George Zimmerman, the Florida neighborhood watch member who shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, has been arrested and charged with 2nd Degree Murder.
Florida Special Prosecutor Angela Corey announced the charges in a Wednesday evening press conference.
Corey went on to say that Zimmerman had turned himself in to law enforcement and is being held at an undisclosed location.
Zimmerman’s arrest ended a weeks long ordeal for Trayvon Martin’s parents.
“We simply wanted an arrest. We wanted nothing more, nothing less, we just wanted an arrest and we got it and I say thank you,” said Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon’s mother.
Father Tracy Martin says he hopes a trial will bring justice.
“This is just the beginning. We got a long way to go and we have faith,” he said.
Trayvon Martin was returning to his stepmother’s home in Sanford, Florida on February 26th when he was spotted by George Zimmerman.
Zimmerman called 911 to report a suspicious person and began falling Martin.
George Zimmerman claims that after a brief confrontation the unarmed teenager attacked him, slamming his head into the pavement and breaking his nose before he pulled his gun and shot Martin in self defense.
Sanford police investigators initially declined to arrest Zimmerman, saying they weren’t allowed under Florida’s so-called “Stand Your Ground” law that allows the use of deadly force if your life is threatened.
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