CLEARWATER — An argument over a handicapped parking space has left a Clearwater man dead and his shooter immune from arrest under Florida's Stand Your Ground law. During a press conference Friday, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri announced that the sheriff's office will not pursue a case against the shooter because the man's actions fall within the parameters of the Florida Legislature's Stand Your Ground law. The law allows residents to use lethal force to defend themselves if they are in fear for their lives. The fatal shooting took place just at 3:28 p.m. Thursday, July 19, at the Circle A food store at 1201 Sunset Point Road in unincorporated Clearwater. Jacobs waited outside with her 3-year-old and 3-month-old children while her boyfriend, Markeis McGlockton, 28, and their 5-year-old son went into the store. Gualtieri said the shooting occurred after 24-year-old Britany Jacobs pulled her 2016 Chrysler 2000 into a handicapped parking space outside the convenience store. "He was a frequent customer at the store and apparently had an issue with people who park illegally in handicapped spaces," said Gualtieri. "He approached Jacobs and they got into a pretty significant yelling match." While Jacobs was waiting outside, she was approached by Michael Drejka, 47, who had examined Jacob's car and determined that she didn't have a handicapped permit allowing her to park in the handicapped space. Witnesses said McGlockton walked over to Drejka, who was still arguing with Jacobs. and confronted him. That's when McGlockton pushed Drejka to the ground. Gualtieri said a customer went into the store to report the argument to the clerk. Overhearing this, McGlockton left the store to check on his girlfriend. "It wasn't just a shove," said Gualtieri, "It was a violent push. He slammed him to the ground." Gualtieri said what occurred during the next four seconds gave Drejka the leeway to use the Stand Your Ground defense. Instead of turning away, McGlockton stood facing Drejka, who had fallen onto his rear end. "He (Drejka) felt that, after being slammed to the ground, he was going to be attacked again. He thought he was in peril," said Gualtieri. No words were exchanged between the two men, Gualtieri said. Drejka, who has a valid concealed weapons permit, just reached into his pocket, pulled out a handgun and shot McGlockton once in the chest. Gualtieri said surveillance video from the parking lot shows McGlockton clutching his chest and stumbling back into the store where he collapsed. Paramedics responded and transported McGlockton to Morton Plant Hospital where he died from the gunshot wound. After studying the surveillance video, speaking to witnesses and then reviewing Florida's Stand Your Ground law, Gualtieri concluded that there was no basis to arrest Drejka. "The law on Stand Your Ground is clear," said Gualtieri. "The Florida Legislature has spoken on this. It's largely a subjective standard. If a person determines he's in fear of his life, then lethal force is justified." According to the law, the sheriff's office can't even arrest the person claiming the Stand Your Ground defense. "They have immunity from arrest and can bring civil action against the law enforcement agency, making it liable for court costs and attorney's fees," said Gualtieri. In fact, the Legislature amended the Stand Your Ground law during the last legislative session, placing the burden of proof on the State Attorney's Office on why the Stand Your Ground law does not apply. "Before Stand Your Ground, a case like this might have had a different outcome," said Gualtieri. "There's that four-second pause (before Drejka shot McGlockton). That pause gives me pause; it gives me some concern. Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. But we don't get to make a judgement about Drejka's feelings and actions." Gualtieri said there could have been a different outcome. McGlockton could have walked away or Drejka could have pointed the gun at McGlockton and not fired. "I'm not going to substitute my judgement for Drejka's judgement. It doesn't matter what I would have done," he said. "No matter how you slice it and dice it, that was a violent push to the ground. (Drejka) felt he had a reasonable belief that this guy was coming after him again and he was going to be harmed. He felt he had to shoot to defend himself." Nevertheless, Gualtieri said he'll refer the case to the State Attorney's Office, which will make the final determination on whether Drejka should be charged. Image via Pinellas Sheriff<doc-sep>CLEARWATER, Florida -- Police say a Florida man was shot and killed over a parking space.The incident in Clearwater was caught on surveillance camera.Another man says he had the same argument with the suspected shooter a month ago. "He flipped out saying he would shoot me. So when I left he called the owner of my company stating he was going to kill me," Rich Kelly told WFTS Kelly says the man was upset he parked in a handicapped space.It's also the same thing that Michael Drejka was upset about Thursday when he was yelling at a woman in the parking lot.Surveillance video shows Markeis McGlockton leave the store to defend his girlfriend and shove Drejka hard to the ground.Drejka then pulls out a gun and shoots McGlockton in the chest.McGlockton died right in front of his 5-year-old son.Store owner Ali Selous says McGlockton was a frequent customer who was there buying candy for his little boy. "It's sad to see him die in front of his son...for a parking lot. For a stupid reason! Just to argue just to find someone to argue with," Selous said.Selous also told WFTS that he had to call police a month ago when Drejka got into a yelling match with Kelly.The Pinellas County Sheriff is not pressing charges against Drejka because of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law.<doc-sep>
UPDATE: CLICK HERE TO WATCH PRESS CONFERENCE WHERE SHERIFF EXPLAINS WHY SHOOTER WILL NOT FACE CHARGES AT THIS TIME An argument about a handicapped parking space led to a deadly shooting outside a Clearwater convenience store Thursday that was witnessed by the deceased man’s 5-year-old son. No arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. Detectives are investigating to determine if the case meets the criteria of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law. Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office detectives say 24-year-old Britany Jacobs was driving her 2016 Chrysler 2000 when she pulled into the Circle A Food Store located at 1201 Sunset Point Road, and parked in a handicapped parking space outside the business. Jacob’s boyfriend, 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton, and their 5-year-old son Markeis McGlockton Jr., got out of Jacob’s car and went into the convenience store. Video from inside the store shows the two walking around and then paying for their items. Detectives say Jacobs was waiting outside in the parking lot when she was approached by 47-year-old Michael Drejka. Drejka and Jacobs got into an argument about Jacobs parking in a handicapped parking space. A witness saw Drejka and Jacobs arguing before walking into the store. While inside the convenient store, the witness alerted the clerk of the argument occurring in the parking lot. According to witnesses, McGlockton left the store and walked over to Drejka who was still arguing with Jacobs in the parking lot. Video shows McGlockton forcibly pushed Drejka causing Drejka to fall to the ground. Video then shows Drejka on the ground. He took out a handgun and fired one single round at McGlockton striking him in the chest. Those who saw the video do not believe this is a case of Stand Your Ground. Richard Kelly is a regular at the store and says he was approached once by Drejka for the same reason. “He basically threatened to shoot me that day, too,” says Kelly. Witnesses say McGlockton walked back into the convenience store where he collapsed. Several witnesses called 911 as the incident unfolded. When deputies arrived, Drejka was cooperative with deputies. Drejka told deputies he placed his firearm in his Toyota 4-Runner prior to their arrival. Paramedics responded and transported McGlockton to Morton Plant Hospital for life-threatening injuries. Deputies transported Drejka to the North District Station located at 2496 Bayshore Boulevard in Dunedin, so he could be interviewed by detectives. Deputies took possession of Drejka’s handgun. Drejka was in possession of a valid Florida concealed weapons license. Detectives say McGlockton was pronounced deceased at Morton Plant Hospital at about 4:04 p.m. on Thursday, July 19, 2018. Detectives obtained surveillance video of the shooting from the convenience store and interviewed multiple witnesses who were at the scene. This is an ongoing investigation pending the applicability to the “Stand Your Ground” law and Drejka’s immunity to arrest.