Subscribe
NewsOne Featured Video
CLOSE

George Zimmerman, the triggerman who ended the life of unarmed Florida teen Trayvon Martin, is reportedly tormented by his senseless act and is praying for his victim, according to his friend Joe Oliver (pictured), who spoke to People Magazine.

RELATED: NewsOne Coverage Of Trayvon Martin

Martin was a 17-year-old student who was walking through Sanford, Fla., in his father’s gated community, when Zimmerman, an armed neighborhood watch volunteer, reportedly chased Martin and shot him dead.

‘LIKE’ NewsOne’s FB Page To Stay Up On Black News From Around The World

Now Oliver is declaring that his friend is a “different man” and so disturbed by the fact that he took a human life:

“He’s not the man that I knew before the shooting,” Oliver tells People in this week’s cover story. “He’ll never be the same. He prays for Trayvon and he prays for the Martin family. He is so distraught that he took a life. That’s the price he had to pay for saving his own.”

The Martin murder has triggered a global firestorm and call to arms, with many demanding that Zimmerman, who has not been arrested for the crime, be brought to justice for the cold-blooded killing.  Despite the throngs of people who want to see Zimmerman punished, Oliver, who is African American says, that he is steadfastly standing by his friend:

“He’s not a racist,” says Oliver. “I wouldn’t be speaking out on his behalf if he were. This didn’t have anything to do with race. George was looking out for his neighborhood and he saw someone he didn’t recognize acting suspiciously. In his mind, he shot in self-defense. He felt he had no other choice.”

Yeah, and the earth is flat too.

SEE ALSO:

Zimmerman’s Story May Not Hold Up To Scrutiny

The Thugification Of Trayvon