Latest Zimmerman Dust-Up Linked To Prior Road Rage Incident
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LAKE MARY (CBSMiami/AP) -- The man who called 9-1-1 Monday to report he was involved in a shooting with George Zimmerman, the man acquitted in the Trayvon Martin shooting case two years ago, appears to be the same person involved in a road rage incident with Zimmerman last year.
Lake Mary Police Officer Bianca Gillett said that Matthew Apperson called to report the incident. She also said during the press conference that Zimmerman was not the shooter.
Apperson's attorney, Mark NeJame, said his client acted in self defense, but did not give details.
"He did not go looking for trouble, he did not want trouble, he's not following George Zimmerman around," said NeJame during a news conference after Apperson left the police department.
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A couple hours before that news conference, Apperson was agitated with reporters who surrounded him while he smoked a cigarette outside.
"Tell us what happened today," asked one reporter.
"Hey! You touch me?" asked Apperson.
"Now is your chance to tell your side of the story," said another reporter.
Apperson's response, "This is your opportunity to get of my face right now! No comment."
Zimmerman's attorney, Don West, says Zimmerman wasn't seriously injured Monday. West said a bullet missed his head in the shooting and that Zimmerman was sprayed with glass from his car's windshield and other debris.
He tells a different story of what lead up to the shooting, blaming Apperson.
"He was taunting him and making comments, 'What are you going to do? shoot me now, sort of thing," said West.
Zimmerman was released from the hospital, according to West.
In last year's road rage incident, Apperson said Zimmerman threatened to kill him, asking "Do you know who I am?" during a road confrontation in their vehicles. Apperson decided not to pursue charges, and police officers were unable to move forward without a car tag identified or witnesses.
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Gillett says investigators have not determined how or why the latest altercation began.
Zimmerman's attorney says he was not shot and had only minor injuries.
Zimmerman's 2013 acquittal in the killing of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teen from Miami, touched off protests across the country.
Zimmerman has had several brushes with the law since the acquittal:
— Earlier this year, Zimmerman's girlfriend accused him of assault, but no charges were filed after she recanted her allegation.
— He was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, battery and criminal mischief after his then-girlfriend said he pointed a gun at her face during an argument, smashed her coffee table and pushed her out of the house they shared. Samantha Scheibe decided not to cooperate with detectives and prosecutors didn't pursue the case.
— Zimmerman was accused by his estranged wife of smashing an iPad during an argument at the home they had shared. Shellie Zimmerman initially told a dispatcher her husband had a gun, though she later said he was unarmed. No charges were ever filed because of a lack of evidence. The dispute occurred days after Shellie Zimmerman filed divorce papers.
— Zimmerman has also been pulled over three times for traffic violations since his acquittal.
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