Summary: After intense public pressure, federal authorities will investigate last month’s fatal shooting of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. Martin was shot and killed by crime-watch volunteer George Zimmerman, who was patrolling his neighborhood, Sanford, after a rash of break-ins. Zimmerman reported the 17-year-old to 911 as suspicious, but despite being told by police that they would handle the situation, he claims he shot the unarmed teen in self-defense. Tensions are high in the community, and the incident has brought new debate about the state’s “stand your ground” law, which allows people to claim self-defense without retreating a perceived threat. The Department of Justice and the FBI have announced they will "conduct a thorough and independent review of all of the evidence and take appropriate action at the conclusion of the investigation."
