Zimmerman Shooter to Use 'Stand Your Ground' Defense: Attorney

The man accused of firing a gun into a car driven by George Zimmerman earlier this month will use the “Stand Your Ground” defense, according to comments by his lawyer Friday.

Matthew Apperson, 36, faces charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery and firing a missile into a vehicle in the May 11 incident.

“And, of course, as you know, Mr. Zimmerman is no stranger to a ‘Stand Your Ground’ situation,” Apperson’s lawyer, Michael Lafay, told the Orlando Sentinel.

Florida’s ”Stand Your Ground” law allows the court to dismiss charges if the shooter felt they faced imminent death or serious bodily injury.

Zimmerman became famous for referencing the law following the shooting death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin in 2012. Zimmerman eventually abandoned the defense and was acquitted of second-degree murder when he went to trial in 2013.

During the altercation May 11, Zimmerman suffered minor injuries from shattered glass, according to Lake Mary Police and he reportedly flagged down an officer shortly after the incident.

At a bond hearing Friday morning, the court instructed Apperson to wear a GPS device so Zimmerman will know any time he is close by, according to Fox Orlando.

See Also:

• George Zimmerman Was Armed During Monday’s Shooting, Cops Say
• No Arrest Yet in George Zimmerman Shooting
• George Zimmerman Blames President Obama for Racial Tensions
• Federal Charges Ruled Out in Trayvon Martin’s Death
• George Zimmerman Reality TV Show Idea Floated
• George Zimmerman Involved in Road Rage Incident, Cops Say
• George Zimmerman Protests Not Over Yet

Zimmerman has been in and out of the news since his acquittal, most recently blaming President Barack Obama for racial tensions that erupted following Martin’s 2012 death. He was also implicated in a road rage incident and had domestic violence allegations levied against him that were subsequently dropped.

Federal civil rights charges in the 17-year-old’s death loomed over Zimmerman until recently. The U.S. Justice Department cited “insufficient evidence” for its February decision against pursuing further action. Zimmerman was a neighborhood watch captain in Sanford when the 2012 shooting took place. His acquittal sparked protests across the country.

Booking photo courtesy of the Seminole County Jail

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