George Zimmerman is a former neighborhood watch volunteer who gained national attention in the United States after he shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed African American teenager, in February 2012. The incident took place in Sanford, Florida, and sparked widespread protests and discussions about race, gun control, and self-defense laws. Zimmerman was charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter but claimed he acted in self-defense. His trial in 2013 concluded with his acquittal, leading to further debates about the legal system and the implications of the Stand Your Ground law in Florida.