The U.S. Department of Justice has placed a hold on any evidence that is a part of the controversial George Zimmerman case. This includes the gun that Zimmerman, a 33-year-old Hispanic man, used to shoot and kill an unarmed African-American teenager in February 2012 in Florida.
The jury found Zimmerman not guilty this past weekend, believing his claim that he acted against 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in self-defense. Angry civilians are still protesting what they believe to be an unfair, biased, and racially charged decision.
The Justice Department is contemplating whether they should pursue a civil rights case or not, and are looking into the possibility that Zimmerman violated Martin’s civil rights. This why the Justice Department asked police in Sanford, Florida to hold onto the evidence, which would normally be legally returned to Zimmerman after the trial.
According to CNN Attorney General Eric Holder said Monday that they are still examining the case.
"Independent of the legal determination that will be made, I believe that this tragedy provides yet another opportunity for our nation to speak honestly about the complicated and emotionally charged issues that this case has raised," Holder said. "We must not -- as we have too often in the past -- let this opportunity pass."
CBS reports that a gun dealer’s company called Pompano Pat’s in Deland, Florida offered Zimmerman a free gun after hearing that the Department of Justice was holding his weapon.
The president of the company, Pat Johnson, says they are not trying to make a political statement by this gesture but have heard of many death threats towards Zimmerman and are trying to help him.
Despite the furious and shocked protestors still campaigning in Florida, the state’s Governor Rick Scott says he plans to keep the state’s “Stand Your Ground” Law, which made an obvious contribution to Zimmerman’s acquittal.