George Zimmerman was punched at a restaurant in Florida for allegedly “bragging” about the Trayvon Martin case, this according to officials.
Several witnesses said that Zimmerman, who was at the Gators Riverside Grille in Sanford on Sunday, approached the table of Joseph Whitmir who was eating with several people at that time.
Whitmir’s wife said that Zimmerman complimented her husband’s Confederate flag tattoo. “Hey, I like your racist tattoos,” he said, according to records. A report also stated that he went on to brag to the table about killing Trayvon.
Another person who was present at the table said he asked Zimmerman to leave the table after that. An incident report reads that the witness took offence when “Zimmerman came to his table and proceeded to brag about how he was the one who killed Trayvon Martin”.
According to Zimmerman, he only complimented the tattoo and he was asked by one person in the table, “aren’t you that guy?” referring to the Trayvon Martin case. Zimmerman said that he was, and pulled out his ID to prove that it was him, reports also show.
Whitmer then asked about the case to which Zimmerman responded that he was defending himself against the unarmed teenager in self defense. Zimmerman then said that another man approached him and said, “you’re bragging about that?” To which he replied that he wasn’t, he was then asked to leave so he rejoined his own friends in another table, also according to the report.
A few minuted later a man who was only identified as “Eddie” was said to have approached Zimmerman’s table and asked, “didn’t I tell you to get…out of here?”
Zimmerman then said that he was not looking for any trouble, to which the man responded by punching him.
Staff at the restaurant were said to have broken the scuffle and Zimmerman proceeded to call 911. The man was then said to have left the scene in a Harley-Davidson. Deputies are still attempting to locate this person.
Only Zimmerman and a friend were reported seeing him getting punched.
According to restaurant owner, Ed Winters, the incident began when Zimmerman approached a shirtless costumer and proceeded to insult the man’s tattoos. He then promptly went back to his table where he was celebrating a 12 year old’s birthday with family.
One of the man’s friends then went over to confront Zimmerman. Winters said the two argued, and shoved each other but no punches were thrown. He also pointed out that anything else beyond that is “blown out of proportion.” Zimmerman was the one who called 911 and told his version to the police who responded to the alleged incident.
Zimmerman also claims that he thinks that the man who confronted him may have thought he was Matthew Apperson.
Apperson was accused of shooting Zimmerman at Lake Mary in May of 2015.
Gators Riverside has asked Zimmerman not to return to the restaurant said Winters. “Everywhere this guy goes he causes controversy,” he pointed out. “You’d think he’d keep a low profile.”
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