The Florida man who escalated his antagonistic relationship with George Zimmerman last week by shooting at him was hit Friday with a slew of criminal charges.
Matthew Apperson, 35, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and firing a deadly missile into an occupied conveyance, according to The Orlando Sentinel.
Apperson’s attorney, Mark NeJame, told local TV station WESH that his client turned himself in after learning that a warrant was out for his arrest. Lake Mary, Florida police said in a news release that detectives had determined Apperson “did intentionally fire his weapon into the vehicle occupied by George Zimmerman,” according to the news station. Zimmerman sustained minor facial injuries in the shooting, which occurred on May 11.
Apperson’s attorney previously said his client fired at Zimmerman in self-defense.
The two men have a history and got into a heated altercation on the road in September. An arrest report for the latest incident showed Zimmerman told investigators that Apperson pulled up behind him and said “You remember me you fat (expletive)?”, according to WESH.
Zimmerman also alleged in the arrest report that Apperson told him “You owe me your life. The only reason I didn’t press charges on you is because I wanted to kill you myself,” according to the news station.
Apperson appeared in court Saturday, where a judge ordered him to surrender his weapons and have no further contact with Zimmerman, according to The Orlando Sentinel. He was released from custody upon posting $35,000 bond.
