Video may have been recorded of dispute between Zimmerman, wife

LAKE MARY, Fla. — WFTV is working to find out if police will release video that may have recorded the domestic dispute that landed George Zimmerman and his estranged wife back in the spotlight.

George Zimmerman's attorney said his client never threatened his estranged wife and her father with a gun even though Shellie Zimmerman reported that in a 911 call Monday.

Attorney Mark O'Mara said the dispute between George and Shellie Zimmerman at her father's Sprucewood Road house in Lake Mary was the result of heightened emotions from their ongoing divorce.

Lake Mary Police Chief Steve Bracknell said Shellie Zimmerman called police shortly after 2 p.m. Monday about a domestic disturbance at her parents' house.

In the 911 call obtained by Eyewitness News, Shellie Zimmerman told 911 dispatchers that her husband pulled a gun on her and her father after a verbal altercation.

"He continually has his hand on his gun and he's saying, 'Step closer,' and he's just threatening all of us with his firearm. And he's going to shoot us," Shellie Zimmerman told dispatchers.

Raw: Shellie Zimmerman's call to 911

Slideshow: Images from the scene

PDF: Shellie Zimmerman files for divorce

Shellie Zimmerman said her husband also punched her father in the nose, grabbed an iPad out of her hand and smashed it, and threatened them both with the gun.

"He punched my dad in the nose. My dad has a mark on his face. He accosted my father and then took my iPad out of my hands and smashed it and cut it with a pocket knife," she said. "I don't know what he's capable of. I'm really, really scared."

O'Mara, however, said there may be have been some "pushing and touching" but George Zimmerman never punched his father-in-law.

Lake Mary Police spokesman Zach Hudson said Zimmerman and his wife are blaming each other for starting the fight Monday afternoon.

O'Mara said neither side wants to press charges.

While there all parties signed a document wishing not to prosecute, domestic battery charges could still be filed against one of the Zimmermans.

In the state of Florida, authorities have the right to prosecute if they believe one or two married parties got physical.

Shellie Zimmerman's brother, D.J. Dean, talked to Channel 9's Tim Barber following the alleged altercation. Dean said ever since the acquittal, George Zimmerman has seemed different.

"He definitely does seem different," said Dean. "Before the incident, he probably was the nicest guy I ever met. I think the guilt and self-hatred got to him."
Last week, Zimmerman's wife filed for divorce, weeks after her husband's acquittal in the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

In an interview with "Good Morning America" that aired last Friday, Zimmerman said her husband left her with "a bunch of pieces of broken glass" after the acquittal.

She said that he had only stayed in their house three or four nights since the trial ended and that they even tried counseling, but she moved out Aug. 13.

"I have a selfish husband and I think George is all about George," she said.

George Zimmerman and his lawyers have made no public statements on the divorce proceedings.

Shellie Zimmerman was asking that her husband pay for a permanent life insurance policy with her named as the beneficiary, according to a divorce petition made public last week.

George Zimmerman's brother, Robert Zimmerman Jr., tweeted, "We've learned from GZ case not to 'jump to conclusions,' to wait for facts, & to avoid speculation. 'News' is a business -- not your friend."

Earlier last week, Channel 9 obtained video of Lake Mary police pulling Zimmerman over and issuing him a speeding citation. In the video, Zimmerman apologized for speeding and when asked for his registration, he hesitated and made sure it was OK to reach into his glove compartment.

"The traffic stop was made. The officer told him why he was being stopped, and Mr. Zimmerman said, 'No problem,'" said Zach Huson of the Lake Mary Police Department. "He provided his material, driver's license, registration and proof of insurance, and the citation was issued and that was it."

The stop lasted about six minutes. During that time, Zimmerman never mentioned anything about being armed.

He was issued a $256 ticket.

Last month, Shellie Zimmerman, 26, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor perjury charge for lying about the couple's finances during a bail hearing following her husband's arrest after Martin's shooting.

George Zimmerman, 29, said he acted in self-defense when he killed Martin, and the polarizing case opened up national discussions on self-defense laws and race.

Martin was black. Zimmerman has a white father and Hispanic mother.

Shellie Zimmerman was sentenced to a year's probation and 100 hours of community service. Her husband did not attend the sentencing hearing in the Sanford courtroom.

WFTV