On the night of February 26 , 2012 , in Sanford , Florida , United States , George Zimmerman fatally shot Use_firearm Trayvon Martin , a 17-year-old African-American high school student .

Zimmerman , a 28-year-old man of mixed Cause_to_amalgamate race , was the neighborhood watch coordinator for his gated community where Martin was visiting Traveling his relatives at the time of the shooting Use_firearm .

Zimmerman shot Use_firearm Martin , who was unarmed , during a physical altercation between the two .

Zimmerman , injured Bodily_harm during the encounter , claimed Statement self-defense in the confrontation .

In a widely reported Reporting trial , Zimmerman was charged Judgment_communication with murder Committing_crime for Martin 's death , but acquitted at trial after claiming Statement self-defense .