Ill ask you this. If I decide to follow a woman at night down an alley, she gets scared and slaps or hits me. I in return choke slam her. Going by whats happening now, She would be in the wrong for being fearful and acting on it.
Exactly. That's how the law works in FL and other places. And I agree it's pretty twisted.
That's why you always hear people say "I didn't throw the first punch." Throwing the first punch is nearly always considered the most aggravating factor and used in self-defense counter-arguments.
But if you think about it, being followed isn't necessarily grounds for attacking, because it sets a horrible precedent and slippery slope.
Example: I'm walking through the city at night. Someone's following me, at every turn, I become alarmed and punch him in the mouth. What if he was gonna ask me for directions, hand me a club flyer, ask for change, etc.?
See how that could be perceived as a slippery slope? That would create an incredibly schizophrenic community if every time you become paranoid, you could strike.
That's why law is too so interesting vague and broad. So Leaves too much open for interpretation.
And it's also important to know what exactly happened in this case. What if he was cornered and GZ said something threatening? What other alternative does a scared 17 year old have? Maybe he feared for his life? That's another possibility. No one knows though.