Man who says he shot George Zimmerman in self-defense found guilty
A man who claimed he shot at George Zimmerman in self-defense was found guilty of attempted second-degree murder on Friday and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
{mosads}Matthew Apperson shot a single bullet into Zimmerman’s pickup truck following a car chase in Lake Mary, Fla., in May of last year.
Apperson’s defense claimed he was acting in self-defense after Zimmerman pointed a gun at him, but Florida’s Assistant State Attorney Stewart Stone told jurors Apperson’s didn’t meet the standard for self-defense, because he failed to act in a “reasonable, prudent or cautious manner” before shooting.
Zimmerman denied Apperson’s version of events but did confess to having two firearms in his truck.
The two men had known each other prior to the 2015 incident, according to prosecution, and had an ongoing feud.
Zimmerman was famously acquitted for the shooting death of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012.
He similarly alleged he was acting in self defense.
Apperson was also found guilty of aggravated assault and shooting into an occupied vehicle. His sentencing will take place next month.
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