SANFORD, Florida (CNN) - Attorneys for neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who authorities say fatally shot an unarmed teenager in Florida, said Tuesday they have lost contact with their client and will no longer represent him.
"He has gone on his own. I'm not sure what he's doing or who he's talking to," said legal adviser Craig Sonner. "If he wants us to come back as counsel, he will contact us."
Sonner and attorney Hal Uhrig spoke to reporters.
Although details of the February 26 incident remain murky, what is known is that Trayvon Martin, who was African-American, ventured out from his father's fiancee's home in Sanford to get a snack at a nearby convenience store.
As he walked home with a bag of Skittles and an Arizona Iced Tea, he was shot and killed by Zimmerman, who is Hispanic and who had called 911 to complain about a suspicious person in the neighborhood, according to authorities.
Zimmerman told Sanford police he acted in self-defense.
Sanford police questioned Zimmerman and released him without charges. Authorities have said he was not immediately charged because there were no grounds, at the outset, to disprove his account that he'd acted to protect himself.
Thousands have converged on Sanford to join in protests calling for Zimmerman's arrest and criticizing the police department's handling of the case.
Martin's death has triggered a nationwide debate about race in America and Florida's "stand your ground" law, which allows people to use deadly force anywhere they feel a reasonable threat of death or serious injury.
