'Stand Your Ground' Invoked In Parking Lot Shooting Over Handicap Spot

A Florida man who shot and killed another man following an argument over a handicap parking spot will not face charges because he was defending himself. Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri announced that due to Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law Michael Drejka is not facing murder charges after he shot and killed Markeis McGlockton in front of his girlfriend and child in the parking lot of a Clearwater convenience store.

McGlockton walked out of the store to see his girlfriend Britany Jacobs arguing with Drejka because they were parked in a handicap spot but did not have a permit allowing them to park there. 

The two men started yelling at each other and McGlockton shoved Drejka to the ground. That's when Drejka pulled out his legally owned gun and shot McGlockton in the chest. Gualtieri explained that shove is the reason that Drejka will not face charges. 

“He told deputies that he had to shoot to defend himself. Those are the facts and that’s the law," Gualtieri said. “No matter how you slice it or dice it that was a violent push to the ground.”

Following the announcement that Drejka would not face charges, a group of protesters demonstrated outside of the convenience store. 

“What happened over here and what transpired over here is wrong,” demonstrator Lorenzo Jenkins told FOX 13 News. “This man died for defending his family man. For being a young father.”

McGlockton's family said they plan to hire their own criminal attorney to investigate the case. 


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