Update [4/23]: George Zimmerman was released from the John E. Polk Correctional Facility just before midnight Sunday, according to the Los Angeles Times. The neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin posted the $150,000 bond, leaving the jail with nothing more than a brown paper bag.
Under the conditions set by Judge Kenneth Lester Jr., the 28-year-old must wear an electronic monitoring device, observe a dusk-to-dawn curfew, and is prohibited from possessing firearms or consuming illegal drugs or alcohol. He may be allowed to leave the state while he awaits trial on a charge of second-degree murder.
It is unclear as to where Zimmerman was being taken.
Update [4/20]: A Florida judge has granted bail for neighborhood-watch volunteer George Zimmerman — the man charged with the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
“I wanted to say that I am sorry for the loss of your son,” Zimmerman said to Martin’s parents during the bail hearing, adding that he did not know how old Martin was or that he was unarmed.
“I thought he was a little bit younger than I am,” he said. “I did not know whether he was armed or not.”
Assistant prosecutor Bernie De La Rionda asked that the judge offer no bail, or require a bond of $1 million, based on his history of violence.
Mark O’Mara, Zimmerman’s attorney, asked for bail of just $15,000 and requested that the 28-year-old be allowed to leave the state while on bond.
Circuit Judge Kenneth Lester said Zimmerman cannot have any firearms, drink alcohol or use drugs and must observe a curfew. He will also have to wear an electronic monitoring device. The judge said Zimmerman will not be released Friday.
Zimmerman has claimed self defense.
Update [4/11]: A day after George Zimmerman‘s attorneys withdrew from the case, the Florida special prosecutor announced on Wednesday “that the killer in the Trayvon Martin case will be charged with second-degree murder and is in custody.”
Special prosecutor Angela B. Corey said during a press conference that Zimmerman, 28, turned himself in, but refused to say where he is at this time.
Update [3/23]: President Obama addressed the murder of 17-year-old Travyon Martin for the first time Friday morning.
Before the commander in chief shared his personal thoughts on the matter, he remarked that he had to be careful what he said because as head of the Justice Department he did not want to interfere with the ongoing investigation.
However, he did not shy away from talking about the case.
“I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this,†Obama said. “All of us have to do some soul searching to figure out how does something like this happen.â€
Calling the fiery case “a tragedy,†the father of two continued, saying “I can only imagine what these parents are going through. When I think about this boy, I think about my own kids.â€
“You know, if I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,†said Obama. “I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves, and we are going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.â€
Obama did not address specifics of the case.
Update [3/22]: Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee announced Thursday he is stepping down “temporarily†as head of the department, according to recent reports. Lee has received a lot of scrutiny for the handling of the Trayvon Martin investigation.
“I am aware my role as leader of this department has become a distraction from the investigation,†said Lee, adding that “temporarily removing†himself from the role would restore a “semblance of calm to the city which has been in turmoil for several weeks.â€
The decision comes one day after the city commission gave Lee a vote of “no confidence.â€
News of the killing of an unarmed 17-year-old Florida high school student has garnered national attention after the 911 tapes were released last Friday. Trayvon Martin‘s family is asking the FBI to investigate the killing of the high-school junior, who was shot by a watch volunteer outside of the home of his father’s fiancée.
George Zimmerman, 28, has yet to be arrested or charged for the crime. He claims he acted in self-defense.
On Feb. 26, Martin was watching the NBA All-Star game while he and his father, Tracey Martin, were visiting Martin’s fiancée, who lived in a gated townhouse community, according to The Root. During halftime, the teen went to a 7-Eleven to buy snacks. While walking back, a young Martin caught the attention of Zimmerman, who was in an SUV.
Zimmerman called to report “a really suspicious guy” who looked like “he was up to no good.” Moments after the self-appointed neighborhood surveyor made the call, he allegedly shot Martin in the chest.
Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee, Jr. says that the shooting had nothing to do with race. Lawyers for the Martin family say that he should be arrested immediately and are calling on the FBI to begin an investigation.