Trayvon Martin Shooting: Why Wasn't George Zimmerman Given Drug, Alcohol Tests but Travyon Was?
The autopsy for Trayvon Martin, the Florida teen shot by George Zimmerman in a case that has ignited discussions about race and justice, included a drug and alcohol test, and many want to know: Why wasn't Zimmerman subject to the same tests immediately after the February incident?
There is dispute about whether the Sanford Police Department, which is handling the Trayvon Martin shooting case and has received its fair share of criticism, should have tested Zimmerman.
Police seemed to accept Zimmerman's account [of the shooting] at face value that night and that he was not tested for drugs or alcohol on the night of the shooting, even though it is standard procedure in most homicide investigations, ABC News reported.
The Sanford Police Department have stood by their investigation thus far, according to the network.
Other reports say testing Zimmerman for drugs and alcohol is not standard procedure.
Except for DUIs, police cannot test suspects for drugs or alcohol, unless the accused demands or consents to it, or they get a warrant. Trayvon Martin was tested for drugs and alcohol because it is the normal procedure of autopsies to determine the exact cause of death or contributing factors of death, the Washington Times said. The so-called law enforcement and legal experts who claim Zimmerman should have been tested demonstrate they have no expertise.
Trayvon Martin, a black 17-year-old, went to grab candy from a 7-Eleven near his girlfriend's home Feb. 26 in Sanford, Fla., near Orlando, when Zimmerman, a white and Hispanic community watchman, observed Martin and thought the teen was acting suspiciously.
Trayvon noticed Zimmerman watching him and pulled up his hoodie while also calling his girlfriend about Zimmerman.
Trayvon's girlfriend advised him to run, which led to Zimmerman calling 911 and telling a dispatcher that this guy looks like he is up to no good. He is on drugs or something.
The dispatcher said police would be on their way and told Zimmerman to stand back, but Zimmerman pursued Trayvon.
Trayvon and Zimmerman began fighting and the struggle ended with Trayvon being shot in the chest by Zimmerman, who claims he acted in self-defense.
Zimmerman may have used a racial slur, coon, to describe Martin during his pursuit of the teen, according to the 911 recording.
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