Martin was struck by Zimmerman's bullet in the chest and killed. All the teen had on his person at the time of his murder was an Arizona iced tea and a bag of Skittles. He claims Martin reach for the gun, prompting Zimmerman to shot him. According to Zimmerman, Martin confronted him, breaking his nose with a punch before slamming his head into the concrete. The self-appointed neighborhood watch leader began following Martin, noting that he looked "suspicious." Zimmerman continued to follow Martin, though he was explicitly told not to by 911 dispatchers. Trayvon Martin, 17, was returning to his father's home following a trip to 7-Eleven when he encountered 28-year-old George Zimmerman.
One of 2012's biggest news stories began on the night of February 26 in Sanford, FL.