Photo of Trayvon Martin- Fiction!

Photo of Trayvon Martin- Fiction!

Summary of the eRumor:
This is a forwarded email that allegedly contains a photo and description of Trayvon Martin, the 17 year old who died during an altercation with George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida on February 26, 2012.

The Truth:
The man in the photo is Jayceon Terrell Taylor. He is a rap singer from Compton CA who goes by the moniker of "The Game".

Taylor is 15 years older than Martin and after the incident the rap singer was very outspoken to the media about how he felt that this was a racial hate crime. It is possible that someone confused his photo for that of Tayvon Martin.

The photo began circulating on the Internet shortly after the trial of George Zimmerman began on May 7, 2012. The 17 year old Martin was shot and killed on the streets of Sanford, Florida by George Zimmerman, who pleaded not guilty to the charge of second degree murder. Zimmerman maintains that he shot Martin in an act of self-defense. Zimmerman remains in custody awaiting trial after his bond was revoked.

The photo below is from a recent album cover by the rap artist known as "The Game" showing the same tattoos on face, neck and right hand that appeared in the forwarded email:

According to an April 10, 2012 Q&A article in the Atlanta Journal the "Associated Press has reported that Martin was 6 feet tall and 140 pounds, but the police report listed him as 6-foot, 160 pounds. The police report stated that Zimmerman is 5-foot-9, but didn’t list his weight. The New York Times reported that witnesses to the fight between Martin and Zimmerman described Martin as 6-foot-1 and 150 pounds and Zimmerman as 5-foot-9, 170 pounds."

updated 6/11/12

A real example of the eRumor as it has appeared on the Internet:

For those of us who thought we were well informed and weren't.....this is a bit of "realty check"

That old adage applies here. . . "there are two sides to every story" . . .we don't always get the truth from the media.
One of my favorite rants...the liberal controlled media...television news...newspapers...magazines...radio...all continue to show 12 year old Trayvon...NOT 17 year old Trayvon...they continue to show the 5 year old picture BECAUSE it helps to cement in your mind the little, cute, hoodie wearing youngster who was stalked by this monster In reality.."little Trayvon"...at the time of his death...stood almost 6'2" tall...weighed 175 muscular pounds...had numerous run ins with authorities (both at school and local police)...had been stopped and almost arrested two days before his death for...smacking a bus driver in the face...because the driver refused to let him ride for free...he was released because the driver was told not to press charges by the bus company and to continue on his route.

When "little Trayvon" was suspended at school...it was not only because he tried to bring a little marijuana in with him...he was in possession of wedding rings and other jewelry...watches etc. that he said he "found" along with a large screwdriver...while on the way to school that day...the jewelry was turned over to the Police by the school. I am not trying to say this was a good or bad shooting...

And, I am not trying to say this kid deserved to die...I am saying...the media in the USA is controlled by liberals who twist and distort what you see and hear in order for you to see things their way! What they want you to see the way they want you to see it!

Not a single paper has printed RECENT photos of this kid...because...it would not keep your interest in this case... Not a single paper will admit that this kid was a marijuana dealer...his friends on facebook all say he had the "best plants"...not a single paper will show you any of his recent photos where he shows off a mouthful of gold teeth....all of his tattoos...not a single paper will tell the news...the facts like they truly are...Our President Obama...looked at the FIVE year old photo the media chose to show the Nation...and said..."If I had a son...he would look like Trayvon" So from that comment...should I assume that he did not bother to look for the facts in this shooting..or should I assume that he wants a son who is a 17 year old drug dealing, gold teethed thug whose name on one of his facebook profiles was "wild nigga"...who 'finds" jewelry and burglary tools on the way to school ?

A fair and impartial news media in the USA? One that does not follow a liberal agenda? One that is NOT looking to further divide this already fractured Nation?|

I didn't compose this. I'm only passing it on.
Never trust the news media for anything.