Trayvon targets: gun training targets using the likeness of Trayvon Martin, by portraying a faceless boy in a hoodie holding Skittles and a bottled beverage, were the root of one law enforcement official's firing in Florida.
Sergeant Ron King of the Port Canaveral Police Department was fired Friday after King allegedly introduced the Trayvon targets to a small group of trainees. King denies the allegation.
In a response posted to YouTube, Sgt. King said the snacks the so-called Trayvon target was carrying were being used as a means to identify non-threatening persons in a shootout scenario. Therefore, no trainee was meant to shoot at the Trayvon target.
During a training session, Sgt. Ron King allegedly handed a target to a fellow sergeant. Instead of utilizing the Trayvon target in the exercise, the other sergeant photographed the target and revealed the photograph to his superiors.
When alerted to the use of the Trayvon targets, Canaveral Port Authority Chief Executive John Walsh called the "entire situation unacceptable," and promptly released Sgt. Ron King.
Sgt. King later offered apologies to Trayvon Martin's family, assuring he did not mean to offend anyone and wanted instead to prevent future similar situations to Trayvon Martin's death. The man who killed Trayvon Martin, neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman, who said he shot the teen in self-defense, is awaiting a June trial date for the 2012 shooting.
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
