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George Zimmerman spotted guarding guns for Florida mayoral candidate

Zimmerman is not employed by the store, but providing security as favor.

By Matt Bradwell
George Zimmerman is back in headlines for volunteering to guard guns for a DeLand, Fla. mayoral candidate Pat Johnson. UPI/Joe Burbank/Pool
1 of 2 | George Zimmerman is back in headlines for volunteering to guard guns for a DeLand, Fla. mayoral candidate Pat Johnson. UPI/Joe Burbank/Pool | License Photo

DELAND, Fla., July 29 (UPI) -- A Florida mayoral candidate has turned to George Zimmerman for security after his gun and motorcycle store was robbed earlier in July.

Zimmerman was spotted by local police parked outside Pompano Pat's, a firearms, ammunition and motorcycle dealer about 40 minutes north of Orlando. When questioned by police, Zimmerman said the store's owner Pat Johnson was a friend of his and he was standing watch behind the business with his permission.

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Earlier in July, thieves stole two rifles and two minibikes from the one-stop-shop, apparently prompting Johnson to reach out to the former neighborhood watch leader famously acquitted of murder for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

Although some outlets have reported Zimmerman was hired as a security guard, he told local reporters that he was not employed by the store.

Johnson, a New York native who is also running for mayor of DeLand, made headlines after Zimmerman's 2013 acquittal when he publicly gave Zimmerman a free gun to replace the one confiscated by authorities. Before opening Pompano Pat's, Johnson had a ten-year career in local law enforcement including SWAT, undercover narcotics investigation and internal affairs.

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