The man charged with shooting at George Zimmerman in May will stand trial for attempted second-degree murder, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Zimmerman took the stand in Seminole County court, in the same building where he was acquitted two years earlier of murder charges in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, to testify he did not pull a gun on Matthew Apperson before Apperson fired into his truck on Lake Mary Boulevard.

When asked how long it was before the shot fired, Zimmerman said, "Not even a second. As soon as I looked over, I saw the barrel of the gun."

"I saw Mr. Apperson; I heard the shot. I mean, it was within seconds at the most," Zimmerman continued.

Zimmerman was on the witness stand for more than an hour Tuesday, answering questions from both prosecutors and the defense, including why Apperson began arguing with him that day.

"I said, 'Thank you, I already know,' and he said, 'You already know you're wrong for killing that little black boy,'" Zimmerman testified.

"What did you respond to that?" defense attorney Michael LaFay then asked Zimmerman.

"I believe I laughed at him, and I don't know if I'm supposed to," Zimmerman said before stopping himself.

"Please, say what you said," LaFay said.

"I told him to [expletive] off. He didn't know what he was talking about," Zimmerman finished.


A bullet hole is seen in George Zimmerman's truck after the May 11 shooting. (Sam McKinney, Staff)

Zimmerman's attorney, Don West, spoke after Tuesday's hearing.

"I think that he'll continue to cooperate and he'll wind up testifying, and he will be subject to answering any proper question, sure," West said.

"I think that it's possible at some point that I may offer the state a resolution, and if they choose to accept it my terms, well I hope they do," LaFay said. "If they don't, then I'm sure that's what we have jury trial for."

Apperson remains in jail without bond. His next court hearing is Oct. 21.


Matthew Apperson in court on July 31.