Matthew Apperson, the man accused of shooting at George Zimmerman in a 2015 road-rage incident, was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison.
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He found guilty last month of attempted second-degree murder in the incident, as well as shooting into an occupied vehicle and aggravated assault.
Apperson will serve 20 years in prison for the conviction, the mandatory minimum for the charge. He also was sentenced to 15 years each for his other two convictions. Apperson will serve those sentences at the same time as his 20-year sentence.
He didn't address the court during the sentencing hearing, sitting shackled in the jury box during the proceedings.
However, Zimmerman attended and spoke at the sentencing hearing. Zimmerman gave a five-minute victim impact statement, explaining how the shooting has affected his life.
“It’s very difficult for me to come here before you, your honor, as I’m sure you’re aware with my notoriety," Zimmerman said. "Yet I made the decision to come not only to testify but also to closing arguments and here to give you a statement, because I feel it’s due to the courts.
"My family can’t ride in my car anymore. He didn’t care whether it was just me in the car or my nephews, my nieces, my friends, my family members. He had absolute disregard for any life, anybody driving down Lake Mary Boulevard," Zimmerman said.
Apperson's wife, Lisa, said she's having a hard time wrapping her head around the situation.
“I’m having trouble comprehending all of it. I stand here numb. Completely numb. I feel like my feet are just going to give out from under me,” Lisa Apperson said outside the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center.
Apperson’s attorney admitted that his client and Zimmerman had an ongoing feud before the road rage shooting last year. However, he said the 37-year-old Apperson shot at Zimmerman in self defense after Zimmerman aimed a gun at him as the two traveled in separate vehicles on Lake Mary Boulevard.
Zimmerman, who was acquitted in 2013 in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, said he did not point a gun at Apperson, but he did admit to having two firearms in his truck on the day of the incident.
Apperson's attorney said he already plans to appeal the conviction.
Apperson will receive 444 days of time served toward his 20 year sentence.