain

Yeah, you pretty much can. Just following or even confronting someone doesn't give them the right to attack you. If you're attacked, you have the right to defend yourself.

I also find it hard to believe that a 250 lb grown man was taken down and pummeled by a 140 lb kid. Even if he was you mean to tell me he couldn't get the kid off of him any way besides shooting him.

The guy had blood on the back of his head. Maybe the kid hit him with the bottle? There's so much we may not know.

You don't know shit about what truly happened and neither do I. That's my point. Let the process play out in the legal system. The Al Sharptons of the world need to stay the heck out. Remember Tawana Brawley? There appears to be an eyewitness to at least part of this encounter so let's see what that person saw and let the police collect the physical evidence. It sounds clearly like it's a more complex situation than is being portrayed in the media. We all want justice to be done. It remains to be seen what justice is at this point and attempts to try this in the media just make justice harder to determine.......

This is the problem right here. You have already tried and convicted this guy of murder when it's quite obvious you don't know all the facts. That's not only wrong but irresponsible.

There is no dispute that Zimmerman followed and cornered Trayvon. Zimmerman said as much to the police. This is a totaly different situation than Tawana Brawley. There was no evidence of any crime with her. There is in this case. Also, as far as Al Sharpton goes I agree he often is in it for only attention on himself. And that is coming from a black man. There is a joke in the black community that we have no idea how he became the voice of blacks. Nobody elected him. I look at Sharpton and Jackson much like unions. I can't stand them, but I realize sometimes the lesser of two evils has to win out.

However, just because they are involved does not mean that the incident is any more or less unjust. This case did not become a media sensation until after weeks of no movement on the case. Trayvon was on the phone with his girlfriend while the incident was taking place. The police had not even interviewed her three weeks after it happened. It was not until media pressure that they finally did. You are correct that there should not be a rush to judgement, but there has to be accountability on all involved in the situation to truly find out what happened.

CHL where I suggested?? We listened to the audio in my class.

Yes! Good class.

No one would have raised an eyebrow if Zimmerman had been black. No outrage, no media sideshow, no Sharpton, certainly no claims of racism. Just another black on black crime. Yawn.

When responsible African-Americans recognize the epidemic of black on black crime and take measures to curb it, I'll worry about the rare instances of white on black crime. Until then the chronic racist claims ring hollow. It seems to matter little as long as the killer isn't white. (or less white than the black victim)

That said, I am very sympathitic to the boy's mother and other family members who loved him, and want justice done.

Would this case get as much media attention if Zimmerman was black. The answer is no. Would it be because of racism no. There are cases of black on black crime that do get lots of media attention. Derrion Albert is a great example. Sharpton was involved there.

To say that blacks don't recognize black on black crime as a problem is just plain wrong. Every black community organization in America has limiting black on black crime as one of its main goals. There are countless gang provention programs throughout the black community. There are rallies, meetings, marches held all over the country that bring attention to black on black crime.

That's because they censor it.

When you have to strain to make things out you tend to hear what you are trying to hear. That is not always what is actually in the content. Even if he did mutter something offensive under his breath on the run; it's hardly actionable. If not advanced as an actual attack, it's just noise. Rude noise, no doubt, but not noise intended for any audience.

I said responsible blacks should recognize the epidemic "and take measures" to curb it. Setting the elimination of rampant black on black crime as a "goal" is a far cry from implementing the social changes needed to elevate the value of life as sacred. It's little more than politically correct lip service.

Citing a single incident of Rev. Al's involvement in the midst of rampant black on black murder is naive. He is an unrepentant racist and lives for the mercifully rare white on black crimes. He should be marginalized at least and ignored at best.

Its amazing how you chose to ignore the part where I mentioned measures such as gang provention programs that are put in place. Not to mention things like adult education programs, Boys and Girls clubs, after school programs, etc....

Also Al Sharpton has been involved in more than one case of black on black crime. I chose to mention a recent one that he was involved in that received lots of media attention. As far as my thoughts on the man himself, you should probably read back a few posts.

I didn't ignore what you wrote. I'm a bit old school. I believe the proof of the pudding is in the tasting. These programs mentioned are only as good as the number of people who subscribe to them. If one seriously believes they are effective, one need only do a little research to find out how little success is found in them. Black on black murders have escalated in recent times (over 30% in Chicago, 2010), they have not been reduced. Numbers don't lie, lofty goals on the other hand offer false hope in the absence of addressing the root causes. Fanning the flames of racism while turning a blind eye to the obvious is not a solution. It's a major part of the problem.

We will just have to disagree on the success of the current methods being employed.

I offer the traditional 2 parent home for blacks and whites alike as a great starting place. Find a "program" to fix that and you will have something of value. (imo)

I thought Zimmerman was 'white'? Looks hispanic to me.

I don't think the action by itself is illegal, and I said before I don't know the legal triggers for a hate crime, but if that's not one then I don't know what else you'd have to do. I suppose a swastika tattoo or previous registration in the Aryan Brotherhood wouldn't hurt, but that shouldn't be the minimum.

There are plenty that are subscribing to those programs. The problem is in low income black neighborhoods young kids see gangs as an easy way to make money, be protected, see it as an alternate family, etc... Those programs that are being offered do go toward the root causes of the problem. Lack of quality education, lack of two parent households, latch key kids, lack of opportunity, etc.. I can guarantee you that without those programs the problem would be much worse. I've seen them work personally with family members and friends. I have seen kids who went from being in juvenile hall one year to being straight A honor roll students on there way to college.

Me too.