Archive

Photo by Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel / Pool / Headline Surfer / George Zimmerman leaves the courtroom a free man after being found not guilty, on Saturday, the 25th day of his trial at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, in Sanford. Zimmerman had been charged with second-degree murder in the February 2012 shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin.

SANFORD -- The jury in the George Zimmerman trial found him not guilty of second-degree murder in the February 2012 shooting death of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

The verdict was announced just before 10 p.m. at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center in Sanford.

SANFORD -- We have a verdict in the second trial of the century in Central Florida and it seems once again that justice is blind.

SANFORD -- Jesse Jackson called for non violence while Al Sharpton demanded the Justice Department get involved in the wake of the not-guilty verdict by the all-woman jury in the George Zimmerman murder trial.

"A moment of self-compassion can change your entire day. A string of such moments can change the course of your life."

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Today is an overall very sad day for everyone who does or has once called Cuda Country home. I can't put into words how unreal this feels to me to even type out, but another soul was lost from my high school. A girl I only knew from passing in the halls, but the sister of one of my very good friends, committed suicide this morning.

Photo for Headline Surfer / Morgan Tuck, 15, a New Smyrna Beach High School student, was the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on a public street early Sunday in Edgewater.

EDGEWATER -- The body of a 15-year-old girl was found in the grass near 22nd Street early Sunday, the victim of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police responded to the scene at 8:49 a.m. near the intersection with Guava Drive, describing it as a "suicide attempt" with a gunshot wound with the victim pronounced dead upon their arrival.

Police did not release any other details including the victim's name in what Headline Surfer believes to be in violation of Florida's public records statutes since the victim's family was notified. The victim is 15-year-old Morgan Tuck, who attended New Smyrna Beach High School.

Part of Al Sharpton-organized national vigil in 100 cities

Photo for Headline Surfer / Greater Friendship Baptist Church Senior Pastor L. Ronald Durham is leading a local rally in the wake iof the George Zimmerman not-guilty verdict on Saturday in front of the 5th District Court of Appeal.

DAYTONA BEACH -- A local black pastor said he and other clergymen are following the Rev. Al Sharpton's request for a "Justice for Trayvon National Day of Action Vigils in 100 Cities" this Saturday in front of federal court buildings. The rally is to begin at noon.Because there are no federal court buildings in Daytona Beach, the Rev. L. Ronald Durham said he and other locals will meet in front of the 5th District Court of Appeal, 300 S. Beach St.

The vigils, taking place in 100 cities, will be a call to action pushing for federal charges for Violation of Trayvon's Civil Rights, against George Zimmerman leading up to an Aug. 24 March on Washington, Durham said. "We are calling for pastors across the nation to organize a "Justice for Trayvon" National Day of Action Vigil in your city if you have a federal court or building," Durham said.

HeadlineSurfer.com tweet by Headline Surfer Publisher Henry Frederick announcing 600-page book he's writing called "Creepy Ass Cracker."

SANFORD -- Headline Surfer Publisher Henry Frederick, who has covered the Trayvon Martin slaying nearly from the onset, including the trial and not-guilty verdict of gunman George Zimmerman, is writing a book on the legal entanglements that have made this the most controversial cases of the 21st century: "Creepy Ass Cracker."