Mediaboss Marketing

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla.

The Florida university that Trayvon Martins mother graduated from is awarding the teenager, who was slain by a community watch member five years ago, a college degree.

Florida Memorial Universityannounced Wednesday that it would award an aeronautics degree, with a concentration in flight education, to Martin in honor of his love for planes and the steps he took during his young life toward becoming a pilot.

Martins parents, Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, will accept the degree for their son.

Martin took aviation courses in high school. He also participated in an aviation camp put on by Barrington Irving, another graduate of the historically black university who, in 2007, became the youngest person and only African-American to fly solo around the world,the university said.

Trayvon had an obvious love of flying, FMU spokeswoman April R. Silvertold CNN.

Fultontook to her Twitter page to thank her alma mater for honoring her son, whose dream was cut short by violence.

Martin was 17 years old when he was killed Feb. 26, 2012, as he walked to his fathers girlfriends house in Sanford, Florida, from a nearby convenience store, where he bought iced tea and Skittles. George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain in the neighborhood, called 911 to report the teen as a suspicious person.

Zimmerman, who was armed, ignored the dispatchers request to wait for police to investigate and followed Martin, with whom he got into a fight. Martin was fatally shot in the chest during the scuffle.

Zimmerman, who claimed he acted in self-defense, was charged with second-degree murder but was acquitted of the charges in July 2013.

Martins death, which prompted months of nationwide protests, was the catalyst for the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement. In the years since his death, his parents founded the Trayvon Martin Foundation,which describes itself on its website as a social justice organization committed to ending senseless gun violence, strengthening families through holistic support, S.T.E.A.M. education for women and minorities, and mentoring.

The foundation is headquartered at FMU. A private reception after the May 13 commencement ceremony will serve as a fundraiser for the foundation, as well as for the schools Department of Aviation and Safety,the university said.

Continue reading here:
Trayvon Martin to be awarded posthumous college degree - Austin American-Statesman

KTLA

Florida Memorial University to Award Posthumous Bachelor's Degree to Trayvon Martin KTLA The slain Florida teenager killed by George Zimmerman five years ago will be awarded a posthumous bachelor's degree in aeronautical science from Florida Memorial University. Martin's parents, Sabrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, will accept the ... Florida university to award Trayvon Martin a posthumous honorary degreeTampabay.com Trayvon Martin to receive posthumous college degreeWBXH Trayvon Martin awarded posthumous degree in aviationWFLA The Atlantic -Orlando Weekly (blog) -New York Daily News all 20 news articles »

Go here to see the original:
Florida Memorial University to Award Posthumous Bachelor's Degree to Trayvon Martin - KTLA

FORT MYERS, Fla. Mark OMara, the defense attorney who represented George Zimmerman in the Trayvon Martin murder case, believes prosecutors were wrong to not charge a South Fort Myers man in a stand your ground case.

The question that still hangs out there that nobody has attempted to answer is why, he said. Why take the life of another? Why leave your home, when you dont have to?

Ryan Modell, 32, was shot and killed inside a gated South Fort Myers condominium complex in March 2016 after he mistakenly tried to enter the wrong unit.

James Steven Taylor, 45, shot Modell in the driveway of a neighboring unit after exiting his home to look for Modell.

Dan Feinberg, the assistant state attorney who reviewed the case, said the incident was a case of self-defense because a witness saw Modell charging and yelling expletives at Taylor outside the home.

But OMara, who is representing Modells family, said by Taylor exiting his home after the initial altercation at his front door, he inserted himself into a situation, which doesnt justify a stand your ground defense.

Its unlike (the Zimmerman case) where Trayvon came back in to re-engage and sucker punched George in the nose, OMara said.

Zimmerman had visible injuries on the back of his head, and forensic evidence corroborated his story that Martin was on top of him during an altercation when the deadly shot was fired, OMara said.

But it was a mistake for Taylor to arm himself when he and his wife knew Modell was a drunk guy at the wrong door, OMara said.

OMara said he also took issue with Taylor arming himself when he and his wife knew Modell was a drunk guy at the wrong door.

A Lee County Sheriffs Office sergeant said Taylor indicated he retrieved his gun after he closed his door and Modell was outside.

That type of vigilantism is what gets people killed, and now weve lost Ryan because of that type of action by Mr. Taylor, OMara said.

Feinberg, the assistant state attorney, believes Taylor had no obligation to stay in his home.

He has the lawful right to protect himself, protect his wife and protect his home, and thats what he did, he said.

OMara, on behalf of the Modell family, plans to submit a petition to Gov. Rick Scott to have the case reviewed by a different jurisdiction.

See the original post here:
Zimmerman attorney: 'Stand your ground' law doesn't apply to South Fort Myers incident - Wink News

Just this week, we learned two officers will avoid federal charges in the 2016 death of Alton Sterling, a man pinned to the ground before he was shot.

Another officer has been fired for killing Jordan Edwards, a 15-year-old honor student. And yet another officer pleaded guilty after shooting Walter Scott as the 50-year-old was running away.

Date of death: April 29, 2017

Where: Balch Springs, Texas

What happened: Officers responded to a house party after reports of underage drinking. Police spotted a car leaving with five people inside -- including Jordan in the front passenger seat.

At first, Police Chief Jonathan Haber said the car was moving "aggressively" toward officers, and officer Roy Oliver fired into the car with a rifle.

But on Monday, Haber corrected himself and said body camera footage showed the car was driving forward -- away from the officers.

The outcomes: Haber fired the officer Tuesday, saying Oliver "violated several departmental policies."

Date of death: July 5, 2016

Where: Baton Rouge, Louisiana

What happened: Sterling was selling CDs outside a convenience store when police received a call of a man with a gun. Cellphone video showed police tackling Sterling and pinning him to the ground before Sterling was shot. But police said Sterling was reaching for a gun.

But Sterling's death has already yielded change. Baton Rouge Mayor Sharon Weston Broome said $2 million will be spent securing body cameras for the entire police force. On top of that, the city's police training manual will be revised, and officers will receive training in implicit bias, the mayor said.

Date of death: April 4, 2015

Where: North Charleston, South Carolina

As Scott ran away from the officer, a witness captured video of Slager shooting Scott several times in the back.

In exchange for his guilty plea for one of the federal counts -- punishable by up to life in prison -- two other federal charges and state charges were dropped.

Scott's death also led to a statewide change: The South Carolina Legislature passed a bill mandating the use of police body cameras.

Date of death: February 26, 2012

Where: Sanford, Florida

What happened: Martin was walking from a convenience store back to the home of his father's fiance. Neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman spotted him from his car and called 911, reporting "a real suspicious guy."

A scuffle broke out, but there were no direct witnesses. Zimmerman claimed Martin attacked him, hitting him in the nose and knocking him onto the pavement. Zimmerman said he then took out his gun and shot Martin in self defense.

But critics said Zimmerman was unjustified in confronting the unarmed teen, especially since Zimmerman didn't heed a police dispatcher's advice to stop following him.

Date of death: July 17, 2014

Where: New York City

The New York Police Department prohibits the use of chokeholds.

Garner, who had asthma, repeatedly said, "I can't breathe! I can't breathe!" while several officers restrained him on the ground. Police said he suffered a heart attack and died en route to a hospital.

The outcomes: A grand jury declined to indict Pantaleo, sparking protests and "die-ins."

Garner's death also spurred a new protest slogan: "I can't breathe," referring to some of his final words before he died. Several professional athletes wore shirts saying "I can't breathe" in silent protest.

Date of death: August 9, 2014

Where: Ferguson, Missouri

What happened: Brown was walking with a friend in the middle of a street when Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson approached them and told them to walk on the sidewalk.

After that, the narratives split. Authorities said Brown had attacked the officer in his car and tried to take his gun. Others said the teenager was surrendering, his hands in the air to show he was unarmed, when the officer opened fire.

Documents showed that Wilson fired his gun 12 times.

The outcomes: A grand jury decided not to indict Wilson -- leading to heated and sometimes violent protests in Ferguson and across the country.

The Justice Department found that "many officers" apparently viewed some of the city's black residents "less as constituents to be protected than as potential offenders and sources of revenue."

Date of death: April 19, 2015, seven days after he was injured

Where: Baltimore

Officers handcuffed Gray and put him in a police van. At some point, Gray suffered a fatal spinal cord injury. He died seven days later.

The outcomes: Six Baltimore police officers, including three black and three white officers, were charged in connection with Gray's death.

The settlement did not "represent any judgment" on whether the officers were guilty or innocent, Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said.

"This settlement represents an opportunity to bring closure to the Gray family, the community and the city."

Read more here:
'Black Lives Matter' cases: When controversial killings lead to change - CNN

After nearly 25 years at WESH-Channel 2, reporter Bob Kealing is departing to focus on other projects. His final day at the NBC affiliate will be Friday.

Twenty-five years is a line of demarcation, Kealing told me Monday night. Its scary any time you try to jump off in a new venture.

Kealing has had a long, admired career at the NBC affiliate, received five Emmys for his work and shared in two Edward R. Murrow Regional Awards. He delivered some of his most memorable reporting the morning of the Pulse nightclub shooting in June.

In announcing his resignation, WESH news director Kirsten Wolff told the staff that Kealing helped lead coverage on some of the region's biggest stories -- including the Casey Anthony and George Zimmerman trials and the Pulse nightclub shootings.

She also noted: While Bob has been a local news warrior, he also has developed a second career as an author, penning books on Tupperware, Elvis and Graham Parsons to name a few. That writing career is what Bob is focusing on now. He's got several book -- and book extension -- plans in the works and he is active in two nonprofits which are also gaining traction.

Kealing said he hopes to have news soon about those projects.

Tupperware Unsealed, his 2008 book on pioneering businesswoman Brownie Wise, became Life of the Party when it was re-released last year. A movie version remains in development.

His most recent book, Elvis Ignited, examines Floridas importance in the career of Elvis Presley.

Kealing also wrote "Calling Me Home: Gram Parsons and the Roots of Country Rock," which came out in 2012, and "Kerouac in Florida: Where the Road Ends," which was published in 2004.

His 25th anniversary at WESH would be in July. He revealed his news via Facebook Monday night. He wrote:

Friday will be my last day at WESH-TV. After 25 years of unforgettable stories and working with a fantastic group of people, I'd like to take a step back and refocus my career. Short term, I'm excited about some opportunities tied to my work as a published author. I also plan to further my historic preservation pursuits through two nonprofits I've been close to for years: the Jack Kerouac Project of Orlando and Gram Parsons' Derry Down in Winter Haven. I'm so thankful to all my friends at WESH and I know those friendships will continue. Now, it's on to new adventures!

In her announcement, Wolff said of Kealing: We will miss his professionalism, his breaking-news drive and his presence. He's been a fantastic journalist, co-worker and friend.

In an October story about veteran reporters at WESH, Kealing talked about why he had stayed here. "It's a great news town," he told me.

He said reporting on Pulse had left a deep impression: "To witness one of the worst events in this city's history, then to see all the love and unity this soulful town has shown in response, reinforced my belief that the decision to stay in Orlando and at WESH was for all the right reasons."

hboedeker@orlandosentinel.com

Follow this link:
WESH: Bob Kealing leaving - Orlando Sentinel