George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer acquitted by a Florida jury in the February 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin, has been involved in another violent incident.
Zimmerman was sprayed with glass and suffered minor injuries Monday in the Orlando suburb of Lake Mary, Florida, after a motorist opened fire on his car during a road rage incident, according to the Lake Mary Police Department.
“The bullet missed his head. I think it broke a window and lodged in his vehicle,” said Zimmerman’s attorney Don West.
As news of the incident spread across social media, Zimmerman became the #1 trending topic in the U.S. on Twitter.
“George Zimmerman is incapable of avoiding gun incidents,” tweeted television personality Montel Williams.
Meanwhile,
A police spokeswoman told CNN that the man who shot at Zimmerman, Matthew Apperson, is the same person who called police last year saying he felt threatened by Zimmerman.
Since he was acquitted of murder in July 2013 in the death of Martin, Zimmerman has had multiple brushes with the law.
In January he was accused of assault by a girlfriend, but she later recanted and no charges were filed.
In September 2013, his estranged wife called 911 claiming he had punched her father and was threatening her with a gun. She did not press charges.
In November 2013, Zimmerman was arrested and accused of domestic violence by girlfriend Samantha Scheibe. She later asked that the charges be dropped.
On September 9, 2014, George Zimmerman was named by police in a road rage incident where he reportedly threatened and followed another driver.
Below is a sampling of reaction to Zimmerman’s latest encounter with police.
https://twitter.com/TalibKweli/status/597833254922637312
https://twitter.com/Montel_Williams/status/597863246444527616
https://twitter.com/wilw/status/597860896828850176
There are people in actual gangs who haven't been involved in as much gunplay as George Zimmerman.
— M A L I K ᡕᠵ᠊ᡃ࡚ࠢ࠘ ⸝່ࠡࠣ᠊߯᠆ࠣ࠘ᡁࠣ࠘᠊᠊ࠢ࠘?⁻ ⁻ ? (@mr_mookie) May 12, 2015
If George Zimmerman keeps this up, he's really going to start to lose credibility
— Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) May 11, 2015
George Zimmerman is the lowest of the low. The worst of the worst. Make him go away.
— Andy Cohen (@Andy) May 11, 2015
Do you think when George Zimmerman got shot he was like "Um, guys? I'm the one who does the shooting around here!" and then everyone LOLd?
— rob delaney (@robdelaney) May 11, 2015
After countless run-ins with the law, and engagements with gun violence, I wonder if anyone will ever call George Zimmerman a "thug."
— Marc Lamont Hill (@marclamonthill) May 11, 2015
George Zimmerman was just shot in a road rage incident. I guess the other guy felt threatened and stood his ground? Oh, the irony.
— Rob Thomas (@ThisIsRobThomas) May 11, 2015
George Zimmerman needs to seriously move away from people. He should be doing the #YearInSpace thing for Nasa
— Zak Bagans ??♂️ (@Zak_Bagans) May 11, 2015
If you're in an altercation with George Zimmerman, you better fire first.
— Chalupa Batman アダム (@TwoBitWhackJob) May 12, 2015
Police: George Zimmerman shot at in Lake Mary http://t.co/dOEPl8tBwN pic.twitter.com/lsCDqLwrB5
— Orlando Sentinel (@orlandosentinel) May 11, 2015
Appears to be bullet hole in window of vehicle at #GeorgeZimmerman shooting scene. Live video: http://t.co/q4lZfyeatp pic.twitter.com/taTXVC0xH8
— Kevin Clay (@kevinrclay) May 11, 2015