Trayvon Martin Case: Seminole County to investigate shooting
The family of Trayvon Martin, the 17-year-old boy who was shot in Sanford, Fla on Feb. 26, is calling for an investigation into the case, questioning whether the man who fired his gun did so in self-defense.
A Seminole County grand jury will also investigate the killing of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed, black 17-year-old in Sanford, Florida, the Orlando Sentinel reported today.
"I share in the desire of the family and the community to accurately collect and evaluate all the facts surrounding the tragic death of Trayvon Martin," said State Attorney Norm Wolfinger in a news release. "The public is entitled to no less than a thorough, deliberate, and just review of the facts. We intend to honor that commitment."
The grand jury will hear evidence on April 10.
The Justice Department and the FBI opened an investigation into the killing of Martin by 28-year-old George Zimmerman on March 19. The case garnered attention in the media following the release of chilling 911 tapes, which raised new questions and frustrations surrounding the incident, Slate reported.
The Congressional Black Caucus called for a federal investigation, saying that local police had shown a "blatant disregard for justice," said CNN. The Justice Department said it would dispatch officials to Sanford, stating, "The department will conduct a thorough and independent review of all of the evidence and take appropriate action at the conclusion of the investigation."
According to MSNBC, police have declined to arrest Zimmerman because of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, which was enacted in 2005.
The law, which has been dubbed by opponents as "shoot first (ask questions later)," by its opponents, allows a potential crime victim "in fear of great bodily injury" to use deadly force in public places.
More from GlobalPost: Family calls for investigation into Trayvon Martin case
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