"Tragedy." That word appears again and againin comments about the Trayvon Martin shootingin Sanford, Florida.Trayvon Martin was seventeen years old and unarmed.A twenty-eight-year-old neighborhood watch volunteershot and killed him on a rainy night in February.He says he acted in self-defense.He says the teenager attacked him.Trayvon Martin was black.The crime watch organizer, George Zimmerman,is white and Hispanic.Many accused him of racism.Many more denounced law enforcement officialsfor not bringing criminal charges.The United States Justice Departmentopened its own investigation.This week, a Florida prosecutor,State Attorney Angela Corey,charged Mr. Zimmerman with murder.ANGELA COREY: "Let me emphasizethat we do not prosecuteby public pressure or by petition.We prosecute based on the facts of any given caseas well as the laws of the state of Florida."On Thursday Mr. Zimmerman appearedbefore Seminole County Judge Mark Herr.MARK HERR: "Mr. Zimmerman,you are here for your first appearances,a first appearance at this timefor a charge of murder in the second degree.And you are represented by Mr. O'Mara? "GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: "Yes sir."MARK HERR: "Remember your right to remain silent."The judge said there was enough evidenceto move forward with the case.He told Mr. Zimmerman that he will be officially chargedduring an arraignment hearing on May twenty-ninth.A hearing is set for next Fridayon the possibility of releasing him from jail on bond.Defense lawyer Mark O'Mara saidMr. Zimmerman would plead not guiltybut he worries about getting a fair trial.MARK O'MARA: "We need to calm this downand this case needs to be tried in a courtroom."The shooting happened in the gated communitywhere the girlfriend of Trayvon Martin's father lives.Tracy Martin and Trayvon's mother, Sybrina Fulton,accuse Mr. Zimmerman of targeting their sonbecause he was black.They led the protests to have him arrested.SYBRINA FULTON: "We just wanted an arrest and we got it."Police did not charge Mr. Zimmerman earlierbecause of a Florida law known as "Stand Your Ground."It says people have a right to meet force with force,to stand their ground and not turn and run.The Florida legislature passed the law in two thousand five.Many other states have similar laws.Supporters say these laws can reduce violent crimeand protect citizens who are trying to defend themselves.But Daniel Gross with the Brady Centerto Prevent Gun Violence told members of Congressthat the Florida law needs to be examined closer.DANIEL GROSS: "In Florida, law enforcement authoritiesdo not have the discretion to take away licensesto carry concealed weapons even from thosewho have killed unarmed people."Jeb Bush signed the law when he was Florida governor.He says it was not meant for cases like this one.JEB BUSH: "'Stand Your Ground' means 'Stand Your Ground.'It doesn't mean chase after somebody who's turned their back."George Zimmerman had calledthe 911 emergency services numberto report a suspicious person.911 OPERATOR: "Are you following him?"GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: "Yes."911 OPERATOR: "We don't need you to do that."Mr. Zimmerman later told police that he fired(shot Mr. Martin)after the teen struck him and hit his head on the ground.President Obama commented on the case last month.He said when he thinks about Trayvon Martin,he thinks about his own children.BARACK OBAMA: "If I had a son, he would look like Trayvon."Samantha Nolan is a neighborhood watch trainer in Washington.She tells volunteers never to chase anyone.In fact, she says the best way to fight crimeis to just know your neighbors.And that's IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.