Hashim Nzinga, 49, was allegedly in possession of an FN Herstal 5.7x28 handgun that he sold to a Stone Mountain Pawn shop on March 5 in DeKalb county, the sheriff's office says. (DeKalb County Sheriff's Office)
A New Black Panther Party leader who announced a $10,000 reward for the capture of the neighborhood watchman who shot and killed Florida teen Trayvon Martin was arrested Monday outside Atlanta for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, DeKalb County Sheriff’s office said.
Hashim Nzinga, 49, was in possession of an FN Herstal 5.7x28 handgun that he allegedly sold to the Stone Mountain Pawn Shop on March 5 in DeKalb County, Sgt. Adrion Bell, the public information officer, told FoxNews.com.
Last month, Nzinga was convicted for felony deposit account fraud in nearby Gwinnett County, Bell said. It is illegal for a convicted felon to carry a firearm in the state and police were alerted to Nzinga’s alleged possession after the store’s transaction, Bell said.
He was arrested without incident at the probation office he was reporting to, Bell said.
The FN Herstal 5.7x28 is considered a high-end gun that can fetch $800 to $900 at a pawn shop. It is unclear how much Nzinga made from the alleged sale.
Nzinga serves as the New Black Panther Party’s chief of staff. He recently made news after going on CNN and offering a $10,000 reward for the capture of George Zimmerman, whose role in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin is being investigated by Florida authorities.
Martin’s killing has attracted the country’s attention. Black leaders say the incident was racially motivated and call for Zimmerman to be arrested. Others, however, say the killer is protected under Florida’s “stand your ground” law and was acting in self-defense.
There are inconsistent accounts of the circumstances of the shooting.
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