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Federal Investigation Into African-American Hanging Death Concludes Without Charges

scales of justice
Scott*/Flickr

Nearly two years after a 17-year-old African-American was found dead, hanging from a swing set in eastern North Carolina, the U.S. Justice Department announced Thursday it will not pursue criminal charges.

Local law enforcement ruled Lennon Lacy's death a suicide in 2014. The case eventually received national attention. The North Carolina NAACP called for a federal investigation, and hundreds of protesters marched in Bladenboro, a small town in eastern North Carolina.

The U.S. Justice Department has now concluded that investigation and released a statement that includes this:

"After a careful and thorough review by a team of experienced federal prosecutors and FBI agents, the Justice Department found no evidence to suggest that Lacy’s death was a homicide. Accordingly, the investigation into this incident has been closed."

Federal officials notified Lacy's family of their decision first.