The gun used to kill Trayvon Martin and other evidence from the trial of George Zimmerman will be held by the Justice Department.
Captain James McAuliffe, of the Sanford, Florida, Police Department, confirmed that the evidence from the murder case of Trayvon Martin will not be released as originally planned. The evidence in question includes the gun used by George Zimmerman to shoot and kill the 17-year-old, the hooded sweatshirt Martin was wearing, and the bag of Skittles he was carrying at the time of his death.
The hold was placed on the evidence by the Justice Department, and McAuliffe said in an email, “Until that hold is lifted the evidence will remain secured … They have an investigation they are conducting separate from the criminal trial.”
US Attorney General Eric Holder, speaking at the annual NAACP convention in Orlando, on Tuesday said, “I am concerned about this case and as we confirmed last spring, the Justice Department has an open investigation into it.”
Photo: Florida’s Fourth Circuit Court State Attorney’s Office
Is the gun bent or is that the normal look of the barrel?
I’m guessing they’re holding evidence to stop another riot occuring? If I were him I’d destroy that gun and just buy a new one if needs be, and learn your damn lesson whilst counting your lucky stars. Leave police work to the police.
Probably for appeals.
They were prepared to return the gun to Zimmerman, and release all the other evidence as well, but the Justice Department has been investigating the shooting since last year. They stepped aside to allow the state to prosecute him, but now that the criminal trial is over they are finishing up their investigation and determining whether or not “federal prosecutors should file criminal civil rights charges” against Zimmerman. According to the Huffington Post, “In a statement Sunday, the Justice Department said the criminal section of the civil rights division, the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s office for the Middle District… Read more »