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Gun that killed Trayvon Martin 'sold' in private auction | |
(35 minutes later) | |
The handgun used to kill unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin in 2012 has been sold in a private auction, according to the website that hosted the sale. | |
George Zimmerman, who was acquitted of Trayvon's murder, auctioned the gun, calling it an "American icon". | |
Auction host, UnitedGunGroup.com, did not disclose the sale price. | |
The sale of the gun has drawn criticism from those claiming Zimmerman was seeking to profit from Trayvon's death. | The sale of the gun has drawn criticism from those claiming Zimmerman was seeking to profit from Trayvon's death. |
Gun rights advocates have applauded him for exercising his legal rights under current US law. | Gun rights advocates have applauded him for exercising his legal rights under current US law. |
There were two separate auctions being hosted on UnitedGunGroup.com - one for prequalified bidders and one for the general public. | |
UnitedGunGroup.com said that the highest public bid of $138,900 (£95,219) by "John Smith" was not authentic. | |
"He was on the fake auction page, we had two auctions going at the same time," they said in a tweet. | |
Another gun auction website and two other prominent gun auctioneers had previously refused to sell the weapon. | Another gun auction website and two other prominent gun auctioneers had previously refused to sell the weapon. |
Earlier attempts to sell the gun online were hacked and fake bids were placed, causing that auction to be cancelled without a sale. | Earlier attempts to sell the gun online were hacked and fake bids were placed, causing that auction to be cancelled without a sale. |
Last week's highest bid of $65 million was posted by one "Racist McShootFace". | Last week's highest bid of $65 million was posted by one "Racist McShootFace". |
The killing of the black teenager by Mr Zimmerman, who was acquitted after arguing self-defence, helped launch the national Black Lives Matter social movement. | The killing of the black teenager by Mr Zimmerman, who was acquitted after arguing self-defence, helped launch the national Black Lives Matter social movement. |
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