WaPo: Special Prosecutor Will Charge George Zimmerman for Martin Shooting

Update: George Zimmerman has been charged with second-degree murder. Read the updated story here.

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The Washington Post is reporting that George Zimmerman will face charges in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. It's unclear what those charges will be, but the newspaper is reporting that Florida special prosecutor Angela Corey will make the announcement as early as this afternoon or early evening. NBC, among other outlets, is reporting that the event is scheduled to take place at 6 p.m. ET.

(Related: Hannity Confirms: I Talked to George Zimmerman)

The Post reports more about Corey's potential announcement:

Corey told reporters Tuesday night that she would hold a news conference about the case within 72 hours. A news release from her office said the event will be held in Sanford or Jacksonville, Fla.

Benjamin Crump, who is representing the Martin family, said this week that Corey’s office had asked where Trayvon’s parents would be each day this week. They arrived Wednesday in Washington for a civil rights conference organized by the Rev. Al Sharpton, where they are scheduled to speak. [...]

Corey said Monday that she would not bring the case before a grand jury, which was expected to convene this week. She said her decision to forgo the grand jury should not be viewed as a factor in determining whether charges will be filed.

An attorney for Martin's parents also said at a press conference on Wednesday that possible charges in the shooting were expected "shortly."

"We’re on pins and needles, but we’re waiting patiently," Sybrina Fulton, Martin's mother, said in an interview with FOX News on Tuesday morning. "We’re hoping that we’ll get a call very soon, and that she will meet with us and tell us what her decision is. So we really don’t know, we are being patient and we are staying prayerful.”

These developments are unfolding just one day after Zimmerman's attorneys pulled out of the case, stating that they have been unable to contact their client. In addition to concerns over communication, they expressed worries about their former client's physical and emotional well-being.

Here's how Reuters reported about the rift between Zimmerman and his representation:

George Zimmerman’s lawyers withdrew from his defense on Tuesday after the man who shot and killed an unarmed black Florida teenager telephoned prosecutors directly, contacted a television journalist and set up a website all without their knowledge.

Defense lawyers Craig Sonner and Mark Uhrig said they lost contact with their client on Sunday and were concerned for his mental and physical health following a wave a protests across the country that have demanded Zimmerman’s arrest for the death of Trayvon Martin, 17.[...]

The Post claims that the latest information about charges comes from a law enforcement official close to the ongoing investigation.

According to The Associated Press, on Wednesday, Attorney General Eric Holder also said the Justice Department is conducting a thorough and independent review of the case after launching its own investigation three weeks ago.

This is a breaking story . Updates will be added.