Fake bidders hijack auction selling gun that killed black teen

Bidding in an online auction for the pistol George Zimmerman used to shoot and kill unarmed teen Trayvon Martin in 2012 topped $65 million Friday, though the amount appeared to be inflated by fake buyers with names such as 'Racist McShootFace.”

Zimmerman was criticized after offering Thursday to sell the Kel-Tec PF9 9mm handgun, which the former neighborhood watch volunteer called in the auction listing 'an American Firearm Icon.”

Zimmerman said the weapon was used to defend his life and 'end the brutal attack” from Martin. Martin's family has said the 17-year-old simply was walking home after buying a drink and candy from a store when Zimmerman accosted him about why he was walking in that neighborhood.

Martin's killing near Orlando, Fla., sparked nationwide protests and debate about 'stand your ground” laws, which allow use of deadly force if someone fears being harm. Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter.

By lunchtime on Friday, bidders in the auction on the United Gun Group's website included 'shaniqua bonifa” and 'Tamir Rice,” the same name as that of a 12-year-old black boy shot dead by a white police officer in Cleveland in 2014.

The auction began on Thursday after the first site where Zimmerman tried to sell the gun rejected the listing. That site, GunBroker.com, said in a statement it wanted no part in the auction. A listing for the gun then appeared on UnitedGunGroup.com, with a starting price of $5,000. By midday Friday it had received more than 1,000 bids.

United Gun Group said in a statement that as long as Zimmerman was obeying 'the letter of the law,” the sale would be allowed.