Orlando

Man Accused of Firing at George Zimmerman Arrested

Police on Friday arrested a man accused of firing at George Zimmerman Monday morning in the Orlando suburb of Lake Mary.

Matthew Apperson, 35, turned himself in on Friday evening after police established probable cause and contacted Apperson’s lawyer, police spokeswoman Bianca Gillett told NBC Owned Stations.

Apperson was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, and firing a deadly missile into an occupied conveyance, Gillett said in a statement.

"After conducting numerous interviews throughout the week, detectives determined that Mr. Apperson did intentionally fire his weapon into the vehicle occupied by George Zimmerman without provocation," Gillett said.

Apperson called 911 to report the shooting, according to police.

Apperson's attorney, Mark NeJame, has said his client fired in self-defense.

Police recovered a handgun from Zimmerman and took two guns from Apperson, including a revolver that had a spent shell casing. Zimmerman suffered minor injuries from flying glass and debris.

Zimmerman's attorney has said the former neighborhood watch volunteer had recently moved to another state but came back to the Orlando suburb for Mother's Day. He was driving to a doctor's appointment Monday when detectives say Apperson intentionally fired his gun into Zimmerman's truck without provocation.

Zimmerman and Apperson were involved in a road-rage episode last September, but no charges were filed in that case.

Zimmerman was acquitted in the February 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, in a case that sparked protests and a national debate about race relations. The Justice Department later decided not to bring a civil rights case against Zimmerman.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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