The George Zimmerman Trial: Critical Phone Calls

Trayvon Martin's cellphone

Call #1: George Zimmerman calls to report a suspicious character


Zimmerman: Hey, we've had some break-ins in my neighborhood, and there's a real suspicious guy-- it's Retreat View Circle. The best address I can give you is 111 Retreat View Circle. This guy looks like he's up to no good, or he's on drugs or something. It's raining and he's just walking around, looking about.

Sanford PD Dispatcher (Sean Noffke): Okay, and this guy is he White, Black, or Hispanic?

Zimmerman: He looks Black.

Dispatcher: Did you see what he was wearing?

Zimmerman: Yeah. A dark hoodie, like a grey hoodie, and either jeans or sweatpants and white tennis shoes. He's [unintelligible] he was just staring...

Dispatcher: Okay, he's just walking around the area...

Zimmerman: ...looking at all the houses.

Dispatcher: Okay.

Zimmerman: Now he's just staring at me.

Dispatcher: Okay--you said it's 1111 Retreat View? Or 111?

Zimmerman: That's the clubhouse...

Dispatcher: That's the clubhouse, do you know what the-- he's near the clubhouse right now?

Zimmerman: Yeah, now he's coming towards me.

Dispatcher: Okay.

Zimmerman: He's got his hand in his waistband. And he's a black male.

Dispatcher: How old would you say he looks?

Zimmerman: He's got button on his shirt, late teens.

Dispatcher: Late teens, ok.

Zimmerman: Something's wrong with him. Yup, he's coming to check me out, he's got something in his hands, I don't know what his deal is.

Dispatcher: Just let me know if he does anything, okay?

Zimmerman: How long until you get an officer over here?

Dispatcher: Yeah, we've got someone on the way, just let me know if this guy does anything else.

Zimmerman: Okay. These assholes they always get away. When you come to the clubhouse, you come straight in, and make a left. Actually, you would go past the clubhouse.

Dispatcher: So, it's on the left-hand side from the clubhouse?

Zimmerman: No, you go in, straight through the entrance, and then you make a left-- you go straight in, don't turn, and make a left. Shit, he's running.

Dispatcher: He's running? Which way is he running?

Zimmerman: Down towards the other entrance to the neighborhood.

Dispatcher: Which entrance is that that he's heading towards?

Zimmerman: The back entrance... Fucking punks. These assholes, they always get away...

Dispatcher: Are you following him?

Zimmerman: Yeah.

Dispatcher: Okay, we don't need you to do that.

Zimmerman: Okay.

Dispatcher: Alright, sir, what is your name?

Zimmerman: George. He ran.

Dispatcher: All right, George. What's your last name?

Zimmerman: Zimmerman.

Dispatcher: And George what's the phone number you're calling from?

Zimmerman: [redacted]

Dispatcher: All right, George. We do have them on the way. Do you want to meet with the officer when they get out there?

Zimmerman: Yeah.

Dispatcher: All right, where you going to meet with them at?

Zimmerman: If they come in through the gate, tell them to go straight past the clubhouse. And uh, straight past the clubhouse, and make a left. And then they go past the mailboxes, that's my truck... [unintelligible]

Dispatcher: What address are you parked in front of?

Zimmerman: I don't know. It's a cut through, so I don't know the address.

Dispatcher: Okay, do you live in the area?

Zimmerman: Yeah, I... [unintelligible]

Dispatcher: What's your apartment number?

Zimmerman: It's a home. It's 1950-- Oh, crap. I don't want to give it all out, I don't know where this kid is.

Dispatcher: Okay, do you want to just meet with them right near the mailboxes then?

Zimmerman: Yeah, that's fine.

Dispatcher: All right, George. I'll let them know to meet you around there okay?

Zimmerman: Actually could you have them call me and I'll tell them where I'm at?

Dispatcher: Okay, yeah, that's no problem.

Zimmerman: Should I give you my number or you got it?

Dispatcher: Yeah, I got it. [redacted]?

Zimmerman: Yeah, you got it.

Dispatcher: Okay, no problem, I'll let them know to call you when you're in the area.

Zimmerman: Thanks.

Dispatcher: You're welcome.


Call #2 Trayvon Martin on the phone with friend Rachel Jeantel (Jeantel's trial testimony regarding call, 6/26/2013)


PROSECUTOR: And what if, if anything, did Mr. Martin say?

JEANTEL: He said no, he`s almost right by his daddy fiancee`s house...And then he said, "That N-word is still following me now." I asked him how the man looked like. He just told me the man looked "creepy. Creepy, white" -- excuse my language -- "cracker. Creepy ass cracker.  Now the creepy ass cracker is following me." And then I just told him to run. And he said "No"

PROSECUTOR: You told him to run?

JEANTEL: Yes....He said, "Why are you following me for?" Then I heard a hard-breathing man come and say, "What are you doing around here?" Then I started saying, "Trayvon, Trayvon, what`s going on?" Then I heard a bump. Then I started hearing wet grass sounds. I start hearing a little bit of Trayvon saying, "Get off, get off."

PROSECUTOR: Then what did you hear?

JEANTEL: Then suddenly the phone hung up.



9-1-1 call (2/26/2012):

DISPATCHER: Does he look hurt to you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can`t see him. I don`t want go out there. I don`t know what`s going on.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Call the cops.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They`re sending...

DISPATCHER: So you think he`s yelling "help"?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.

DISPATCHER: All right. What is your...

(GUNSHOT)



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