Justice Dept. Won't File Civil Rights Charges Against George Zimmerman in Trayvon Martin Shooting Death

By Benge Nsenduluka, CP Reporter Tuesday, February 24, 2015

The Seminole County Sheriff's Office says Zimmerman, 31, was arrested on an aggravated assault charge in Lake Mary about 10 p.m. Jan. 9, 2015. Zimmerman was acquitted in 2013 of a second-degree murder charge for shooting an unarmed teenager, Trayvon Martin | (Photo: Courtesy/Seminole County Public Affairs/Seminole County Sheriff's Office)

The Department of Justice will reportedly not bring criminal charges against George Zimmerman, who fatally shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012.

Federal prosecutors are expected to notify Martin's family on their findings that there is not sufficient evidence to prove Zimmerman intentionally violated Martin's civil rights when he followed him and killed him following a dispute, reported ABC News.

The news comes nearly three years to the day that Martin, who was unarmed, was killed by the neighborhood watchman in Sanford, Florida, on Feb. 26, 2012.

Zimmerman has always claimed that he shot Martin in self defense, but Martin's parents maintain that their son was profiled and subsequently murdered.

He once told Fox News' Sean Hannity that he prays for the Martin family "daily" and that he is "sorry" for their loss.

"I do wish that there was something, anything I could have done that would have put me in the position that I wouldn't have to take his life. I'm sorry that this happened. I hate to think that because of this incident, because of my actions, that it's polarized and divided America," Zimmerman told Hannity.

The troubled 31-year-old was acquitted of second-degree murder in July 2013; however, he has since had a series of run-ins with the law.

Last month Zimmerman was arrested in Lake Mary, Florida, after allegedly assaulting his girlfriend. He was taken into custody by Lake Mary Police and charged with aggravated assault after his girlfriend accused him of throwing a wine bottle at her and destroying her cell phone during a domestic dispute. He denied the allegations and was released on $5,000 bail and according to his attorney, he will plead not guilty to the charges.

In Sept. 2013, Zimmerman was detained and questioned by police after his estranged wife Shellie accused him of threatening and assaulting her father, but she declined to press charges.

Two months later, his girlfriend accused him of pointing a shotgun at her and destroying her belongings but later dropped charges against him and then had a restraining order, which barred him from being around or contacting her, lifted. In Sept. last year, Zimmerman was also accused of threatening and following another driver during a road rage incident.