George Zimmerman has been arrested and charged with second-degree murder of Trayvon Martin, ending the 45 day-long investigation, the special prosecutor announced Wednesday night.

Florida State Attorney Angela Corey made the decision to charge Zimmerman after deciding not to convene a grand jury.

Zimmerman has been charged with the Feb. 26 shooting of the unarmed Florida teen. Zimmerman followed 17-year-old African-American Martin home from a convenience store and telephoned police with concerns of a suspicious-looking teen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. Zimmerman killed Martin after an alleged altercation, saying it was an act of self-defense.

The fatal shooting has been making national headlines for what some say is a hate crime. Some Ohio State students have responded to the alleged hate crime with protests, rallies and sit-ins. These students were also responding to the vandalism that occurred on campus last week, when the words “Long Live Zimmerman” were spray-painted on the west side of Hale Hall, which is home to the Frank W. Hale Jr. Black Cultural Center, part of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Most recently, students protested on the Oval Tuesday demanding Zimmerman’s arrest and fair trial.

The arrest comes two days after Zimmerman launched the website therealgeorgezimmerman.com to ask supporters for donations, which at one point displayed a photo of the Hale Hall vandalism.

Zimmerman has turned himself in to police and remains in protective custody. A bond hearing will be held Thursday when Zimmerman can apply for bail, according to multiple media reports.