He sends his condolences to the family, and declines to comment otherwise. This was smart. A public statement from Obama would accomplish nothing.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.
Ta-Nehisi Coates is a national correspondent for The Atlantic, where he writes about culture, politics, and social issues. He is the author of The Beautiful Struggle, Between the World and Me, and We Were Eight Years in Power.