The Department of Justice is expected to announce that charges will not be filed against George Zimmerman for killing Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla. back in 2012.
This Thursday will mark the third-anniversary the 17-year-old's death. ABC News reports that the DOJ will soon inform Martin's family that they will not file any charges against Zimmerman, 31, who was acquitted of second-degree murder charges in July 2013.
ABC News adds that both the department's Civil Rights Division and the FBI opened separate investigations to determine if Zimmerman violated Martin's civil rights. According to ABC News, investigators were unable to find substantial evidence:
Federal prosecutors concluded there is not sufficient evidence to prove Zimmerman, a neighborhood watchman in Sanford, Fla., intentionally violated Martin’s civil rights, sources told ABC News.
This news comes as the public awaits the findings of two other Justice Department investigations. One focuses on whether Darren Wilson violated Michael Brown's civil rights before fatally shooting him in Ferguson, Mo. last summer, while the other targets the practices of the Ferguson Police Department.
UPDATE: Martin's family has released the following statement.
Statement from Trayvon Martin's family on DOJ decision pic.twitter.com/XnxVMwZtN4
— Mike Hayes (@michaelhayes) February 24, 2015[via ABC News]
