Justice Dept. won't pursue Zimmerman charges

The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it would not pursue federal criminal civil rights charges against George Zimmerman in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin.

Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement that the Department of Justice’s investigation found that the evidence available could not meet the “high standard for a federal hate crime prosecution,” though he called the death a “devastating tragedy” that “shook an entire community, drew the attention of millions across the nation, and sparked a painful but necessary dialogue.”


Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, was shot and killed by George Zimmerman on Feb. 26, 2012, in Sanford, Florida, as he returned from a local convenience to the home of his father’s fiancée. Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch volunteer, claimed that Martin had been acting suspiciously before he shot the teenager.

Shortly after the Department of Justice made its announcement, Trayvon Martin’s family released a statement saying that they were “disappointed” in the decision but remained committed to the fight against “senseless violence in our communities.”

Zimmerman was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in Florida but was acquitted in July 2013.

The federal investigation had been aimed at determining whether or not Zimmerman had violated Martin’s civil rights by targeting him because of his race.

Federal investigators spoke with 75 witnesses, reviewed police records and electronic communications and looked into further confrontations Zimmerman has had with law enforcement since his acquittal last July, according to the Justice Department.

Zimmerman has been detained by police multiple times in the past year and a half.

In September 2013, police responded to a 911 call made by Zimmerman’s estranged wife, who accused him of punching her. Two months later, Zimmerman’s girlfriend made a call to police alleging that he had pointed a weapon at her. This January, Zimmerman was arrested for aggravated assault with a weapon after allegedly throwing a wine bottle at a woman.

All charges against Zimmerman have been dropped.

“Our decision not to pursue federal charges does not condone the shooting that resulted in the death of Trayvon Martin and is based solely on the high legal standard applicable to these cases,” Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta said in a statement. “[I]t is important to remember that this incident resulted in the tragic loss of a teenager’s life.”