911 call released in George Zimmerman shooting

Police say Matthew Apperson fired at Zimmerman in Lake Mary

LAKE MARY, Fla. – The Lake Mary Police Department has released a 911 call made shortly after a shooting involving George Zimmerman.

According to police, Zimmerman flagged down a police officer on West Lake Mary Boulevard, and said someone had shot at him while he was inside of his truck.

At the same time, a man called 911 on behalf of the alleged gunman Matthew Apperson.

"A guy said he had to pull a gun on a guy...a guy right here just said he had to shoot someone through his window, so he wants the police to come," the caller said. "He said the guy he had to shoot was George Zimmerman."

Police said Zimmerman suffered minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was released a short time later. Police said Zimmerman did not fire a gun in the incident and no other injuries were reported.

Police obtained search warrants for both Zimmerman's truck and the Apperson's Infiniti.

Detectives confiscated two handguns from Apperson's vehicle, including a .40 caliber Glock 22 and a 357 revolver with one expended shell casing in the cylinder.

A Glock handgun was also confiscated from Zimmerman's vehicle.

According to Zimmerman's attorney, Don West, a bullet missed Zimmerman's head in the shooting, and the bullet was lodged near the interior hand rail.  He said Zimmerman was sprayed with glass from the vehicle's windshield and other debris and suffered injuries to his face and arm.

West told Local 10 News that Zimmerman never "waved, displayed or touched his weapon." West said his client lives out of state and was in town to visit his mother for Mother's Day.

West said Zimmerman will stay in Lake Mary for several days because of the incident and will provide a sworn statement to police.

Meanwhile, Apperson's attorney, Mark NeJame, told reporters Monday night that the shooting was self-defense, but did not elaborate further. He said Apperson has a concealed weapons permit and was legally justified to shoot.

Apperson's wife and mother also spoke after leaving the Lake Mary Police Department.

"I have faith that the justice system is going to work in this case," Apperson's mother, Janet White, said.

"I've known him since I was 15 years old, and I know that the truth will prevail," Apperson's wife, Lisa, said.

According to police, Apperson claimed Zimmerman threatened to kill him during a road-rage incident in September 2014. Zimmerman wasn't arrested in that incident and Apperson has not been charged in Monday's incident at this time.

Zimmerman was acquitted in the death of Trayvon Martin in 2013 and has faced other allegations against him in past years, ranging from speeding to domestic violence incidents.

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About the Authors

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.

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