On February 26 , George , shot , killed Trayvon Martin in Sanford , Florida . Zimmerman calls the shooting self - defense ; his family says he was unarmed . On April 11 , Zimmerman is charged with second - degree murder , later goes to jail . Zimmerman 's defense team had requested that Seminole Circuit Judge Jessica Recksiedler , who was assigned to the case , be removed after she revealed that her husband works with a CNN legal analyst . On April 19 , he apologizes to Martin 's family , and a Florida judge sets his bail at $ 150,000 .
On February 26 , George , shot , killed Trayvon Martin in Sanford , Florida . Zimmerman calls the shooting self - defense ; his family says he was unarmed . On April 11 , Zimmerman is charged with second - degree murder , later goes to jail . On April 19 , he apologizes to Martin 's family , and a Florida judge sets his bail at $ 150,000 .