George Zimmerman, 29, was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter in the shooting death of 17 year old Trayvon Benjamin Martin.
A jury of six women took more than 16 hours and 20 minutes to come to come to their unanimous decision that the death was justifiable.
Zimmerman, who was a neighbourhood watch volunteer, was charged with second-degree murder for fatally shooting Martin on February 26, 2012.
The court was told that he had followed the unarmed youngster through a park because he looked like he was 'up to no good.'
Zimmerman, a volunteer neighbourhood watchman, claims he shot Martin in self-defence, and that the teen punched him repeatedly before deciding to use lethal force.
The shooting of Martin, who is African-American, by Zimmerman, who is not, has fuelled new debates about racial profiling, gun-control, and self-defence laws.
As the judge announced that Zimmerman had no other business with the court just after 10pm on EST on Saturday his mother, who was sat in the court, smiled for the first time during the trial.
Trayvon's parents, Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton, were not in court to hear the verdict. Their reaction was said to be reserved but they expressed their disappointment.
A tweet CNN claimed came from his father said: 'I know my baby proud of fight we along with all of you put up for him'.
As the verdict drew near, police and city leaders in the Orlando suburb of Sanford and other parts of the U.S. said they were taking precautions against the possibility of mass protests or unrest.
'There is no party in this case who wants to see any violence,' Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger said immediately after jurors began deliberating. 'We have an expectation upon this announcement that our community will continue to act peacefully.'
Crowds outside the courthouse were outspoken about their disappointment at the verdict, yelling 'The system has failed us', and hundreds took to Twitter to voice their discontentment with the justice system and jury.
Moments after the verdict was read out, people reacting on Twitter had described Zimmerman as 'a dead man walking'.
His defence attorneys said the verdict had not sunk in for him yet, and that Zimmerman was worried about the reaction.
Zimmerman is said to have been in hiding and wears a bullet proof vest when outside, according to the New York Times.
Defence attorney Mark O Mara said: '[Zimmerman] has to be cautious and protective of his safety because there is a fringe element who have said on Twitter and elsewhere they want revenge.'
He added that after everyone left the room at the end of the trial, Zimmerman thanked his defence teams and then became emotional as he realised the trial was done.
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