By Kari Huus, msnbc.com
The police chief in charge when unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in Sanford, Fla., has resigned, the city stated Monday.
Chief Bill Lee Jr. came under fire for bungling the investigation of the incident in which neighborhood watch chief George Zimmerman ultimately shot Martin, 17, on Feb. 26.
Zimmerman was questioned by police, but not arrested or charged with any crime after following Martin, whom he apparently suspected of being a prowler in the gated community. Zimmerman said he acted in self-defense.
Lee stepped down "temporarily" in March.
A local commissioner, described as a supporter of Lee, told The Orlando Sentinel that the resignation was purely political.
"It's solely political," Commissioner Patty Mahany said after learning of the resignation. "The city manager felt he had no choice. That there could be no healing with Lee as the police chief."
The case attracted attention beyond Florida and ignited a national debate on race and justice after Martin's parents obtained 911 call recordings from the day their son was killed and which they believe show that Zimmerman was not acting in self-defense.
Zimmerman, who was later arrested and is now charged with second-degree murder, was released on bail on Monday.
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