Matthew Apperson, the man who attempted to shoot George Zimmerman in the head, has been found guilty on all charges, including attempted second degree murder. As LI’s own Andrew Branca explained, not only did Apperson’s reports sound fishy, but he had a checkered past that involved threats to “shoot someone.” Apperson will be sentenced next month and faces a 20-year minimum mandatory sentence.
A jury found Matthew Apperson guilty after officials say he shot at George Zimmerman in a road-rage incident in Seminole County.The jury reached the guilty verdict on all charges, including attempted second-degree murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle and aggravated assault, after more than four hours of deliberations.Apperson will be sentenced on Oct. 17 at 9 a.m. He faces a minimum mandatory 20-year sentence.
Watch the verdict:
Florida Today provides a brief overview of the incident.
Zimmerman said that the gun was pointed directly at his face and that he saw blood on his eyelashes and figured he had been hit, but he was struck by shattered glass, not a bullet.Apperson said on the stand Thursday that he was on a quick trip to the convenience store during work to grab coffee when the incident unfolded.“I was in the right lane of the road. I noticed in the left lane there was a truck matching my speed and keeping up with me and it seemed odd,” Apperson said. “I saw the driver lean over to look at me. He says, ‘Hey, don’t you know who the (expletive) I am?’ I realized at that moment. Took me a couple of seconds this is George Zimmerman.”
Apperson, however, had been (excuse the pun) gunning for Zimmerman for months prior to the incident according to local police.
Florida Today continues:
A police report said that Apperson had a fixation on Zimmerman. Months before the shooting, Zimmerman and Apperson were involved in another road rage incident in which Apperson claims Zimmerman threatened to kill him.Apperson’s attorney said that is why his client felt the need to defend himself during the second incident.
Watch the report:
The full trial can be viewed here (in four parts), and Andrew’s magnificent coverage of all things Zimmerman can be read here.
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