Florida man charged in 'stand your ground' shooting

[HunterDave]

Florida man charged in 'stand your ground' shooting: officials

(Reuters) - A Florida man was charged with manslaughter on Monday for fatally shooting another man on July 19 during an argument over a parking spot, after police initially declined to arrest him due to the state’s “stand your ground” self-defense law, officials said.

Michael Drejka, 47, of Clearwater, Florida, U.S. is pictured in this undated handout booking photo obtained by Reuters on August 13, 2018. Pinellas County Sheriff's Office/Handout via REUTERS
Alleged shooter Michael Drejka was taken into custody on Monday, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. The suspect was 47 at the time of the crime but turned 48 last week, according to the county jail.

Police had initially not charged Drejka over the July 19 shooting due to the 2005 law, which grants residents the right to use deadly force if they reasonably believe they are at risk of great harm or death. The case was sent to the state attorney’s office for further review.

“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,” said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri in a statement on Monday.

The shooting occurred when Drejka got involved in a shouting match outside a Clearwater, Florida, grocery store with a woman who allegedly parked in a spot reserved for handicapped people without the proper permit, the sheriff’s office said.

The woman’s boyfriend, 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton, approached Drejka and shoved him to the ground, at which point Drejka drew his licensed concealed handgun and shot McGlockton in the chest while his girlfriend and 5-year-old son were inside the store, the sheriff’s office said. It said that Drejka said he was in fear for his life at the time.

Surveillance video of the event went viral online, sparking criticism of the “stand your ground” law on social media. The fact that alleged shooter Drejka is white and victim McGlockton was black also sparked charges that way the law is applied ignored racially-fueled crimes.

The law removed the legal responsibility to retreat from a dangerous situation and allowed the use of deadly force when a person felt greatly threatened. It inspired similar laws in other states and was cited as a factor in the fatal 2012 shooting of unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin by a volunteer neighborhood watch member.

Backers of “stand your ground” laws say they deter crime.

It was not immediately clear if Drejka had retained a lawyer or if he remained in custody on Monday afternoon.

Clearwater is located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, about 20 miles (32 km) west of Tampa.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-f...-idUSKBN1KY1VG

[Donkey Oatey]

I saw the video of the incident a couple weeks ago when it first happened. My first instinct was yes an assault took place. Yes the man was justified in yanking his pistol. He was not justified in pulling the trigger as the guy had his hands up and was walking backwards away from him.

Sorry has nothing to do with race. Buddy pulled the trigger and now must be ready to pay the price.

[elkhunter11]

And now that he has been charged, we wait for a jury to decide if he is guilty.

[fishtank]

Originally Posted by Donkey Oatey

I saw the video of the incident a couple weeks ago when it first happened. My first instinct was yes an assault took place. Yes the man was justified in yanking his pistol. He was not justified in pulling the trigger as the guy had his hands up and was walking backwards away from him.

Sorry has nothing to do with race. Buddy pulled the trigger and now must be ready to pay the price.

X2

[Ken07AOVette]

It's going to be kangaroo court.
He was exercising his right to defend himself.
They tell them to exercise their rights and give them guns.
Only he knew if he was in fear of his life.
Nobody else can say he was or was not.

[Donkey Oatey]

Originally Posted by Ken07AOVette

It's going to be kangaroo court.
He was exercising his right to defend himself.
They tell them to exercise their rights and give them guns.
Only he knew if he was in fear of his life.
Nobody else can say he was or was not.

This biggest thing in this trial will be the video from the store's security cameras. It doesn't look good. Buddy is going to have to prove that he feared for his life.

I agree with there was an assault on his person by the dead guy.

I agree with yanking the pistol.

If buddy would have stood his ground or moved toward him then I would have agreed with pulling the trigger. To bad he wasn't doing either of those things and was backing up.

Let a jury decide what to believe.

[bat119]

Based on the video Michael Drejka better take his tooth brush to court he won't be coming home for awhile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nFtxkJ7ywg

There's no sound on the video did the dead guy threaten him after the gun was pulled it will be interesting to see what the jury finds.

[stuckincity]

Originally Posted by Donkey Oatey

Buddy is going to have to prove that he feared for his life.

He doesn't hafta prove nuthin.
The onus of proof is on the accuser(s).
That's how a PROPER legal system should always work.

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

And now that he has been charged, we wait for a jury to decide if he is guilty.

I agree. Gimme a Jury any time over and above anything else.

[bobtodrick]

Originally Posted by Ken07AOVette

It's going to be kangaroo court.
He was exercising his right to defend himself.
They tell them to exercise their rights and give them guns.
Only he knew if he was in fear of his life.
Nobody else can say he was or was not.

The surveillance footage definitely shows the fellow was backing up with his hands raised.
Don't think I'd want to live somewhere if you could be guaranteed a free pass by just proclaiming "I was scared officer".

[Skoaltender]

if getting pushed during an argument constitutes pulling out a weapon and killing someone because you felt your life was at risk, then I should have at least 50 kills to my name. Instead, I deescalated the situation virbally or fought the person with my bare hands like a man. Seems everyone is just hoping and waiting for their opportunity to blast someone these days.

[Trochu]

Originally Posted by bobtodrick

The surveillance footage definitely shows the fellow was backing up with his hands raised.

We must be watching different footage. I see backing up, I don't see hands raised above the waistline till he clutches his chest.

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by Donkey Oatey

I saw the video of the incident a couple weeks ago when it first happened. My first instinct was yes an assault took place. Yes the man was justified in yanking his pistol. He was not justified in pulling the trigger as the guy had his hands up and was walking backwards away from him.

Sorry has nothing to do with race. Buddy pulled the trigger and now must be ready to pay the price.

He's going to pay an awful big price once he's in jail. With all the TV coverage and outrage I'm pretty certain he will be relentlessly targeted by other inmates.
If he was scared for his life for getting pushed on his butt, he's really going to have a hard time in jail with guys that really want to hurt him.

[Tom Pullings]

“The blade itself incites to deeds of violence” (for the weak minded I would add).

I suspect some of these guys living in stand your ground states are just itching to try it out on the first person they clash with. Can’t imagine him getting away with that one. If the guy was coming closer to kick him or something sure, not as he’s clearly spooked by the gun and backing away.

[philintheblank]

Originally Posted by Tom Pullings

“The blade itself incites to deeds of violence” (for the weak minded I would add).

I suspect some of these guys living in stand your ground states are just itching to try it out on the first person they clash with. Can’t imagine him getting away with that one. If the guy was coming closer to kick him or something sure, not as he’s clearly spooked by the gun and backing away.

I agree,

If buddy wasn't packing heat, he probably wouldn't have been such a tough guy to get in someone's face over something as stupid as a packing spot.

Seems to me that as soon as the guy is backing up with hands in the air the threat has been cleared. Probably going to be wearing the an orange jumpsuit for a few years, but I bet he will plead it down and serve minimal time.

Que the 2nd amendment wingnuts.

[FQ2]

Play stupid game win stupid prizes.



There both at fault. The dead guy should'nt have stepped over the line and assaulted the other fellow. The shooter was quick on the draw......yet he was physically assualted and probally did fear for his life.



Sticks and stones....

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by FQ2

Play stupid game win stupid prizes.



There both at fault. The dead guy should'nt have stepped over the line and assaulted the other fellow. The shooter was quick on the draw......yet he was physically assualted and probally did fear for his life.



Sticks and stones....

Agreed.

The guy who did the assault was a hot head, the guy who was assaulted was just waiting to come across a guy who would give him a reason to pull his pistol.

Now we wait for the verdict.

[Twisted Canuck]

As noted, he was assaulted, and had every right to pull his gun...but when you shoot a man with his hands up and he is backing away, and do it for the cameras, your story of fearing for your life is hollow...especially given the time taken to form a good sight picture and hit the guy in his X ring. Good shooting Tex, but this ain't Dodge....

Will be curious how it plays out. If they can submit his past aggressive behavior before the jury he's is hooped, but I'm not sure the prosecutor can...

Neither of them were 'victims' imo, they both went looking for a violent situation. Lots of ruined lives.