Probe into shooting of black Florida teen

The case has drawn national attention. College students around Florida rallied Monday to demand Zimmermans arrest.

Responding to widespread protests,the US Justice Department says it will investigate the shooting of an unarmed black teen in a case that could explore the growing number of states that allow people to use deadly force if they feel threatened.

George Zimmerman,28,says he shot 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last month in self-defence during a confrontation in a Florida gated community. Police have described Zimmerman as white; his family says he is Hispanic and not racist.

Zimmerman spotted Martin as he was patrolling his neighbourhood last month and called the police emergency dispatcher to report a suspicious person. Against the dispatchers advice,Zimmerman followed Martin,who was walking home from a convenience store with a bag of candy in his pocket.

Story continues below this ad

The case has drawn national attention. College students around Florida rallied Monday to demand Zimmermans arrest. An online petition urging local authorities to prosecute Zimmerman has drawn more than 5,00,000 signatures.

The Justice Department said in a statement late Monday that the FBI and the US Attorneys Office will join in the agencys investigation. But authorities may be limited by a state law that allows people to defend themselves with deadly force. The new law has no duty to retreat.

The case will go before a grand jury beginning April 10. The office of state prosecutor Norm Wolfinger made the announcement as the victims family lawyer said Martin was on his cellphone with a girlfriend,giving her a chilling,minute-by-minute account of what was happening,in the moments before he died.