Lawmakers demand answers after shooting of black Missouri teen

Lawmakers are calling for a full investigation after a police officer shot and killed a black teenager, sparking violent protests in the town of Ferguson, Mo., a St. Louis suburb.

The FBI on Monday announced it would look into the shooting of Michael Brown, 18, to see whether any civil rights violations occurred, according to reports, in addition to a separate probe by the police department.

{mosads}In statements before the FBI announcement, Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) called for a thorough investigation and offered condolences to the victim’s family.

“Everyone deserves a transparent understanding of what happened here,” Blunt said in a statement. 

McCaskill said all the questions surrounding the shooting need to be answered. 

“I, like so many other Missourians, will not be satisfied until we have a complete and transparent understanding of all the facts and circumstances that led to this young man’s death,” she said. 

Gov. Jay Nixon (D) also called for an independent investigation. 

“It is vital that the facts about this case are gathered in a thorough, transparent and impartial manner, in which the public has complete confidence,” Nixon said in a statement. 

Brown was shot to death by a police officer in the town of Ferguson, Mo., on Saturday. The teen was unarmed, but police say he attacked an officer.

However, protesters want a thorough inquiry, with many alleging that racial bias may have led to the teen’s shooting.

The death spurred vigils and protests on Sunday, some of which turned violent with looting. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that more than 30 people were arrested Sunday night on charges ranging from theft and burglary to assault.

Authorities said two officers sustained some injuries in the protests. 

A spokesman for Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.), who represents Ferguson, said that the situation is still evolving at the federal level and that the congressman would release a statement when all the facts are confirmed. 

However, Clay cautioned Sunday night on Twitter that “looting and lawlessness” would not bring justice for Brown. 

Republican Rep. Ann Wagner (R-Mo.), who represents a neighboring district, also called on the community to remain calm while authorities search for answers. 

“As a mother of three children, I cannot even imagine the pain of losing a child,” she said. “My thoughts and prayers go out to Michael Brown’s family and to the people of Ferguson as they deal with this tragic loss.

“As we search for answers together, we must remain calm and compassionate while truth and justice are served,” Wagner said.

Updated at 2:59 p.m.