The special prosecutor handling the Trayvon Martin shooting has decided she won't take the case to a grand jury.
State Attorney Angela Corey, who was appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to investigate the case last month, said she's still investigating the shooting of the Miami Gardens teen at a gated community in Sanford on Feb. 26.
The grand jury was set to meet Tuesday, but Corey said her decision not to use it shouldn't be considered a factor in the final determination of the case.
"At this time, the investigation continues and there will be no further comment from this office," Corey said in a statement Monday.
"We are not surprised by this announcement and, in fact, are hopeful that a decision will be reached very soon to arrest George Zimmerman and give Trayvon Martin's family the simple justice they have been seeking all along," Martin family attorney Benjamin Crump said in a statement. "The family has been patient throughout this process and asks that those who support them do the same during this very important investigation."
Rev. Al Sharpton said he intends to continue putting pressure on in regards to the case.
"The special prosecutor's decision to forego bringing the Trayvon Martin shooting death before a grand jury vindicates the position that we have taken all along--that you do not need a grand jury to make an arrest of George Zimmerman on probable cause," Sharpton said in a statement.
The 17-year-old was visiting with his father at his father's girlfriend's home in the gated community and was walking back from a convenience store when he was shot by neighborhood watch volunteer George Zimmerman.
Though Martin was unarmed, Zimmerman told police the shooting was self-defense.
Zimmerman had spotted the teen and called 911, telling the dispatcher he was following Martin. The dispatcher told him not to, but Martin and Zimmerman got into a confrontation.
Zimmerman said he shot Martin in the scuffle, police said.
Police said Zimmerman had a bloody nose, gash on the back of his head and grass stains on the back of his shirt. His family also claim his nose was broken in the attack.
The Martin family and their attorney say Martin wasn't the aggressor and claim race played a factor in the shooting. Martin was black, while Zimmerman is a biracial Latino.
Sanford Police Chief Bill Lee Jr., who has temporarily stepped down pending the investigation into the shooting, had said there was no probable cause to arrest Zimmerman, citing the state's controversial "Stand Your Ground" law.
Corey, based in the Jacksonville area, was appointed the special prosecutor in the case by Scott on March 22 after State Attorney Norm Wolfinger, whose district covers Sanford, recused himself.
Scott also appointed a task force led by Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll to hold hearings about the shooting and make recommendations for changing state laws and procedures. The U.S. Justice Department and FBI are also investigating the shooting.
