By Tom Chaves on March 24, 2012

I was very upset when I heard about the Trayvon Martin shooting. As a parent, it is inconveivable to me that one of my sons could be walking to a 7-11 to get a bag of skittles and an iced tea and not make it home.

What troubles me most about the self-defense argument already being fronted by the shooter's defense attorney is that in the 911 phone call he was specifically told by the operator not to follow Trayvon. In general, community volunteers are supposed to report crime and follow the police's direction. They are not supposed to be gun toting vigilantes.

What likely happened is that a verbal altercation escalated into a fist fight and then the shooting occurred. It might have been accidental. No one knows at this point.

As lawyers, we always talk about not rushing to judgment. The investigation is still ongoing. With the involvement of the Justice Department any federal civil rights violations will be fully investigated and with the involvement of a new prosecutor the possibility of a murder or manslaughter or even assault charge is still possible.

Meanwhile, all we can do is pray for the family of this boy.