U.S. President Barack Obama says the shooting death in Florida of an unarmed teenager is a tragedy, while calls for the arrest of the shooter, who claims self defense, intensify.
At the White House Friday, President Obama said he had to speak carefully, as a federal investigation is under way in the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
“Obviously, this is a tragedy. I can only imagine what these parents are going through, and when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids. And I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this, and that everybody pulls together — federal, state and local — to figure out exactly how this tragedy happened.”
Martin was shot and killed by a neighborhood watchman last month. Police did not arrest the shooter because he claimed he acted in self-defense while conducting his patrol. The lawyer for the teenager's family says Martin's girlfriend says she was talking to him on his mobile phone moments before his death. His family says he was targeted because he was black.
President Obama said “all of us” have to do some “soul-searching” to figure out how such an incident occurs, and examine the laws and the context and specifics of the incident.
“But my main message is to the parents of Trayvon Martin. You know, if I had a son he'd look like Trayvon and I think they are right to expect that all of us as Americans are going to take this with the seriousness it deserves and we're going to get to the bottom of exactly what happened.”
The parents of the slain teenager spoke out Thursday at in Sanford, Florida, calling for the arrest of the watchman. Supporters of the family attended a rally Thursday organized by rights activist Al Sharpton. More than 1 million people signed an online petition calling for the arrest of shooter. A rally also took place in New York City earlier in the week.
Trayvon Martin's parents met Thursday with officials from the Justice Department. Authorities are trying to determine if the watchman uttered a racial slur in one of his emergency calls, which could elevate the shooting to a federal hate crime.
Prosecutors in Florida say they will convene a grand jury to investigate the incident.
The incident has also drawn attention to so-called “stand your ground” laws in Florida and several other states, which allow people to confront a potential attacker with deadly force if they feel their life is in danger.
