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US: George Zimmerman shooter guilty of attempted murder

Matthew Apperson faces minimum 20-year sentence for shooting into vehicle of notorious killer of Travyon Martin

Canberk Yüksel  | 17.09.2016 - Update : 17.09.2016
US: George Zimmerman shooter guilty of attempted murder Protesters, gathered outside the federal courthouse, march across the Brooklyn Bridge during the 'Justice for Trayvon' rally in New York, United States on 21 July 2013

New York

NEW YORK 

A Florida man is facing at least 20 years in prison after being found guilty Friday of attempted second-degree murder in a shooting that involved George Zimmerman, who killed an unarmed black teenager in 2012.

Matthew Apperson, 37, was convicted by a Seminole County jury of attempted second-degree murder for firing a single gunshot into Zimmerman's truck during a roadside confrontation in May 2015, according to media reports.

He was also convicted on charges of shooting into an occupied vehicle and aggravated assault with a firearm.

A Florida statute law dubbed 10-20-life stipulates that any crime during which a firearm, or weapon is fired automatically results in a sentence of at least 20 years in prison.

The paralegal defended himself by saying he acted in self-defense after Zimmerman first flashed a gun. The bullet missed the former neighborhood watchman’s face and hit the truck's metal frame.

Zimmerman, 32, shot and killed 17-year-old Travyon Martin in 2012, sparking nationwide protest that birthed the Black Lives Matter movement.

A jury in Florida acquitted Zimmerman of all charges a year later.

On cross examination, Apperson’s attorney forced Zimmerman to acknowledge that he had sold the gun he used to shoot Martin for $250,000 and he considers Black Lives Matter activists to be “terrorists".

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