Man Who Shot at Zimmerman Vehicle Guilty of Attempted Murder

In this July 9, 2013 file photo, George Zimmerman leaves the courtroom for a lunch break in his trial in Seminole Circuit Court, in Sanford, Fla. Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP, Pool, File

 

SANFORD, Fla.  — A Florida man who fired a gun at George Zimmerman’s vehicle during a road-rage confrontation was convicted Friday of attempted second-degree murder.

Jurors also found Matthew Apperson, 37, guilty of shooting into a vehicle and aggravated assault with a firearm, local news organizations reported. He faces sentencing Oct. 17.

Apperson testified that he acted in self-defense last year. He said he fired at Zimmerman during the confrontation because Zimmerman flashed a gun.

Zimmerman testified earlier this week that he was driving to a doctor’s appointment on May 11, 2015, when he noticed he was being pursued by a vehicle whose driver later pulled up, exchanged words and fired one gunshot at him that missed.

“I heard a bang and my ears started ringing,” Zimmerman, 32, told the jury. The trial opened Tuesday in the Seminole County Courthouse.

In this Sept. 22, 2015 file photo, Matthew Apperson reacts to testimony from George Zimmerman during Apperson's hearing in Seminole circuit court in Sanford, Fla. Testimony begins Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 in Apperson's attempted second-degree murder trial. Authorities say he shot at Zimmerman during a traffic incident last year. Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP, Pool