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March 27th, 2012
11:42 AM ET

Zimmerman's friend alludes to gun 'going off,' investigator responds saying accidental misfire being investigated as well

What happened the night Trayvon Martin was shot and killed? There's new information painting two very different pictures of the confrontation and the men involved, making the case more complicated by the day.

CNN is learning Trayvon Martin had been suspended from school after marijuana residue was found in his book bag. We're also getting George Zimmerman's account of what happened that night. According to the "Orlando Sentinel," citing a leaked police report, Zimmerman told police he lost sight of Martin and was returning to his SUV when Martin approached him. The two exchanged words, then Martin is accused of punching and climbing on top of Zimmerman, slamming his head into the ground. That account in addition to what neighbors report happening are only complicating the case.

This morning on "Starting Point," Soledad talks with Zimmerman's friend Joe Oliver, who said he recently spoke with Zimmerman who shared more details about what happened that night.

"I spoke with George yesterday as a matter of fact and was able to get some more details about what happened," Oliver says. "The report that was released yesterday is what George told me, what happened, where the report stops he filled in the blanks for me as well. And unfortunately at this time I'm not able to discuss that, but basically it fills in the gap between what happened when Trayvon and George came face-to-face and by the time the gun went off."

That particular line, that the gun "went off" caught panelist Will Cain's ear, who wondered if that meant that Zimmerman would potentially argue that the gun discharged on its own.

Later in the show Soledad talks with Martin case special prosecutor Angela Corey, who is handling the investigation into the shooting. Soledad asks Corey about Oliver's statement and whether investigators are looking into an accidental shooting.

"We look into that in every shooting case," Corey says. "We do extensive investigation and test the firearm for trigger pull, functionality, and everything."

See clips from the interview below.

Trayvon shooter 'extremely remorseful'

Zimmerman friend talks 'racist' 911 call

Martin shooter 'tried to do right thing'

Martin investigator looks at all angles


Filed under: Race • Trayvon Martin
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