Several shots were fired at an empty city police cruiser around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning. Witnesses reported hearing at least six gunshots, according to multiple local media reports.
The police car was parked near the site where Martin was fatally shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman on Feb. 26. Zimmerman claims he acted in self-defense, and has not been arrested or charged with a crime — a fact that has sparked protests nationwide.
The cruiser had been parked across from Sanford’s Bentley Elementary for several weeks at the school's request, according to The Associated Press.
In a statement, Sanford police said it was being used as "a visible deterrent due to tour buses using the school property to park during the day and evening hours."
The shots hit the car's windshield, pierced its hood, and shattered one of its windows, police told Fox Orlando.
No one was hurt.
The shooting comes at a time when tensions are running high in the small central Florida city.
"Are we a kindling box? Sure," Mayor Jeff Triplett told ABC News. "But we're working down a path and so far it's been absolutely peaceful."
The shooting comes a day after State Attorney Angela Corey, who is prosecuting Martin's case, announced her decision not to use a grand jury. In Florida, grand juries are only used in first-degree murder cases. Corey's office said in a statement Monday that the decision not to use a grand jury "should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case."
Protesters blockaded Sanford Police Department headquarters on Monday, temporarily shutting down the station.
Since Martin's shooting, the city has become a magnet for racially charged gestures. Members of the Detroit-based National Socialist Movement have pledged to protect Sanford's "white citizens" in the event of a race riot. The New Black Panther Party had earlier announced a $10,000 bounty for George Zimmerman's capture.
Original Article
Source: ny daily news
Author: Braden Goyette
No comments:
Post a Comment