Holder: Trayvon Martin's death unnecessary

The shooting death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin was tragic and unnecessary, and it ought to spark public debate about how to prevent similar incidents, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said yesterday.

In his first comments since a state jury acquitted George Zimmerman, Holder said federal prosecutors were continuing to investigate.

"Independent of the legal determination that will be made, I believe that this tragedy provides yet another opportunity for our nation to speak honestly about the complicated and emotionally charged issues that this case has raised," Holder told a convention of Delta Sigma Theta, a black sorority.

Although Zimmerman was cleared of murder charges under Florida law, U.S. prosecutors could decide to bring criminal charges under a federal hate-crimes law, and some civil rights advocates are lobbying prosecutors to do so.