Trayvon Martin: Zimmerman call to cops fuels online speculation

2:38 p.m. EST, March 20, 2012|

By Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel

What does neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman say under his breath during his call to police just before the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin?

A small portion of Zimmerman's already controversial call to Sanford police, in which he described 17-year-old Martin as "suspicious," has drawn new scrutiny online.

Some insist that Zimmerman is heard using a racial slur in the audio, which was released by police last week amid mounting pressure from the community.

Though it's difficult to decipher what Zimmerman says under his breath in the call, it sounds like the word he uses may be "punks," rather than a racial epithet.

The Sentinel is not republishing the term that some have speculated Zimmerman used. However, the newspaper has excerpted a portion of the audio in question.

As a warning: Please consider before listening that the audio contains language that could be offensive.

Zimmerman, who told authorities he shot the teen in self-defense, has not been arrested or charged with any crime. A grand jury, set to convene on April 10, will decide whether he will face charges.

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