Obviously there is considerable differing opinion within the construct of the Martin V Zimmerman encounter. However, in an effort to better understand the logistics involved here are some visual aids. It appears that many of the differing opinions can be answered with a simple review of the geography.
The narrative(s) are included from the eyewitness statements “John”, as well as the 911 phone call and timeline.
Entire 911 call Transcript:
Dispatcher: Sanford Police Department. …
Zimmerman: Hey we’ve had some break-ins in my neighborhood, and there’s a real suspicious guy, uh, [near] Retreat View Circle, um, the best address I can give you is 111 Retreat View Circle. [A] This guy looks like he’s up to no good, or he’s on drugs or something. It’s raining and he’s just walking around, looking about.
Dispatcher: OK, and this guy is he white, black, or Hispanic?
Zimmerman: He looks black.
Dispatcher: Did you see what he was wearing?
Zimmerman: Yeah. A dark hoodie, like a grey hoodie, and either jeans or sweatpants and white tennis shoes. He’s [unintelligible], he was just staring…
Dispatcher: OK, he’s just walking around the area…
Zimmerman: …looking at all the houses.
Dispatcher: OK…
Zimmerman: Now he’s just staring at me.
Dispatcher: OK–you said it’s 1111 Retreat View? Or 111?
Zimmerman: That’s the clubhouse… [A]
Dispatcher: That’s the clubhouse, do you know what the–he’s near the clubhouse right now?
Zimmerman: Yeah, now he’s coming towards me.
Dispatcher: OK.
Zimmerman: He’s got his hand in his waistband. And he’s a black male.
Dispatcher: How old would you say he looks?
Zimmerman: He’s got button on his shirt, late teens.
Dispatcher: Late teens ok.
Zimmerman: Somethings wrong with him. Yup, he’s coming to check me out, he’s got something in his hands, I don’t know what his deal is.
Dispatcher: Just let me know if he does anything ok
Zimmerman: How long until you get an officer over here?
Dispatcher: Yeah we’ve got someone on the way, just let me know if this guy does anything else.
Zimmerman: Okay. These assholes they always get away. When you come to the clubhouse you come straight in and make a left. Actually you would go past the clubhouse.
Dispatcher: So it’s on the lefthand side from the clubhouse?
Zimmerman: No you go in straight through the entrance and then you make a left…uh you go straight in, don’t turn, and make a left. Shit he’s running.
Dispatcher: He’s running? Which way is he running?
(Sound of Truck Door Opening/Closing)
Zimmerman: Down towards the other entrance to the neighborhood. [E]
Dispatcher: Which entrance is that that he’s heading towards?
Zimmerman: The back entrance [E] …fucking [unintelligible]
Dispatcher: Are you following him?
Zimmerman: Yeah
Dispatcher: Ok, we don’t need you to do that.
Zimmerman: Ok
Dispatcher: Alright sir what is your name?
Zimmerman: George…He ran [F].
Dispatcher: Alright George what’s your last name?
Zimmerman: Zimmerman
Dispatcher: And George what’s the phone number you’re calling from?
Zimmerman: [XXX-XXXX]
Dispatcher: Alright George we do have them on the way, do you want to meet with the officer when they get out there?
Zimmerman: Alright
Dispatcher: Where you going to meet with them at?
Zimmerman: If they come in through the gate, tell them to go straight past the club house, and uh, straight past the club house [A] and make a left, and then they go past the mailboxes [B], that’s my truck… [C][unintelligible]
Dispatcher: What address are you parked in front of?
Zimmerman: I don’t know, it’s a cut through so I don’t know the address.
Dispatcher: Okay do you live in the area?
Zimmerman: Yeah, I…[unintelligible]
Dispatcher: What’s your apartment number?
Zimmerman: It’s a home it’s 1950, oh crap I don’t want to give it all out, I don’t know where this kid is.
Dispatcher: Okay do you want to just meet with them right near the mailboxes [B] then?
Zimmerman: Yeah that’s fine.
Dispatcher: Alright George, I’ll let them know to meet you around there okay?
Zimmerman: Actually could you have them call me and I’ll tell them where I’m at?
Dispatcher: Okay, yeah that’s no problem.
Zimmerman: Should I give you my number or you got it?
Dispatcher: Yeah I got it [XXX-XXX-XXXX]
Zimmerman: Yeah you got it.
Dispatcher: Okay no problem, I’ll let them know to call you when you’re in the area.
Zimmerman: Thanks.
Dispatcher: You’re welcome
Now look at the layout again:
As indicated in the 911 transcript, the first place Zimmerman saw Trayvon was near the “clubhouse” [A]. Which he identified to the Police operator as the “best address I can give you”.
The sidewalk [F] was where Trayvon eventually ran but not until after walking past Zimmerman’s truck [C].
Zimmerman was talking on his phone to police when Trayvon walked past looking at him. Zimmerman drove a little way, parked, then walked toward the “back entrance” gate [E]. Zimmerman told dispatch he thought the person was headed to the “back entrance”.
Zimmerman lost sight of Trayvon because Trayvon turned right down the path [F] toward home [D]. Zimmerman told the dispatcher he had lost sight of the person while continuing toward the gate [E]. That was when the operator asked him “are you following them, because we don’t need you to do that”, to which Zimmerman replied “OK”.
Zimmerman explains in his statement that Trayvon then approached him as he was returning to his SUV. [Zimmerman would have been walking with this above perspective back toward his SUV]
According to Zimmerman Trayvon approached from his “left rear”, which makes sense if you look at where Trayvon ran [F], and where Zimmerman was returning from [E].
(at end on left). The eyewitness ‘John’ lives at the unit [G] directly to the right of this small tree. This was the point of contact for Zimmerman and Martin. Image taken while standing at the intersection of both sidewalks.”]
The eyewitness John lives in the residence [G] immediately to the right of the closest tree in this picture. It was from standing outside that unit where John saw Trayvon and Zimmerman fighting on the ground at the bottom of this picture.
Witness “John” stated the guy in the red jacket (Zimmerman) was on the bottom, and Trayvon was “pummelling” him from above. He warned them both he was going in to call the cops, and then proceeded inside to the telephone.