A Florida state attorney's release Thursday of FBI reports surrounding the death of Trayvon Martin shows that the shooter, a self-appointed neighborhood watchman, had a pattern of calling authorities about criminal activities and safety issues in the neighborhood.
The report was among several documents and recordings from special prosecutor Angela Corey showing that George Zimmerman made a half dozen calls to Sanford police in the months leading up to his fatal February altercation with Martin, 17.
Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of the unarmed black youth. Zimmerman, 28, has said he acted in self-defense.
He told investigators that the shooting followed a life-and-death struggle during which Zimmerman says the teen told him, "You're going to die tonight."
The report is part of a Justice Department investigation to determine whether Martin's civil rights were violated and whether Zimmerman's actions were racially motivated. Its findings could be used by both prosecutors and Zimmerman's defense team.
In one of the calls to Sanford police, Zimmerman complained about children playing and running in the street. "It's habitual," he told the dispatcher. "I'm just concerned for their safety and the drivers in the neighborhood."
Zimmerman identified himself in several calls as a neighborhood watch volunteer, once telling a police dispatcher that there were several break-ins in the area. Four calls were about black men he witnessed in the neighborhood following the break-ins.
Zimmerman described all four as "suspicious" and people who he had never seen before. In almost every case, he said he didn't know what they were doing, but they looked suspicious. In one case, he said two men were "loitering" in a white Chevy. In another, a man in a black jacket was walking around the side of a neighbor's house.
The report includes information from an FBI interview conducted April 5 with Sanford Police Sgt. Arthur Barns. The 25-year department veteran grew up in a predominately African-American area of Sanford and told authorities the community would be in an "uproar if Zimmerman was not charged in the case." Barnes also told investigators he didn't think Martin's shooting was racially motivated.
Sanford Police Investigator Christopher Serino told the FBI that Zimmerman's actions against Martin were not based on race, but on clothing Martin wore that night as well as the history of crime in the complex.
Zimmerman was released last month on $1-million bond after having his $150,000 bond revoked after prosecutors presented evidence that he had lied about his finances.
The report was among several documents and recordings from special prosecutor Angela Corey showing that George Zimmerman made a half dozen calls to Sanford police in the months leading up to his fatal February altercation with Martin, 17.
Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of the unarmed black youth. Zimmerman, 28, has said he acted in self-defense.
He told investigators that the shooting followed a life-and-death struggle during which Zimmerman says the teen told him, "You're going to die tonight."
The report is part of a Justice Department investigation to determine whether Martin's civil rights were violated and whether Zimmerman's actions were racially motivated. Its findings could be used by both prosecutors and Zimmerman's defense team.
In one of the calls to Sanford police, Zimmerman complained about children playing and running in the street. "It's habitual," he told the dispatcher. "I'm just concerned for their safety and the drivers in the neighborhood."
Zimmerman identified himself in several calls as a neighborhood watch volunteer, once telling a police dispatcher that there were several break-ins in the area. Four calls were about black men he witnessed in the neighborhood following the break-ins.
Zimmerman described all four as "suspicious" and people who he had never seen before. In almost every case, he said he didn't know what they were doing, but they looked suspicious. In one case, he said two men were "loitering" in a white Chevy. In another, a man in a black jacket was walking around the side of a neighbor's house.
The report includes information from an FBI interview conducted April 5 with Sanford Police Sgt. Arthur Barns. The 25-year department veteran grew up in a predominately African-American area of Sanford and told authorities the community would be in an "uproar if Zimmerman was not charged in the case." Barnes also told investigators he didn't think Martin's shooting was racially motivated.
Sanford Police Investigator Christopher Serino told the FBI that Zimmerman's actions against Martin were not based on race, but on clothing Martin wore that night as well as the history of crime in the complex.
Zimmerman was released last month on $1-million bond after having his $150,000 bond revoked after prosecutors presented evidence that he had lied about his finances.