George Zimmerman, the neighborhood watch volunteer who admits to shooting unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida, has been charged with second degree murder.
That announcement came at an afternoon news conference in Jacksonville by State prosecutor Angela Corey.
Corey said her investigative team did not come to the decision lightly.
"We do not prosecute by public pressure or by petition. We prosecute on the facts of any given case, as well as the laws of the state of Florida.
Corey would not say where Zimmerman is but said he is in custody and would appear in court within 24 hours.
In late February, Martin was on his way to back to the home of his father's fiancee after going to a convenience store when Zimmerman started following him in a gated community in Sanford. Zimmerman told police dispatchers he looked suspicious. At some point, the two got into a fight and Zimmerman used his gun.
He was not arrested after claiming self-defense under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.
