Orlando Sentinel, Joe Burbank / AP
George Zimmerman, left, stands with defense counsel Mark O’Mara during closing arguments in his trial at the Seminole County Criminal Justice Center, in Sanford, Fla., July 12, 2013.
Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2013 | 4:16 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Eric Holder says the Justice Department will soon announce a decision on whether to file civil rights charges against George Zimmerman in the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin.
The death of the unarmed 17-year-old in Florida touched off a national debate about race.
The Washington Post reported Holder's comments, which were confirmed by Justice Department spokesman Brian Fallon.
Holder says the civil rights investigation into Martin's death will be completed relatively soon and that the Justice Department will issue a report about its deliberations. Zimmerman was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter.
Holder has called Martin's killing a "tragic, unnecessary shooting death."
This week, Zimmerman was charged with assault after his girlfriend told police that he pointed a gun at her during an argument.
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