Facts in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Florida teenager killed by a neighborhood watch volunteer who earlier had called police to report a "suspicious" person, are still being sorted out. Federal and state authorities have launched investigations, and a grand jury will convene early next month to determine whether charges should be brought against George Zimmerman, the man who called police and later shot Trayvon.

As such, there's ample reason to hope that a just decision ultimately will be reached in this most high-profile and sensitive of cases.

In the interim, the tragic death of a young man, walking back to the house where he was staying after buying candy and iced tea at a convenience store, has sparked understandable sadness and outrage across the nation.

Without prejudging George Zimmerman, this case should lead to discussions here and elsewhere about racial profiling, stereotypes, and the easy judgments piled upon, and made by, people of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Why was a young black man viewed as suspicious apparently only by the fact he was walking through the neighborhood at night? Why should a hoodie — a popular piece of clothing worn by people of all ages and racial backgrounds — lead a person to be suspected of some type of wrong-doing?

How quick are we to pile our fears and prejudices on individuals, especially those who look, act or speak in different ways than the groups we "belong" to.

The specifics of this case must be handled with care. The full story of what happened on that awful night in Sanford, Fla., needs to be thoroughly researched and told before final conclusions can be made.

Yet it's not too soon to mourn another senseless death, nor to reflect on how and why such tragedies occur in our nation with far too much frequency.

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