MSNBC.Com News Reports... George Zimmerman has been taken into custody and will be charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, authorities announced Wednesday.
"We did not come to this decision lightly," Angela Corey, the special prosecutor appointed by Florida Gov. Rick Scott to re-examine the case, said at a news conference in Jacksonville, Fla. Corey had previously announced that she wouldn't take the case to a grand jury, which took first-degree murder off the table.
Corey said she decided last week to seek the charge but needed several days to make sure all details were in order. She said she had informed Martin's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton.
Zimmerman turned himself into authorities, said Corey, who wouldn't say where he was being held to protect his safety.
Under Florida law, Zimmerman, 28, must be taken before a judge within 24 hours of his return to Seminole County, where he has acknowledged he shot and killed Martin, 17, in the town of Sanford on Feb. 26.
Sanford, Florida (CNN) -- Special prosecutor Angela Corey has decided against using a grand jury in the case involving the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, her office said Monday.
The grand jury, set to convene Tuesday, was "previously scheduled by the former prosecutor," said the statement from Corey.
"The decision should not be considered a factor in the final determination of the case," her office said.
Corey said the investigation into the case continues. The state attorney has maintained that a grand jury is not needed to file possible criminal charges against George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who killed the teen February 26.
The case has triggered a nationwide debate about Florida's "stand your ground" law -- which allows people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of death or serious injury -- and race in America.
Thousands have converged on Sanford to join in protests calling for Zimmerman's arrest and criticize the police department's handling of the case.
On Monday, a group of students calling themselves the Dream Defenders marched to the Sanford police station, singing and carrying a banner saying, "We are Trayvon Martin."The march began Friday in Daytona Beach, about 40 miles away, and continued through the weekend.
The marchers linked arms, sang and chanted as they faced the building's entrance Monday. Six of the demonstrators, wearing hoodies, were blocking the department's main entrance. Martin was wearing a hoodie when he was killed.
The Sanford Police Department said in a statement its office was "temporarily closed to the public ... due to the actions of student protestors. The students are currently occupying the space in front of the police department blocking the main entrance." The protest will not affect police and fire response to emergency calls, the department said.
"The city of Sanford hopes the actions of the students will be as peaceful and orderly as the previous rallies and marches have been," City Manager Norton Bonaparte Jr. said.
Two prosecutors are working to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to bring charges against Zimmerman, 28.
Corey said previously she has never used a grand jury to decide on charges in a justifiable homicide case.
"We do a thorough investigation. We make that decision ourselves," she said.
It is unknown whether prosecutors have interviewed Zimmerman. In late March, Corey told CNN sister network HLN that prosecutors had yet to speak to him, nor did her office know where he was.
Zimmerman's attorneys say he is available anytime to talk to the special prosecutor.
Prosecutors are trying to unravel what happened the night that Martin was killed. Witnesses and attorneys for both sides have offered conflicting accounts.
What is known is that Martin ventured out from his father's fiancee's home in Sanford to get a snack at a nearby convenience store. As he walked home with a bag of Skittles and an Arizona iced tea, he was shot and killed by Zimmerman.
Sanford police questioned Zimmerman and released him without charges.
From there, the case has evolved into opposing allegations from Zimmerman's supporters, Martin's family and authorities.
Zimmerman says he killed Martin in self-defense after the teen punched him and slammed his head on the sidewalk, according to an Orlando Sentinel report that was later confirmed by Sanford police.
One of the responding officers saw a wound on the back of Zimmerman's head and a bloody nose, and noted that his back was wet -- indicating he had been lying in the grass, according to the police report.
An enhanced copy of a surveillance video showing him in police custody after the shooting appears to show a bump, mark or injury on his head.
Martin's family and supporters have dismissed the video.
They say Zimmerman, who is Hispanic, racially profiled the teen, who was black, and ignored a police dispatcher's directive not to follow him.
Zimmerman's attorneys interpret the call differently, and say the operator did not order Zimmerman not to follow Martin.
A recording of a 911 call made the night of the shooting captured someone pleading for help. Zimmerman has said he was yelling for help, according to his family members and his account to authorities.
Martin's relatives have said they are certain the voice calling for help on the 911 call is Martin's.
Audio experts Tom Owen and Ed Primeau, who analyzed the recordings for the Orlando Sentinel using different techniques, said they don't believe the voice is Zimmerman's.
They compared the screams with Zimmerman's voice, as recorded in a 911 call he made minutes earlier describing a "suspicious" black male.
The debate was further muddied when a witness, who declined to be identified by CNN, said she saw and heard the incident through her window.
When pressed on whether she could determine who was yelling, the witness said, "It was the younger, youthful voice (rather) than it was the deep voice I heard when they were arguing."
Zimmerman's attorneys have questioned the account, saying it was dark at the time of the shooting.
Until now, only friends and relatives of Zimmerman's have come forward to speak on his behalf. Zimmerman's attorneys have said he wants to share his story but can't because of threats to his safety and the possibility of charges.
Martin's family has said a Sanford police detective filed an affidavit saying he did not find Zimmerman's statements after the shooting credible -- but that Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee and State Attorney Norm Wolfinger met the night of the shooting and disregarded the detective's advice.
Neither police nor prosecutors have confirmed the existence of such an affidavit. And Wolfinger has vehemently denied that such a meeting occurred.
The two sides have also debated what Zimmerman whispered under his breath during his 911 call.
Martin's supporters said he uttered a racial slur; Zimmerman's lawyer said he told them he whispered "punks."
"We don't know" whether a grand jury will choose to indict, said Zimmerman's attorney, Craig Sonner.
Gov. Rick Scott appointed Corey as a special prosecutor as calls for "Justice for Trayvon" grew in the days following the shooting.
Authorities have said Zimmerman was not immediately charged because there were no grounds, at the outset, to disprove his account that he'd acted to protect himself.
The governor has formed a task force to review the "stand your ground" law.
CNN's Eric Fiegel, Martin Savidge and Ashleigh Banfield contributed to this report
Hot! Straight out of Peekskill NY, Deuce Broadway continues to rep with hot beats and slick bars. Spitting the truth in every line Deuce is back at it. With the help of one of Yonkers rap kings 'JadaKiss" on the new track "I Got It" off the new mixtape "Got Guap" set to be released this Spring.
Mike D'Antoni is out as head coach of the New York Knicks, according to multiple reports on Wednesday.
A source told the website it was a "mutual decision" between D'Antoni and the Knicks' front office.
The news comes after reports indicated Knicks superstar Carmelo Anthony was unhappy with D'Antoni as the team's coach.
Assistant coach Mike Woodson will take over the team on an interim basis, according to Yahoo! Sports.
Earlier Wednesday, Anthony denied reports that said he wanted to leave New York if the team was unwilling to part ways with D'Antoni before next season.
"Let's nip it in the bud right now," Anthony said after the team's morning shootaround, according to the New York Post. "I'm tired of hearing it. It came out this morning. I guess an anonymous source. I'm tired of anonymous sources. I don't want to be traded. I don't know where that foolishness came from."
The Post earlier reported that Anthony's discontent with the Knicks organization had become so severe after Monday night's loss to the Chicago Bulls, he told a confidant he preferred to be traded before Thursday's trade deadline.
The star forward dismissed the report, adding that he and D'Antoni had spoken to clear the air.
"It was, win tonight and not listen to what's said out there about all the trade talks, stuff about him, stuff about me," Anthony said of his conversation with D'Antoni.
D'Antoni, 60, was in his fourth season with the Knicks. He took New York to the playoffs last season for the first time in his tenure, but was swept in the first round by the Celtics. He previously had head coaching stints in Denver and Phoenix
The Knicks — losers of six straight — have fallen out of a playoff spot, as the Milwaukee Bucks own the tiebreaker on the eighth spot.
This past weekend Lil Kim performed with rapper Rick Ross for the 2012 Winter Wonderland/Fetish/Everything Else Ski Trip Concert. During one of her performances the Hard Core star decides to bring a line of big booty Judy's on stage to "Booty Pop" with her to Rihanna's "Birthday Cake". Even though Kim has been well known for her raunchiness some are saying it was a desperate attempt at grabbing some of rival female rapper Nicki Minaj's big booty shine.
Stars in music, film, sports etc. came out to celebrate the 70th born day of the great Muhammad Ali while also paying tribute to the late Whitney Houston. Among those in attendance was Kelly Rowland who sung Whitney Houston’s 1986 classic “The Greatest Love of All,” accompanied by Stevie Wonder on piano. The song was originally recorded by George Benson for the 1977 Muhammad Ali biopic The Greatest.
The Destiny’s Child singer shared memories of meeting Ms. Houston early in her career. “I remember the first time I met her, she was just such an angel and so supportive and had great words of encouragement to say about the music industry,” she said. “To meet such an icon and a legend like her, you’re just like, ‘I was in her presence.’”
Here is Kelly's rendition of Whitney's Classic "Greatest Love Of All" what do you think...
