George Zimmerman scored a win in court Friday (Sept. 16), after a jury found Matthew Apperson guilty of attempted second-degree murder.
According to Fox News, the shooting happened May 2015 when Apperson and Zimmerman got into a verbal dispute. During his testimony, Zimmerman claimed Apperson shot into his car after pursuing him as he tried to get to a doctor’s appointment. “I heard a bang and my ears started ringing,” Zimmerman said. Apperson’s attorney, Michael LaFay, claimed Zimmerman flashed a gun at Apperson, causing him to pull his trigger. Prosecutor Stewart Stone quickly noted that Zimmerman’s car had tinted windows. Therefore Apperson couldn’t have seen into the vehicle.
The two had bad blood before the May 2015 encounter. In September, the paralegal claimed Zimmerman threatened him during a road rage incident. The case didn’t go to trial.
The jury deliberated for four hours before coming to the guilty verdict. Since being acquitted of shooting unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012, the Flordia native has been a part of gun-related disputes. He’s also been the aggressor on social media with posts about Martin and President Barack Obama.
Apperson will face sentencing Oct. 17.