George Zimmerman To Be Charged In Trayvon Martin Shooting: Report (UPDATE)

UPDATE: George Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, the special prosecutor for the case announced. He is currently being held in custody after turning himself in to authorities.

PREVIOUSLY: George Zimmerman will reportedly be charged in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, according to the Washington Post. NBC News confirms the report.

On Tuesday night, Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey told reporters that she would hold a news conference with an announcement on the case within 72 hours. According to a law enforcement official close to the investigation, Corey's office plans to announce that she is charging the neighborhood watch volunteer at a press conference Wednesday at 6 p.m., and an arrest is expected soon. It was not made clear what specific charges Zimmerman would face. ABC reports that investigators still don't know Zimmerman's whereabouts.

The news of the impending announcement came shortly after a bizarre press conference in which Zimmerman's lawyers said they no longer represent him, claiming he has repeatedly rebuffed their legal advice and that they had lost contact with him.

"As of now we are withdrawing as counsel for Mr. Zimmerman," Craig Sonner, one of his attorneys, told reporters outside the Seminole County Courthouse in Sanford, Fla. "He's gone on his own. I'm not sure what he's doing or who he's talking to, but at this point we're withdrawing as counsel. If he wants us to come back as counsel, he will contact us."

Protesters around the country have held rallies calling for Zimmerman's arrest, and a fringe group put a $10,000 bounty on his head, prompting him to go into hiding over concerns that he is in physical danger.

Although Sonner maintained that Zimmerman was "still in the United States," Hal Uhrig, another of Zimmerman's former attorneys, said that Zimmerman was not in the state where the fatal confrontation took place.

"You can stop looking in Florida," he told reporters. "Look much further away than that."

Zimmerman said he killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, on Feb. 26 in the gated community where the girlfriend of the teenager's father lived in Sanford. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, called 911 and told a police dispatcher that Martin, who was returning from a trip to a nearby convenience store, "looked suspicious." After an altercation, Zimmerman shot Martin in the chest. He told the local police that he shot Martin in self-defense, and was not arrested or charged.

Corey announced earlier this week that she would not convene a grand jury in the case. Experts familiar with Corey's background say she has a reputation for avoiding grand juries in cases in which they are unnecessary. Under Florida law, murder charges can only be issued by a grand jury. Zimmerman may face other charges in the shooting death, including manslaughter and assault.

Both of Zimmerman's former lawyers said they stood by their previous comments on the case and maintain that Zimmerman was acting in self-defense.

Loading Slideshow

• Trayvon Martin

  This family photo taken at age 12 was one of the first images used when Trayvon Martin's death made national news.

• Trayvon Martin

  This image of Trayvon was submitted to news outlets by the Martin family.

• Trayvon Martin

  The Martin family also shared this photo of Trayvon in a Pop Warner football jersey. According to <a href="http://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/03/16/the-cruel-fatethat-came-to-an-average-kid-trayvon-martin.html" target="_hplink">BET,</a> Trayvon had a passion for football basketball, baseball and horseback riding.

• Trayvon Martin

  This image of a young Trayvon Martin was also submitted by the Martin family and widely used in the media. As the story gained national attention, there was a push to find updated photos that accurately depicted the teen at the time of the killing.

• Trayvon Martin

  This photo of Trayvon in a hooded sweatshirt became <a href="http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/trayvon-martin-rally-in-north-amityville-1.3648463?qr=1" target="_hplink">a signature image</a> used in rallies across the nation. The hooded sweatshirt became a political symbol for Trayvon supporters who wanted to show solidarity. The Miami Heat <a href="http://www.thegrio.com/specials/trayvon-martin/miami-heat-players-pose-in-hoodies-to-support-trayvon-martin.php" target="_hplink">tweeted a photo of the team donning hooded sweatshirts</a> in support of the Martin family, and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/trayvon-martin-rep-bobby-rush-house-floor-hoodie_n_1385258.html" target="_hplink">Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) was thrown off the House floor</a> for wearing a hooded sweatshirt in the teen's honor.

• Trayvon Martin

  This photo was posted by <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2012/03/26/the-daily-caller-obtains-trayvon-martins-tweets/" target="_hplink">the Daily Caller</a> via Trayvon Martin's Twitter profile. Conservative bloggers used this photo and a series of the 17-year-old's tweets to build <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/29/white-supremacist-trayvon-martin-email_n_1389584.html">a smear campaign</a> against the teen. A much-circulated <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2012/03/27/when_in_doubt_smear_the_dead_kid.html" target="_hplink">photo</a> of a grimacing teen with his middle finger extended -- that many right-leaning sites suggested was the Trayvon Martin the "mainstream media" did not want the public to see -- was circulated on the white supremacist site <a href="http://stormfront.org" target="_hplink">stormfront.org</a>, in an attempt to portray Martin as a hoodlum.

• Trayvon Martin

  This photo has been widely used in an attempt to more accurately depict an older Trayvon Martin.

• George Zimmerman

  This photo of George Zimmerman at 28 was <a href="http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-03-23/news/os-trayvon-martin-george-zimmerman-job-20120323_1_robert-zimmerman-source-new-details" target="_hplink">obtained by the Orlando Sentinel</a> after one of Zimmerman's co-workers spoke to the newspaper and submitted the image. The unnamed co-worker told the newspaper that Zimmerman was an employee at the Maitland office of Digital Risk, LLC, a mortgage risk-management firm.

• George Zimmerman

  Taken in 2005 at age 22, this is Zimmerman's mug shot from Orange County (Fla.) Jail. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/09/george-zimmerman-trayvon-martin_n_1335984.html?1331340352" target="_hplink">He was arrested and charged</a> with resisting a police officer with violence and battery to a law enforcement officer.

• George Zimmerman

  This screenshot, of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/28/trayvon-martin-police-video_n_1386764.html" target="_hplink">a video obtained by ABC News</a>, shows Zimmerman at the Sanford Police Department the night of the fatal confrontation. In the video, Zimmerman shows minimal signs of scars and bruises, seemingly inconsistent with <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/26/trayvon-martin-case-georg_n_1381322.html?">his account</a> of his violent struggle with Trayvon Martin. ABC News later released an <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/04/02/trayvon-martin-case-enhan_n_1397022.html" target="_hplink">enhanced video</a> showing signs of injury on Zimmerman's head.

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Comments

[Jamico Bob]

06:53 AM on 05/16/2012

All you people that voice your opinion on this case are just babbling. Passing time. Mina birds that repeat what everyone says. "Your opinion does not matter". Showing your ignorance about the law.
Leave this matter to be handled through our court system. You people are not Jury or judge!

[blessed457100902]

08:57 AM on 05/16/2012

Isn't America great, you can bash folks for doing exactly what you just did go figure the pot calling the kettle black.

[Jamico Bob]

04:37 PM on 05/16/2012

God bless America.

[blessed457100902]

04:56 PM on 05/11/2012

Playing games now huh so called mode-raters

[concernaboutissue]

05:02 PM on 04/21/2012

how can that picture of Zimmerman be three minutes after the murder. When he walked into the police station he had a full head of hair he was not bald. Oh please tell me that the defendent is not going to use that picture as evidence...

[DynamicInfo]

12:39 PM on 05/16/2012

http://sweetness-light.com/archive/autopsy-travyon-martin-had-skinned-knuckles

[blessed457100902]

03:19 AM on 04/21/2012

Perhaps you should of took a moment to reflect on your “superstitious ignorance” diatribe you rendered when you made the outlandish and racist comment that AA/Blacks are attacking whites nationwide, you did say this foolishness didn’t you? Yet statically WHITE on WHITE crime is far more perverse than any crime your convoluted mind can suggest. Whites outnumber Blacks in this country so common sense tells you that crime against your own has to be greater than the lie you perpetrated.This is intended for chdevnull

[blessed457100902]

03:17 PM on 04/14/2012

I must give Jeb Bush some props. When asked about the SYG law which he signed he didn't hesitate saying that it didn't apply or support GZ period!
I also must give the current Gov. of my state props for assigning Corey because he could of done the political expedient white thing, duck and hide, he didn't, he stood tall and said GZ was not in the right for a SYG defence.
Can't stop the truth regardless of your color.

[blessed457100902]

07:24 AM on 04/14/2012

GZ now wishes to speak to the family. Yet when he was free, set free once again by his handlers, he had not made any attempt to do what he wishes now locked up. I wouldn't waste my breath on him.... take this phony pity part elsewhere....

[stillbarbi]

12:57 PM on 04/14/2012

I think it's a family thing. When Zimmerman's brother was asked if he wanted to say anything to the family, he couldn't bring himself to express and sympathy toward the family, or even say he was sorry they had lost their son. Piers Morgan gave him plenty of opportunity on his show, and all he did was defend his brother George.

[blessed457100902]

01:27 PM on 04/14/2012

The only reason why no remorse/sympathy could come forth is simply, and empty vessel-soul can't produce one thing! Any attempt by the Zimmerman's going forward to appear apologetic is just a roux and sham.I stopped watching that show that night because it was a disgrace. Trying to reach out now after the fact in my opinion is to little to late.thanks

[nolovelost]

03:19 PM on 05/07/2012

Your brother defends himself from a bigger and stronger guy and you want an apology? Not likely.

[wkingsolomon77]

02:50 PM on 04/14/2012

It does not matter he will be locked up for many years in an unsafe environment and would day the guard will turn his head and zimmerman will be?

[blessed457100902]

03:02 PM on 04/14/2012

He has brought it upon himself ,everyone he meets from henceforth behind bars will be "suspicious"...... he took what he surely will face 24/7 for the rest of his life to the wrong degree.......

[xrte385]

04:20 AM on 04/14/2012

Florida's "Stand Your Ground Law" is reminiscence of the Wild, Wild West. The "Stand Your Ground" Law should be repealed so it is not used as a defense in the future!

[blessed457100902]

02:38 PM on 04/14/2012

I'm for the stand your ground law but not in its current form that allows you to pursue someone. AA are lawful with guns just like any other race.

[negogato]

04:41 PM on 04/14/2012

AA are lawful with guns just like any other race.

___________________________________

AA - Sorry - what does that mean?

[jl13]

05:05 AM on 04/15/2012

Which part of the Florida law do you most disagree with?

[blessed457100902]

05:22 AM on 04/15/2012

I disagree with allowing folks to become the aggressor when in fact the situation has caused role reversal and you with the gun has shown the power to the other person without the gun.And I have trouble with this law outside your home. I think those of us who have conceal weapons permits should be qualified just like any police officer to handle a weapon because shooting in the public without training that bullet is heading for someone other than the intended target. Suppose Zimmerman missed and shot someone inside their home?I like the fact that I can protect my domain within the confines of my threshold at the door but outside of that, no.

[Jeffers Dodge]

02:29 AM on 04/14/2012

It took Corey long enough. But she finally did the right thing in charging Zimmerman. Zimmerman will be convicted. His self-defense story doesn't add up. He engaged in racial profiling. And racial profiling is against the law

[tuffian]

02:16 AM on 04/14/2012

THE BOTTOM LINE SHOULD BE THAT ZIMMERMAN STALKED AND MURDERED A KID, AGE 17 AND NOW ARE BOMBARDED WITH RACIST PROPAGANDA THAT TRAYVON WAS SOMEHOW GUILTY OD SOMETHING, NOT ZIMMERMAN. ZIMMERMAN'S TEARS ARE FOR HIMSELF ONLY. HE HAS NO REMORSE AND MAY HE BURN IN HELL FOREVER.

[Alisa Neely]

02:07 AM on 04/14/2012

imo, it should have been "1st DEGREE MURDER".....he was told by the 911 dispatcher to NOT follow and he went ahead and did so.......he was told to WAIT for the police.......and he did NOT follow orders....

QUESTION: aren't neighborhood watch cars supposed to be marked in some way?.....and are they allowed to be armed?.......just wondering.

alisa

[blessed457100902]

08:59 AM on 04/14/2012

Here in FL. the sheriff dept allows unarmed citizens who went through training to drive marked sheriff cars that denote "community watch" on them. They patrol outside gated communities because here in FL. its the local police if you have one or the state police who have authority behind the gates. The HOA- home owners assoc.have complete authority behind-gated communities ad town watch/night watch groups have to be certified by the local police or state to even form and then are told just like zimmerman was you CANNOT ever carry a weapon period of any kind on patrol, he did all the time and the night in question he was on his way to Target, he saw the young man, turned around his vehicle and finally got one of those ***holes who always get away, his words not mine!Spell checkResume Words: 139 | Characters: 771

[jl13]

05:09 AM on 04/15/2012

Well, the conditions for 1st degree have only been met in the minds of people who have imagined their own version of the events that led to the tragedy.

btw, a dispatcher can't order you to do anything and as far as we know Zimmerman did stop following Martin at that point. He certainly sounded like he stopped hustling after Martin. Where do you think Zimmerman was on the map when he got out of his car, where do you think he was when he was told to stop?

[blessed457100902]

05:37 AM on 04/15/2012

Zimmerman vehicle was 396ft away from where he killed Trayon and Trayvon was 70ft away from being safe. You tell me where was Z. Zimmerman was running-chasing after Trayvon the dispatcher heard him huffing and puffing even after he,Z, said okay and being told "we don't need you to do that"! He already had closed the distance on Trayvon by that time and what he didn't know trayvon was on the phone which is where Z is hung out to dry period! How can you be returning back when someone hears your voice on the other end of the phone? You tell me please.

[Turbothink]

02:00 AM on 04/14/2012

I wish you would STOP using that 5 year old picture of Trayvon Martin. WHY NOT the ones with all the tattoos and the middle finger up? Oh, I forgot the gold teeth, they really looked cool. Of course that would not make it look like someone shot an "innocent kid" which we know now he was not.

[MarkAntney]

03:32 AM on 04/14/2012

If you need a current photo, CONtact his family and ask if you can dig him up?

[anotherblkwomn]

10:54 PM on 04/18/2012

fanned

[mercedes1947]

06:10 AM on 04/14/2012

You're not lookin any too good in your photo either. Shave and a haircut, two bits.

[ds3inc]

01:25 AM on 04/14/2012

Well as usual here comes the mob right on time, why even have a trial for the guy...sounds like everyone has their small minds made up. Of course the media has been so truthful throughout this ordeal they have turned this into a scripted reality show all for ratings. The mob is a used and manipulated audience for the almighty dollar. So enjoy the hate big brother expects that of you.

[stape45]

01:42 AM on 04/14/2012

Sounds to me, like both sides of the argument have their minds made up, when one side knows no more than the other. So, there's really no way to justify pointing fingers.

[Dennisdread]

10:00 AM on 04/14/2012

Can we at least agree that the kid is dead then? Who knows, maybe he isn't. Right?

Sheesh!

[mercedes1947]

06:12 AM on 04/14/2012

Your patter sounds like cheap Raymond Chandler dialogue. Or Hammett: "The cheaper the crook the gaudier the patter."

[parris2189]

12:11 AM on 04/14/2012

Trayvon was an adult, he was no little kid. People his age are adults in the courts, he is almost 18. If he done some thing and went to jail, he would be an adult in court. No kid.

[alexandra23]

04:12 AM on 04/14/2012

Trayvon Martin had just turned 17 a few days before his murder. Under the Florida statutes, Martin was a minor. Look up the statute yourself.

[mercedes1947]

06:12 AM on 04/14/2012

And??

[parris2189]

12:04 AM on 04/14/2012

I have added, asking American's to help Zimmerman in any way you can. He need a attorney, other then a state appointed attorney. Black people have the black groups to finace all they need while walking and yelling, If any one is hurt from that black group, the martins should be charged.They tryed to hunt Zimmerman and went to the wrong house, a poor old woman lived there, and the black group now is offering her money. The police needs to put those people in jail, they was hunting Zimmerman to kill him, and he had to leave home, or else be murdered, Trayvons parents have these New Black Panther friends, and they have a reward out dead or alive for Zimmerman. America, if thay kill Zimmerman, we want tham charged first degree murder. The parents of Trayvon, thay want Zimmerman dead, and thay want there people to hang Zimmerman. That is races!

[Alisa Neely]

02:09 AM on 04/14/2012

i would NO MORE give zimmerman money....this man has GOTTEN away with assulting police and other crimes.....it's TIME HE PAYS THE PRICE for his actions.......his daddy is a retired JUDGE.

[alexandra23]

04:13 AM on 04/14/2012

You need intense psychiatric therapy. Check and see if your health plan covers it.

[Mongoose Lover 2]

12:00 AM on 04/14/2012

Also, if they go for a second-degree murder charge and they don't have enough to prove he killed him, and not by mistake, fear, or whatever, and they lost, then he'd by free like OJ under the double jeoprady law. On the other hand, if they are certain they can get him for manslaughter, why not at least get that? It's better than him just walking...assuming he actually is guilty. He could have just turned himself in to be safe. He did have a large bounty on his head and people trying, presumably, to kill him.

[mercedes1947]

06:27 AM on 04/14/2012

He won't be safe anywhere. He will become a Charles Manson and that will cost the state of Florida a bundle to protect him. Not saying he is not guilty.

There is something about this guy that stinks. How many 911 calls were made? I forget. I keep coming back to Trayvon. No matter what happens to Z, or even if we could read Zimmeran's mind and he somehow thought he was in fear of his life and thought he was doing a good deed...Trayvon is still gone. He didn't deserve to be slaughtered on the way home from 7-11.

[nonethewyzzer]

06:28 AM on 04/15/2012

IF the jury doesn't feel they can convict on the second degree murder charge, they can then find him guilty of manslaughter. The ONLY way double-jeopardy applies is if they find him NOT GUILTY of ANY charge.