Trayvon Martin: US Justice Department will not charge George Zimmerman in black teenager's death

Justice Department was weighing whether Mr Zimmerman violated Mr Martin’s rights when he shot him in 2012

The US Department of Justice will not file civil rights charges against George Zimmerman in the 2012 shooting death of Trayvon Martin, ABC News reported.

Federal prosecutors found that there was not enough evidence to prove that Mr Zimmerman intentionally violated Mr Martin’s civil rights. A Florida jury found Mr Zimmerman not guilty of murder and manslaughter charges in 2013. Thursday is three years to the day of Mr Martin’s death.

The case attracted relentless national attention after Mr Zimmerman, a neighbourhood watchman, shot and killed Mr Martin, who was 17 at the time. Mr Zimmerman said Mr Martin punched him and he felt was going to kill him, so he pulled the trigger.

Many people were enraged after it came out that Mr Martin was returning home from a convenience store and had only Skittles candies and a drink in his possession. The case highlighted race-related tensions in the US, with some saying that Mr Martin was targeted because he was black.

After Mr Zimmerman’s acquittal, the Justice Department said it would launch a thorough investigation into whether Mr Martin’s civil rights were violated. When the investigation began, Attorney General Eric Holder expressed doubt the department would be able to bring charges, considering Mr Zimmerman was acquitted on murder and manslaughter charges.

Mr Zimmerman has had a couple of run-ins with the law since he was acquitted, twice being charged with domestic violence, CNN reported.

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