President Barack Obama has asked for calm and reflection a day after a jury found Florida security guard George Zimmerman not guilty of killing unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin.
Obama said that the death of Martin was a tragedy, not just for his family but for America also.
According to the New York Daily News, Obama asked Americans to respect the jury's not guilty verdict and reflect on ways the nation might curb senseless gun violence.
On Saturday, a Florida jury found Zimmerman not guilty in the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.
The verdict triggered a wave of outrage among civil rights activists as hundreds of protesters took to the streets in cities across the U.S. demanding justice for Martin's family.
Martin's parents were not present for the verdict, but they took to social media to express their devastation.
Prosecutors had argued that Zimmerman shot Martin dead on 26 February 2012 because he had racially profiled him as he walked through his neighbourhood wearing a hooded sweatshirt.
Martin was an African-American. Zimmerman, who was carrying out area patrols after a spate of break-in, identified himself as Hispanic, the report said.
The defence said he had killed Martin in self-defence after the teenager punched their client, slammed his head into the pavement and reached for Zimmerman's gun, the report added.
