DOJ to Sanford, Fla. police: Hold on to Zimmerman evidence

Last Updated 8:22 a.m. ET

Police in central Florida say the U.S. Department of Justice has placed a hold on all evidence related to the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin by former neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.

That includes the gun Zimmerman used to shoot Martin, which Zimmerman would otherwise be legally entitled to reclaim.

Sanford Police Capt. James McAuliffe confirmed the hold Thursday.

Zimmerman was acquitted over the weekend of second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in Martin's death last year. Jurors found that Zimmerman was acting in self-defense when he shot the unarmed black teenager. Zimmerman identifies himself as Hispanic.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said during an NAACP convention in Orlando this week that the Justice Department has an open investigation into the case. The department is looking into whether Zimmerman violated Martin's civil rights.

CBS affiliate WKMG reports that a gun shop owner in Volusia County has offered to give Zimmerman a free gun.

In a letter to Zimmerman's attorney, Pat Johnson, president of Pompano Pat's in DeLand, Fla., said he was offering the former neighborhood watch volunteer a free firearm, after hearing media reports that a hold was being placed on his Kel-Tec PF-9.

Johnson -- who wrote that he was not trying to make a political statement -- noted reports of death threats being made against Zimmerman.

"Upon receiving your confirmation that he is well within his legal rights to concealed carry, our company would like to offer Mr. Zimmerman a free firearm," the letter stated. "We currently have the same model in stock, or he could (choose) another weapon suitable for concealed carry."

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In a related development, last night Florida Gov. Rick Scott told protesters angry over the Zimmerman acquittal that he supports keeping the state's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law in place.

The protesters began occupying Scott's Capitol office on Tuesday, refusing to leave the building.