JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Standing on the sidewalk of his Sanford neighborhood the day after his deadly run-in with Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman told police his side of the story.
He said, "I was yelling help help as loud as I could. He put his hand on my nose. His other hand on my mouth. And he said shut the **** up."
Zimmerman says he took a beating from Trayvon that February night their lives crossed. He says he called police, thinking Trayvon was a prowler. But when the two came face to face, he says Trayvon came out swinging.
He says the teenager punched him in the nose, beat his head against the concrete, then reached for the gun Zimmerman had under his jacket.
"He said you're gonna die tonight m***f***. And he reached for it. I felt his arm going down my side. And I just grabbed it, I just grabbed my firearm and I shot him," said Zimmerman.
After watching the video, local attorney Randy Reep said Zimmerman's account of what happened is extraordinarily consistent with the 911 calls from neighbors. They were calls Zimmerman didn't know were being made.
"It explains what occurred. And it may really set him up for self defense," said Reep. He said Zimmerman's story could be pretty convincing to a jury. "Could reasonable people agree that he had a reasonable fear for his life? I think the answer to that might be yes."
In another portion of the videotaped interview, Zimmerman told the investigator, "I shot him and I didn't think I hit him because he sat up and he said, 'Oh you got me.'"
It's been almost four months since Trayvon Martin was killed. Since then, family members and civil rights activists have spoken out on the teen's behalf.
They say Trayvon was racially profiled by an overzealous neighborhood watchman. Soon, it will be up to a jury to decide which story they believe.
Zimmerman is sitting in the Seminole County Jail accused of second degree murder. He has a second bond hearing set for June 29th.
If you recall, his first bond was revoked after a judge discovered Zimmerman and his wife had lied about raising $135,000 through an online defense fund.
Shellie Zimmerman was also arrested and charged with perjury.
