George Zimmerman Wounded In Florida Shooting Incident

According to Lake Mary Police Chief Steve Bracknell, George Zimmerman was injured in a shooting incident around 12:45 PM on Monday. The wound is reportedly minor, and Zimmerman walked to the ambulance under his own power. Bracknell initially gave few details on the shooting but suggested that it may have been part of an “ongoing dispute” between Zimmerman and another person.

Zimmerman was acquitted in 2013 in the high-profile shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin. Since Zimmerman’s acquittal, he has been involved in a number of incidents that raise questions about his ability to avoid violent confrontation with others. Zimmerman was arrested for aggravated assault and domestic violence with a weapon in January 2015 for allegedly throwing a wine bottle at his girlfriend.

In September 2013, Zimmerman allegedly threatened his estranged wife, Shellie Zimmerman, with a gun and he also reportedly punched her father. A year later, in September 2014, motorist, Matthew Apperson called 911 to report that George Zimmerman threatened to shoot him during a road rage altercation.

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In each of the three post-trial incidents where Zimmerman allegedly acted violently, charges were not pressed, and he was not convicted.  Despite a pattern of becoming involved in a series of violent confrontations, Zimmerman has managed to dodge serious consequences time and again.

Police spokeswoman Bianca Gillett said Monday’s shooting appeared to be some type of “road rage incident. She did not disclose how the incident unfolded, or what precipitated the apparent act of road rage.

Until more details become available, it is premature to speculate on why George Zimmerman was shot at. What is clear, however, is that George Zimmerman often finds himself involved in disputes that escalate into violence. While this does not necessarily imply that he alone is responsible for escalating each and every confrontation he is involved in, it does suggest that something in his behavior leads him to disproportionately find himself in violent situations, either as the perpetrator, the victim, or perhaps a little of each.

Keith Brekhus

Keith Brekhus is a progressive American who currently resides in Red Lodge, Montana. He is co-host for the Liberal Fix radio show. He holds a Master’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Missouri. In 2002, he ran for Congress as a Green Party candidate in the state of Missouri. In 2014, he worked as a field organizer for Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick’s successful re-election bid in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. He can be followed on Twitter @keithbrekhus or on Facebook.