George Zimmerman Auctioning Off Gun He Used To Kill Trayvon Martin

By Camila Domonoske / NPR

Published May 12, 2016 at 2:20 AM PDT

This story was published more than 8 years ago.

Sanford, Fla., police officer Timothy Smith holds up the gun that was used to kill Trayvon Martin, while testifying on June 28, 2013, the 15th day of George Zimmerman's murder trial. The gun is now up for auction, according to Zimmerman.

In this photo provided by Seminole County Sheriff`s Office, George Zimmerman poses for a mug shot after being arrested and booked into jail at the John Polk Correctional Facility Jan. 9, 2015, in Sanford, Fla. Florida officials reported that Zimmerman had been charged with aggravated assault and domestic violence with a weapon.

George Zimmerman, who fatally shot unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012 and was acquitted of all charges in the case, is auctioning off the gun that he says he used in that incident.

The 9 mm pistol is listed for sale on GunBroker.com, posted by user "GZ1776." [UPDATE at 11:37 a.m. ET: The link for the auction, which was supposed to begin at 11 a.m. ET, is no longer active. NPR has not yet confirmed if the auction has been canceled.]

Become a KPBS sponsor

"The firearm for sale is the firearm that was used to defend my life and end the brutal attack from Trayvon Martin on 2/26/2012," the listing states. It goes on to say the gun is fully functional and was returned to Zimmerman by the Department of Justice.

It concludes:

"I am proud to announce that a portion of the proceeds will be used to: fight [Black Lives Matter] violence against Law Enforcement officers, ensure the demise of Angela [Corey's] persecution career and Hillary Clinton's anti-firearm rhetoric. Now is your opportunity to own a piece of American History. Good Luck. Your friend, George M. Zimmerman ~Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum~ "

Angela Corey was the attorney leading the case against Zimmerman, who was charged with murder and manslaughter but acquitted after he claimed self-defense. Si vis pacem para bellum is Latin for "If you want peace, prepare for war."

Zimmerman spoke with Fox 35 Orlando, a local news station, and confirmed that he is auctioning off the gun he says was used to shoot and kill Martin.

He told the news station that he has received death threats, both before and after posting the listing.

Become a KPBS sponsor

"What I've decided to do is not cower," he told Fox 35 Orlando. "I'm a free American. I can do what I want with my possessions."

The station also spoke with an attorney for Martin's family, who said the Trayvon Martin Foundation is "laser focused" on ending gun violence and "has no comments on the actions of that person."

The auction begins Thursday at 11 a.m., with a starting price of $5,000.

The site on which the gun is listed, gunbroker.com, has made headlines in relation to the Martin case before. In 2012, shooting targets showing a hooded figure holding Skittles and iced tea — the items Martin was carrying the night he died — were reportedly advertised on the website.

GunBroker.com told Reuters the ads were removed as soon as the company was aware of them.