State prosecutors have not brought charges in shooting death of James Chaney . Fourteen-year-old Till was beaten and then shot for whistling at a white woman , or according to other accounts , saying `` bye , baby '' to her . the Civil Rights Division says the news that the federal government will investigate is welcome . He says in early March , Nicolaus Mills was able to obtain convictions in 19 killings . Mills : The current federal investigation could help establish facts , defuse tensions .
State prosecutors have not brought charges in shooting death of James Chaney . the Civil Rights Division says the news that the federal government will investigate is welcome . He says in early March , Nicolaus Mills was able to obtain convictions in 19 killings . Mills : The current federal investigation could help establish facts , defuse tensions .