911 calls in shooting death of teen in Sanford to be released

SANFORD, Fla. — Sanford police are set to release the 911 tapes recorded the night a teen was shot and killed in a gated Sanford community.

Police allowed family members to listen to the tapes before making them public. The family left Sanford City Hall shortly after 8 p.m. after listening to the tapes.

WFTV will post the tapes as soon as they are made available.

Earlier in the day the family of the teen who was shot and killed said in a news conference on Friday morning they feel betrayed by police.

Trayvon Martin's family traveled from Miami Thursday night and also said they want the FBI to take over the investigation.

George Zimmerman shot and killed 17-year-old Martin 19 days ago in a gated Sanford community.

The family believes Zimmerman should have been charged with murder.

"As a father I don't know what to say. I feel betrayed by the Sanford Police Department," said Martin's father, Tracy, during the press conference.

"This is not about race," said attorney Natalie Jackson. “Issues of race profiling started this.”

“He [ Zimmerman] pulled the trigger because he thought he had the authority to do so,” said Jackson.

Sgt. David Morgenstern said the department stands behind its investigation but welcomes another agency "to scrutinize and review" the case.

Witnesses Mary Cutcher and Selma Mora Lamilla came forward at the news conference to talk about the case.

Cutcher said she came forward and talked to the media about the case after she did not receive a response from police after contacting the department following preliminary interviews.

WFTV spoke with Martin’s father before the press conference on Friday morning.

“My son was murdered. It wasn’t an accident. My son did nothing to warrant this," Tracy Martin said.

Benjamin Crump, an attorney with the Martin family, said "We think it hasn't been fair and impartial at all that this kid was killed in cold blood but yet they chose every step of the way to protect George Zimmerman."

Cutcher said she saw Zimmerman right after he shot and killed Martin.

Cutcher said Martin was killed in her backyard and she heard his cries for help.

Cutcher and the family believe Zimmerman should be charged, but detectives say they do not have enough evidence to prove Zimmerman did not pull the trigger in self-defense, even though Martin only had a bag of Skittles and an iced tea in his possession.

WFTV also found out State Attorney Norm Wolfinger sent a letter to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, asking the state agency to get involved in the investigation of Zimmerman.  In the letter, Wolfinger stated, "At this time, I do not know exactly where the facts will lead, or what further investigative measures will be needed. But I do feel it would be appropriate to ask for the assistance of an FDLE investigator to collaborate with my office."

The FDLE e-mailed WFTV saying, "We are awaiting direction from State Attorney Wolfinger. Our role is to assist him.  FDLE will be meeting with his office."

Wolfinger will decide if Zimmerman should be charged or he could send the case to a grand jury to make the decision.

WFTV went to his office but he refused to discuss the case.

So many emails poured into the state attorney's office demanding justice for Martin that the server had to be shut down.

WFTV learned that the first Sanford officer in charge of the scene that Sunday night when Martin was killed was also involved in another controversial case.

In 2010, a Sanford police officer's son punched a man, but he was not arrested. Only after WFTV broke the story and asked questions was Justin Collison arrested.

WFTV learned that the patrol sergeant in charge the night of Collison's attack, Anthony Raimondo, was also the patrol sergeant who initially supervised Martin's shooting scene.

Raimondo has three validated complaints and another one pending.

Zimmerman called to report a suspicious person shortly before firing the shots that killed Martin.

A leader of a self-described black militia group says members plan to come to central Florida to make a citizens' arrest on Zimmerman.

Najee Muhammad of the New Black Liberation Militia announced Thursday that his members will arrive sometime next week.

An attorney for Martin's family is discouraging anyone from taking this type of action.

A preliminary autopsy on Martin has not been released.

WFTV