Rep. West Condemns Martin Shooting & Investigation
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Florida Congressman Allen West weighed in on the shooting death of Trayvon Martin Thursday and said the shooting and the investigation were quite simply, "an outrage."
"First of all, if all that has been reported is accurate, the Sanford Police Chief should be relieved of his duties due to what appears to be a mishandling of this shooting in its early stages," West wrote in a statement on Facebook.
"The U.S. Navy SEALS identified Osama Bin Laden within hours, while this young man laid on a morgue slab for three days," West continued. "The shooter, Mr. Zimmerman, should have been held in custody and certainly should not be walking free, still having a concealed weapons carry permit."
West also took issue with George Zimmerman's, the shooter of Trayvon Martin, claim of self-defense under the state's "Stand Your Ground" law.
"From my reading, it seems this young man was pursued and there was no probable cause to engage him, certainly not pursue and shoot him…against the direction of the 911 responder," West wrote.
"Let's all be appalled at this instance not because of race, but becaue a young American man has lost his life, seemingly, for no reason," West continued.
West said he has signed onto a letter supporting a DOJ investigation. But, West took issue with the marches and protests that have been ongoing in Sanford and in Miami.
"I am not heading to Sanford to shout and scream, because we need the responsible entities and agencies to handle this situation from this point without media bias or undue political influences," West said.
