Florida Gov. Rick Scott expressed sympathy to the family of slain teenager Trayvon Martin and said a thorough investigation of the shooting is under way so justice can be served.
“No one can imagine this happening to their family,” the freshman Republican said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, addressing the case, which has provoked national outrage based on the belief that the man who shot Martin should be charged with murder.
On Thursday, Scott appointed a task force led by Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll. The shooting occurred Feb. 26.
When host Candy Crowley asked what took so long, Scott answered, “I’d love to do things faster. The right thing happened here. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will do a thorough investigation. They’re known for that.”
Crowley also asked whether Scott believed race played a role in the incident.
“There’s nothing I know about that,” he said. “You hope it’s never the case.”
Martin, 17, was shot in Sanford by 28-year-old George Zimmerman, a neighborhood watch captain who has yet to be charged.
The case has propelled scrutiny of Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law — also known as the castle doctrine — passed 2005 to protect people whose homes were looted after hurricanes. Almost 30 other states have adopted the statute as a model.
A host of politicians, including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the Republican presidential candidates, have declared that they don’t believe the law applies in the Martin slaying case.
On the topic of the race for the Republican nomination for president, Scott said the candidate with the best plan for job growth will win.
“I won my race because they believed I had jobs plan,” Scott said of his 2010 victory. “That’s whose going to win this fall.”
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