Gunman arrested in Zimmerman shooting

Matthew Apperson booked at Seminole County Jail

LAKE MARY, Fla. – Matthew Apperson was arrested Friday after shooting a gun into an SUV driven by George Zimmerman on Monday.

Lake Mary police said Apperson turned himself in and was being booked Friday evening at the Seminole County Jail on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and firing into a moving car.

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Bond was set at $35,000 and his release has been arranged, according to Apperson's lawyer.

Zimmerman wasn't hit by the bullet, but he was hit by glass and shrapnel. He was checked out at a hospital, but is expected to be OK.

Apperson's mother and his wife both emerged from the Lake Mary Police Department Friday after answering investigators' questions about the shooting.

Apperson said he shot at Zimmerman's SUV out of a fear for his life after Zimmerman waived a gun at him.

Zimmerman denies the claims, and he wants to press charges against Apperson.

Apperson's mother, Janet White, wouldn't tell Local 6 what investigators asked her about.

Her attorney, Lyle Mazin, told Local 6 she is very frightened.

"Her feeling is the feeling of any other mother that would be in the situation," Mazin said. "She's petrified. No one wants their son to be in a situation like this."

About an hour after his mother left the police department, Local 6 watched as Apperson's wife, Liza, left with her attorney.

Her attorney, Whitney Boan, said they worked to show Apperson was a nice man.

"This has given them an opportunity to see that he's a nice man," she said. "He's got a family and a wife who support him. And that's what I feel we've accomplished today."

Apperson's attorney, Mark NeJame, said he's still not sure Apperson will make a statement in the investigation, even though Zimmerman made one on Wednesday.

His wife's attorney said she hopes everything will stop right here.

"Obviously, this is a really tense situation for everybody, but the family is cooperating, and we're hoping that justice will be served in terms of -- that he will not be charged. That's our hope," she said.

Apperson's lawyer released a statement Friday evening, reading in part:

"We expected this as Mr. Apperson, under the advice of counsel and exercising his Constitutional right did not provide additional statements to law enforcement. He had already made statements and this is deemed sufficient, as of now. Mr. Zimmerman apparently did make statements and as such, it appears a decision was made to arrest on the basis of Mr. Zimmerman's statements. That is neither unusual nor was it unexpected.

"The case will proceed through the criminal justice system appropriately and ultimately a determination will be made as what truly happened. Mr. Apperson will continue not to comment until such time as it may be deemed appropriate."