WASHINGTON — The Justice Department announced today that former Sanford, Florida resident George Zimmerman will not face Federal charges related to the shooting death of Trayvon Martin in 2012.

The Federal investigation centered on whether Zimmerman, an Hispanic neighborhood watch volunteer, committed a Federal Civil Rights violation when he shot Martin our of self defense.  Zimmerman was acquitted by a Florida jury related to the shooting in 2013.

The Justice Department and Attorney General Eric Holder would not say, though, that the decision presents a conclusion on the part of the Justice Department as to whether they believe Zimmerman acted appropriately.  Rather, they state the decision is the result of an inability to reach a threshold of proof.

“Though a comprehensive investigation found that the high standard for a federal hate crime prosecution cannot be met under the circumstances here, this young man’s premature death necessitates that we continue the dialogue and be unafraid of confronting the issues and tensions his passing brought to the surface,” Holder said in an Associated Press interview. “We, as a nation, must take concrete steps to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.”

Zimmerman’s attorney, Don West, was not available for comment.