WATCH ABOVE: 911 call by Zimmerman shooting witness released
ORLANDO, Fla. – Police officers recovered a handgun from George Zimmerman and took two guns from a man accused of shooting at the former neighbourhood watchman while both were driving, authorities said Tuesday.
The incident is just the latest run-in with law enforcement for Zimmerman since he was acquitted in the February 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, in a case that sparked protests and an ongoing national debate about race relations. The U.S. Justice Department later decided not to bring a civil rights case against Zimmerman.
READ MORE: Trayvon Martin’s mother says George Zimmerman got away with murder
Police also released an emergency call Tuesday in which the caller says the other man, Matthew Apperson, told him he was forced to fire his gun Monday at the former neighbourhood watch leader on a busy street in the Orlando suburb of Lake Mary.
“A guy says he had to shoot a guy through the window and he wants the police to come,” the man said on the call. “He had to shoot at somebody … He said it was George Zimmerman.”
Zimmerman suffered minor injuries from flying glass and debris.
WATCH ABOVE: George Zimmerman was injured when someone opened fire on his vehicle Monday.
Two guns were taken from Apperson’s car, including a revolver that had a spent shell casing. Police officers will also execute a search warrant on Zimmerman’s pickup truck, said Lake Mary Police Officer Bianca Gillett.
Both men had the guns legally.
“He never waved it, displayed it or brandished it,” said Zimmerman’s attorney, Don West. “He did not threaten Mr. Apperson in any way with a firearm.”
Detectives are still investigating and no charges have been filed against Zimmerman or Apperson. She said the investigation could take time. Documents released Tuesday show that detectives are investigating the shooting as a possible aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.
WATCH: Lake Mary Police Department’s spokesperson said that no charges or arrests have yet been made in the recent shooting involving George Zimmerman.
“It was a busy time of day on a very busy street,” Gillett said. “We are thinking there is someone that saw something that they could come forward and provide that information to the Lake Mary Police Department.”
Zimmerman and Apperson were involved in a road-rage episode last September, but no charges were filed in that case.
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