Department of Justice Will Take George Zimmerman's Gun

By Jozen Cummings

In the days after George Zimmerman was acquitted on second-degree-murder and manslaughter charges for his killing of unarmed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, it was revealed that Zimmerman would receive back all of his property that held during the trial, including the gun he used. But now, according to the Orlando Sentinel, the FBI has requested that Sanford, Fla., police hold the gun and all the other evidence used in the trial pending a further investigation by the Department of Justice.

The Seminole County Clerk of Courts released the evidence earlier this week to the police department.

Before returning individual items to their owners, however, department officials talked to one or more FBI agents in Orlando, according to Sanford police spokesman Capt. Jim McAuliffe.

On Thursday, the police department finalized its plan.

"The evidence is just in a hold status, pending their DOJ investigation," McAuliffe said.

It is being stored in a secure area within the police department, he said.

The items include Zimmerman's gun, Trayvon's clothes, cell phone, the bag of Skittles and beverage found in his pockets – in short all the evidence collected by the agency as it investigated the Feb. 26, 2012, homicide.

Prior to the trial, the Department of Justice was already investigating Trayvon's killing, as well as the Sanford Police Department, which is what prompted the state to press formal charges against Zimmerman. After the six-person jury found Zimmerman innocent on all charges last Saturday, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that the DOJ will renew its investigation.

Read more at the Orlando Sentinel.
 
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