No charges in fatal handicapped parking shooting under Stand Your Ground law

CLEARWATER (FOX 13) - The man who shot another man during an argument over a handicapped parking spot Thursday will not be charged, the Pinellas County sheriff said Friday. 

The father was fatally shot in front of his family after an argument over a handicapped parking spot at the Circle A Food Store located at 1201 Sunset Point Road in Clearwater on Thursday.

Detectives said 24-year-old Britany Jacobs parked her 2016 Chrysler 2000 in a handicapped parking space outside the store.

Her boyfriend, 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton, and their 5-year-old son Markeis McGlockton Jr. got out of her vehicle and went inside the store.

While she waited in her vehicle, detectives say 47-year-old Michael Drejka approached her and they argued about the handicapped parking space.

Inside the store, a witness told the store clerk there was an argument outside. That's when Jacobs' boyfriend went outside and toward Drejka.

Witnesses told detectives McGlockton pushed Drejka, causing him to fall to the ground.

Surveillance video provided to FOX 13 News by the store's owner, Ali Salous, shows the alleged altercation.

In the video, a man is seen video coming from the store, approaching another man, and shoving him to the ground.

While on the pavement and within seconds, the second man pulls out a gun and fires. 

Detectives say additional surveillance video from inside the store shows the man re-enter and collapse in front of a child.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said Friday that the facts are clear; McGlockton violently shoved Drejka to the ground and Drejka feared for his life. Because of that, he is covered under Florida's Stand Your Ground law.

Sheriff Gualtieri said the sheriff's office doesn't make the law, they just enforce it.

"Just because you can, doesn't mean you should," he said. "This case may be an example of that." 

McGlockton was transported to Morton Plant Hospital with life-threatening injuries, but passed away from those injuries about 30 minutes after the shooting occurred, investigators said.

Detectives said Drejka was cooperative with investigators and has a valid concealed weapons license with the state.

According to Salous, it's not the first time Drejka started an argument over the parking spot. Salous said he wasn't surprised the fatal shooting occurred since he said he witnessed Drejka become argumentative last month.

"I told him, 'Don't do that,' and he won't listen," Salous explained to FOX 13.

He said he had to call the police after that fight.

The case will now go to the State Attorney's Office.