Barring a string of bizarre domestic incidents involving a girlfriend at the end of last year and heavily-criticized potential boxing match against DMX, George Zimmerman has maintained a relatively low profile since his July 2013 acquittal for the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin a year prior. According to a recent report, the former neighborhood watch leader has taken to guarding a Florida weapons and motorcycles store.
WFTV reports that Zimmerman, 30, has been asked to guard Pompano Pat's by friend and owner Pat Johnson following a recent burglary attempt. According to Mashable, a DeLand, Fla. police officer initially spotted Zimmerman inside of the store—which specializes in guns, ammunition, and motorcycles—just after midnight on Sunday:
Zimmerman told the officer that "he was watching the business due to a recent burglary" and that his friend, the store's owner, Pat Johnson, had asked him to do that, according to the DeLand police report seen by Mashable.
Mashable adds that Johnson clarified Zimmerman's presence to WKMG, explaining that he had requested Zimmerman take a surveillance post as opposed to officially hiring him. DeLand Police Department spokesman Chris Estes told Mashable that Zimmerman volunteered for the opportunity.
WKMG also notes that Johnson has looked out for Zimmerman in the past. The store penned a letter to station explaining its reasoning for offering him a free gun following his acquittal:
Upon receiving your confirmation that he is well within his legal rights to concealed carry, our company would like to offer Mr. Zimmerman a free firearm. We currently have the same model in stock, or he could (choose) another weapon suitable for concealed carry. We have read numerous reports of death threats against your client and believe no good would come from harming him.
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