Left: Surveillance footage of the parking lot where Markeis McGlockton was shot. Right: Michael McGlockton holds a photo of his slain brother Markeis. AP Photos…
Left: Surveillance footage of the parking lot where Markeis McGlockton was shot. Right: Michael McGlockton holds a photo of his slain brother Markeis. AP Photos
Michael Drejka — the Florida man who last month invoked the state’s contentious “stand your ground” law after a July 19 surveillance video showed him fatally shooting an African-American man, apparently over a parking space — was arrested and charged with manslaughter on Monday.
The sheriff’s office originally declined to charge Drejka due to Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law, which says a person can use deadly force if they “reasonably believe that using or threatening to use such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.”
According to NBC News, the State Attorney’s Office announced a warrant had been issued for 47-year-old Drejka in the death of 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton. He was subsequently booked into the Pinellas County Jail where bond was set at $100,000.
“I support the State Attorney’s decision and will have no further comment as the case continues to work its way through the criminal justice system,” Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said in a statement.
Gualtieri, who had initially decided against charging Drejka on grounds that he had a right to self-defense, faced overwhelming backlash for his decision. The sheriff defended his position by claiming that a surveillance video from the Clearwater convenience store parking lot where the incident took place captured Drejka protecting himself against McGlockton.
Brittany Jacobs, McGlockton’s 25-year-old girlfriend, told Good Morning America in July that she was sitting in a parked car with her two of their children when Drejka approached her and said she shouldn’t be parked in the handicapped parking spot. Per security footage provided by the gas station, McGlockton intervened in the situation, pushing Drejka away. While on the ground, Drekja, who reportedly had a concealed carry permit, took out a gun and shot McGlockton in front of his family.
McGlockton family attorney Benjamin Crump says the video clearly showed Drejka in the role of aggressor. Crump issued a statement following Drejka’s arrest on Monday that read in part, “This self-appointed wannabe cop attempted to hide behind ‘Stand Your Ground’ to defend his indefensible actions, but the truth has finally cut through the noise.”
“I have full faith that this truth will prevail to punish this cold-blooded killer who angrily created the altercation that led to Markeis’ needless death,” he continued.
The family of McGlockton also released a statement saying the manslaughter charges offer “a measure of hope that the truth will win and justice will prevail in the end.”
Sign up here to get INSIDER’s favorite stories straight to your inbox.
Follow INSIDER on Facebook .
