George Zimmerman just got $250,000 richer. The former neighborhood watch volunteer’s gun may have failed to sell in its initial auction , but a subsequent one landed him more cash than the first offer.
The gun, which was used in the shooting of Trayvon Martin, was initially thought to have been sold for $120,000 after the bidding closed last week. But succeeding reports claimed that the closing price was $150,000.
The winning bidder was then identified as Denny Honeycutt, who is the owner of Main Street biker bar Froggy’s Saloon in Daytona. He initially planned to make money out of the purchase by showing off pictures of the gun at his bar. He also thought of selling shirts with the image of the firearm.
George Zimmerman’s gun, that was used to kill #TrayvonMartin , was sold in a private auction https://t.co/1u1sctsjeD pic.twitter.com/WbiuTKbdWU
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) May 18, 2016
However, less than two hours before he was supposed to pick up the item he won at the auction, George Zimmerman informed him he had to call it off. Apparently, somebody offered to purchase the gun at a much higher price.
The sale was also confirmed by United Gun Group, which hosted the auction. The Kel?Tec PF?9, a 9mm pistol, was sold at a price that is much more than the market value of a second?hand weapon.
In a conversation, George Zimmerman said that the amount of the bid was indeed $250,000.
According to sources close to the neighborhood watch volunteer, an unidentified female bidder contacted George Zimmerman’s attorney to be able to make a deposit. The former neighborhood watch volunteer was hesitant to take the offer in the beginning, but he eventually verified her funds just before the bidding ended.
It is not clear though if the identity of the winning bidder will be revealed.
George Zimmerman earlier made an announcement about the success of the bidding process. In a short post, he thanked God for what he said was a “successful auction that has raised funds for several worthy cause.” Part of the proceeds of the sale will be used to combat Hillary Clinton’s anti?gun rhetoric, stop the violence against law enforcers, and end Angela Corey’s career, who led in prosecuting his case.
#GeorgeZimmerman closes his gun auction, doesn’t identify the winning bid. https://t.co/SMurrAWMYZ pic.twitter.com/u5pinuMdTg
— FOX 11 Los Angeles (@FOXLA) May 19, 2016
The gun, which he tagged as a part of American history, was initially posted with a bid price of $5,000. The said listing drew fake bids, though, thus the decision to shut it down. When the item was re?listed, the bid amount was already increased to $100,000.
The auction made by George Zimmerman also drew flak for providing profit from the item used in the killing of 17?year?old Trayvon Martin. One commentary even called it worse than him not being convicted for the death of the teenager, as it “would be a trophy celebrating” the former neighborhood watch volunteer and the shooting.
#GeorgeZimmerman is the absolute worst! https://t.co/zRMvVmQC7B pic.twitter.com/EU9VPLul5H
— Perez Hilton (@PerezHilton) May 18, 2016
Speaking about the value of the gun, George Zimmerman said that it is what saved his life from “a near-death brutal attack by Trayvon Martin.” When asked whether he considered the teenager’s family’s feelings in auctioning the gun, he returned the blame to the boy’s parents.
“Sure, I’m sorry for any parent that has lost a child,” he said. “That being said, I also believe it’s their duty to have an internal dialogue to see what they should have done better and what they should have done appropriately.”
George Zimmerman sends message to Trayvon Martin’s parents https://t.co/Rw0WsXmr52 pic.twitter.com/TAodC0u5K7
— CBS News (@CBSNews) May 19, 2016
George Zimmerman further defended the sale of the firearm, saying he has been deprived of the capacity to find employment given what had happened.
“If I have to live my life and if I have to go about my business as a normal person, then I would do that. However, I’m not afforded that luxury anymore,” George Zimmerman said. “You guys. The media. The masses. The Fulton-Martin family. They took that from me.”
[Photo by Joe Burbank-Pool/Getty Images]