George Zimmerman slightly injured in Florida gun attack

Neighbourhood watch volunteer acquitted of killing Trayvon Martin

George Zimmerman appears in court in  2013. Photograph: Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Reuters
George Zimmerman appears in court in 2013. Photograph: Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Reuters

A gunman has opened fire on a car being driven by George Zimmerman, the Us man acquitted in 2013 of fatally shooting an unarmed black teenager that sparked protests and national debate about race.

A lawyer for the former neighbourhood watch volunteer said his client was not seriously injured after being shot at in Florida.

Don West said a bullet missed Mr Zimmerman’s head in the shooting in the Orlando suburb of Lake Mary.

He said Mr Zimmerman was sprayed with glass from his vehicle’s windshield and taken to hospital where he was released after treatment.

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Police said officers responded to a shooting involving Mr Zimmerman. They provided no other details.

Since his acquittal over the shooting of unarmed 17-tear-old Trayvon Martin in 2012, Mr Zimmerman has had several brushes with the law.

Those include two incidents involving allegations of assault by girlfriends, and his wife claiming he smashed her iPad.

Charges were either dropped or not pursued because of a lack of evidence in those cases.