Acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee is one of many celebrities who have called attention to the death of Trayvon Martin, a Florida teen who was shot and killed by a neighborhood watch captain. One way he's done so is to share his thoughts on Twitter.

The 55-year-old Lee recently tweeted what he thought was the address of the shooter, George Zimmerman, inviting his quarter-million followers to "feel free to reach out and touch him." The address was incorrect -- a couple in their 70's lives there instead.

The original Twitter post, written by Marcus Higgins of California and retweeted by Lee, has since been removed but continues to be re-posted.

According to WPTV, the address is that of a house owned by 42-year-old George W. Zimmerman. His mother Elaine, a 70-year-old school cafeteria lunch lady with a heart condition, and her husband, 72-year-old David McClain, reside there. Zimmerman hasn't lived there in seven years.

Martin's admitted shooter has been identified as a different person altogether -- 28-year-old George Michael Zimmerman -- who lives miles away from the other George Zimmerman and isn't related in any way.

The Smoking Gun reports the elderly couple felt "afraid" when they started receiving hate mail, including an envelope that said the Skittles slogan "Taste the Rainbow" on it. Martin was carrying the candy and a can of Arizona Iced Tea when he was gunned down.

They returned the envelope to the post office unopened, but threats and unwanted visits from reporters caused the septuagenarians to flee from their home. Fox News reports the pair temporarily moved to a hotel to avoid the sudden attention and possible danger.

The death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on Feb. 26 has sparked national outrage and international interest. Zimmerman told Sanford, Fla. police that he fatally shot the hoodie-wearing teen in self-defense, but others argue his death could have been avoided.

Lee, whose films include "Do the Right Thing" and "School Daze," isn't the only celebrity whose outrage over the incident has led to misinformation spreading on social media.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a tweet from a fake Will Smith Twitter account (@RealWillSmith) went viral, being re-tweeted by Lee, Rosie O'Donnell, and Omarosa. The alleged tweet says "We live in America where a girl that threw flour on Kim Kardashian was arrested on [sight] But the man who KILLED Trayvon Martin is still free."

Another fake celebrity account purporting to be funnyman Will Ferrell (@RealFerrellWill), posted last week "For every RT this tweet gets, $1 will be donated to the #TrayvonMartin Foundation, which helps counteract racism." Hundreds of people re-tweeted the offer, including "Parks and Recreation" star Aziz Ansari, before they realized it was a fake.

No such foundation exists, E! News points out, nor do Smith and Ferrell have their own Twitter accounts.

» Washington Times: Spike Lee re-tweets incorrect address of Trayvon Martin shooter

» Associated Press: Fox's Geraldo Rivera: I'm sorry for hoodie comment

» The Post-Standard: Sen. Schumer weighs in on Trayvon Martin case, calls Stand Your Ground Law "worrisome"

