Trayvon Martin's killing by George Zimmerman: A timeline of the case

The fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin in a gated Florida community by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman on Feb. 26 has sparked protests around the country. President Obama even weighed in on the case, in which Zimmerman now faces a charge of second-degree murder. Here are key moments in the case as it evolved from a neighborhood killing to a nationwide debate.

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Feb. 26, 2012

Trayvon Martin, 17, is walking back from a corner store in Sanford, Fla., with a bag of Skittles candy and iced tea. George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, reports him to police and begins following him, despite pleas by a dispatcher not to do so. Zimmerman fatally shoots Martin. Zimmerman tells police he killed Martin in self-defense after a fight. No charges are filed.

Family photo / AP

March, 2012

In early March, Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, launch an online petition for State Attorney Angela Corey to prosecute Zimmerman. The post was soon followed by tweets from celebrities, including Russell Simmons, Mia Farrow and Cher, calling for justice for the slain teen.

Twitter

A suit is filed on behalf of Martin's parents for public records in the case, attorney Benjamin Crump tells the Miami Herald. Here, <span>U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.), center, has a word with Tracy Martin, left, and Sybrina Fulton at a House Judiciary Committee briefing on racial profiling and hate crimes in late March.</span>

March 9, 2012

A suit is filed on behalf of Martin's parents for public records in the case, attorney Benjamin Crump tells the Miami Herald. Here, U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.), center, has a word with Tracy Martin, left, and Sybrina Fulton at a House Judiciary Committee briefing on racial profiling and hate crimes in late March.

Jahi Chikwendiu / The Washington Post

March 16, 2012

The 911 tapes are released, and TV coverage of the killing intensifies. This is a screen grab of a video in which George Zimmerman arrives at the police station on the night of the shooting. CBS News video grab

March 19, 2012

The Justice Department and the FBI opened an investigation into the death of the black teenager, and the local state attorney announced that he had asked a grand jury to investigate. Here, Tallahassee criminal defense attorney Devron Brown, center, speaks to Florida Gov. Rick Scott about the Martin case.

Mark Wallheiser / Getty Images

March 23, 2012

President Obama tells reporters the Martin case should be investigated, adding, "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon.''

Haraz N. Ghanbari / AP

March 23, 2012

Florida Gov. Rick Scott appoints Angela Corey, a state attorney, as a special prosecutor.

Bruce Lipsky / AP

March 26, 2012

A woman joins a protest in memory of Trayvon Martin in downtown Los Angeles. Protesters were marking the one-month anniversary of the killing of the unarmed black Florida teenager.

Joe Klamar / AFP/Getty Images

April 10, 2012

Zimmerman's attorneys — Hal Uhrig, left, and Craig Sonner — say they have lost track of Zimmerman and have stopped representing him.

Tamara Lush / AP

April 11, 2012

George Zimmerman, now in custody in Florida and being held without bail, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of Trayvon Martin. Here, on the day Zimmeran was charged, a memorial to Trayvon Martin remains outside the gated community where Martin was killed.

Joe Raedle / Getty Images

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