Justice Department won't charge George Zimmerman in killing of Trayvon Martin

The Justice Department on Tuesday announced it would not bring criminal charges against George Zimmerman in the 2012 killing of teenager Trayvon Martin. Though the shooting "sparked a painful and necessary dialogue" about race, Attorney General Eric Holder said, the DOJ's investigation did not turn up enough evidence to meet the "high standard for a federal hate crime prosecution."

A jury acquitted Zimmerman in 2013 for fatally shooting the unarmed Martin under Florida's so-called "stand your ground" law. And though the DOJ opted to independently review the case, it was expected the department would ultimately bring no charges due to the lack of eyewitnesses.

"Our decision not to pursue federal charges does not condone the shooting that resulted in the death of Trayvon Martin," Acting Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta said, "and is based solely on the high legal standard applicable to these cases."

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