Zimmerman case 'tragic,' says Holder

Attorney General Eric Holder speaks at the Delta Sigma Theta sorority lunch. Attorney General Eric Holder speaks at the Delta Sigma Theta sorority lunch. Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press Photo: Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Zimmerman case 'tragic,' says Holder 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Washington --

Attorney General Eric Holder called the killing of Trayvon Martin a "tragic, unnecessary shooting," and said the Justice Department will follow "the facts and the law" as it reviews evidence to determine whether federal criminal charges are warranted.

In his first comments since the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the Martin case, the attorney general said Monday that the 17-year-old's death provides an opportunity for the nation to address complicated and emotionally charged issues.

Sunday, the Justice Department said it is reviewing evidence in the case to determine whether criminal civil rights charges would be brought. The department opened an investigation into Martin's death last year but stepped aside to allow the state prosecution to proceed.

"We are ... mindful of the pain felt by our nation surrounding the tragic, unnecessary shooting death of Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Fla., last year," Holder said, drawing strong applause from the audience at the 51st national convention of the Delta Sigma Theta, the nation's largest African American sorority.

The Justice Department says the criminal section of the agency's civil rights division, along with the FBI and federal prosecutors in Florida, are all continuing to evaluate the evidence generated during the federal investigation, plus evidence and testimony from the state trial.

The NAACP and others are calling on the Justice Department to file civil rights charges against Zimmerman.

The White House said Monday that President Obama won't involve himself in the Justice Department decision on whether to pursue civil rights charges.

Barbara Arnwine, president and executive director of the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, called the verdict "a travesty and miscarriage of justice" and urged the Justice Department to bring criminal civil rights charges against Zimmerman.