Fla. neighborhood-watch shooting Fight claims, pot put teen’s side on defense

Associated Press

SANFORD, Fla.

The family and supporters of slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin found themselves on the defensive Monday after revelations he had been suspended for marijuana before he was shot to death by a neighborhood-watch volunteer. Police confirmed a report that the watchman claimed Martin was the aggressor, punching him in the nose and smacking his head on a sidewalk.

Martin, 17, was suspended by Miami-Dade County schools because traces of marijuana were found in a plastic bag in his book bag, family spokesman Ryan Julison said. Martin was serving the suspension when he was shot Feb. 26 by George Zimmerman, who was patrolling the neighborhood where Martin was visiting his father.

Martin’s mother, Sybrina Fulton, and family attorneys blamed police for leaking the information about the marijuana and Zimmerman’s claim about the attack to the news media in an effort to demonize the teenager.

“They killed my son; now they’re trying to kill his reputation,” Fulton said.

The Sanford Police Department insisted there was no authorized release of the new information but acknowledged there may have been a leak.

Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump said the link between the youth and marijuana should have no bearing on the probe into his shooting death. State and federal agencies are investigating. A grand jury is set to convene April 10.

The state Department of Juvenile Justice confirmed Monday that Martin does not have a juvenile- offender record.

Zimmerman, 28, said he shot Martin in self- defense and has not been arrested.

Meanwhile, the Orlando Sentinel reported that Zimmerman told police he lost Martin in the neighborhood he regularly patrolled and was walking back to his vehicle when the youth approached him from behind. The two exchanged words, Zimmerman said, and Martin then punched him in the nose, jumped on top of him and began banging his head on a sidewalk. Zimmerman said he began crying for help; Martin’s family thinks it was their son who was crying out. Witness accounts differ, and 911 tapes in which the voices are heard are not clear.