No Grand Jury in Trayvon Martin Shooting
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Allison Joyce/Getty Images(SANFORD, Fla.) — A Florida special prosecutor will not bring the Trayvon Martin shooting before a grand jury, her office announced Monday. The grand jury is scheduled to convene on April 10, but will not hear evidence about the shooting of the unarmed black teenager by George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain.
In making the announcement, special prosecutor Angela Corey said her office was continuing to investigate the Feb. 26 shooting. “The decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case,” her office said in a statement.
Not using a grand jury leaves the decision whether to indict Zimmerman up to Corey, a decision that could come as early as this week. Ever since Corey was appointed special prosecutor on March 22 by Gov. Rick Scott, she has said that she may not utilize a grand jury.
There has been growing pressure for an indictment of Zimmerman, although Zimmerman, 28, and his supporters claim he fired in self defense after he was attacked by Trayvon, who was 17.
The Sanford, Fla., police department was temporarily closed Monday as a handful of protesters wearing hooded sweatshirts in solidarity with Martin blocked the entrance, sang songs and chanted “Freedom.”
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