No Hate Crime Charges In Trayvon Martin Death

George Zimmerman will not face federal hate crime charges over the killing of Trayvon Martin, the US Justice Department has said.

Federal investigators "found insufficient evidence to pursue federal criminal civil rights charges" against the former neighbourhood watch volunteer, the agency said.

Zimmerman, who fatally shot the 17-year-old during an altercation in 2012, was acquitted of second-degree murder under Florida's contentious stand-your-ground law.

After the ruling, Trayvon's family looked to the federal government to hold Zimmerman accountable for the teen's death.

Attorney Benjamin Crump, who represents the Martin family, said the Justice Department's decision was "a bitter pill to swallow".

"What they told his family and I was that because Trayvon wasn't able to tell us his version of events, there was a lack of evidence to bring the charges. That's the tragedy," Mr Crump said.

Zimmerman, who is white, said he acted in self-defence when he shot Trayvon, who was black.

Travyon's family contend that Zimmerman initiated the confrontation after racially profiling the unarmed teen.

The federal investigation into the case focused on whether the killing amounted to a federal civil rights violation, which would have required proof that it was motivated by racial animosity.

The "comprehensive investigation found that the high standard for a federal hate crime prosecution cannot be met under the circumstances here," Attorney General Eric Holder said.

The decision "does not reflect an assessment of any other aspect of the shooting," the department's release added.

Trayvon's killing sparked nationwide protests and served as a flashpoint in a debate on race.

The discussion was reignited two years later after the fatal police shooting of an unarmed black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri.

The Justice Department is winding down its civil rights investigation into that case, which sparked weeks of unrest around the country.