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A6 U.S. NEWS
Monday 26 august 2019

Florida man convicted in parking lot shooting of black man

Associated Press windows were tinted, so he
A white Florida man who didn't know anyone was in-
told detectives he had a side.
"pet peeve" about illegal Jacobs, who was sitting
parking in handicapped with the couple's two
spots was convicted late younger children, partially
Friday of manslaughter for put down her window and
the fatal shooting of an un- asked what he was doing.
armed black man outside He said he told her it was
a convenience store. "not very polite" to park in
Six jurors deliberated for six the spot and "she took that
hours in Clearwater before as an affront." He said that
convicting Michael Drejka sparked an argument that
for the July 19, 2018, death got heated, with Jacobs
of Markeis McGlockton. saying "Do I have to get my
Drejka, who could get 30 man?"
years, looked down after Jacobs testified that Drejka
the verdict was read then had started pointing and
wiped his brow with a blue yelling at her. She said she
handkerchief. The 49-year- cracked the window to
old Drejka was ordered hear what he was saying
held without bond until his and a screaming match
sentencing in October. He ensued.
stared straight ahead as he Prosecutor Scott Rosen-
was handcuffed and led wasser said during closing
out of the courtroom. In a Aug. 23, 2018 file photo, Michael Drejka sits in court during a bond hearing at the Pinellas arguments earlier Friday
The verdict came about a County Justice Center in Clearwater, Fla. that Drejka provoked Mc-
half-hour after jurors sent Associated Press Glockton to shove him by
out a note saying they were yelling at Jacobs instead
confused by the state's self- system fails us by allowing ing." Drejka had a concealed of calling the police if he
defense law. Circuit Judge people who take the lives Drejka had confronted weapons permit for 25 felt so strongly about her
Joseph Bulone told them all of unarmed Black people McGlockton's girlfriend, Bri- years and told detectives being parked in the handi-
he could do is reread it for to walk free as though their tany Jacobs, for parking he "always" carried his gun. capped spot. Testimony
them. lives meant nothing," Mc- in a handicapped space Drejka told the detectives showed he had confront-
The lengthy statute gener- Glockton's mother, Monica while McGlockton went in- he has a "pet peeve" about ed a septic truck driver for
ally says a shooting is justi- Robinson, said in a state- side a convenience store illegal parking in handi- parking in the same spot
fied if a reasonable person ment. "We are hopeful that with his 5-year-old son. Se- capped spots and often months earlier, leading to
under those circumstances this conviction will be a curity video recorded Mc- walks around such cars an argument.
would believe they are in brick in the road to chang- Glockton leaving the store looking for handicapped "He is a parking lot vigilan-
danger of death or great ing the culture of racism and shoving Drejka to the stickers and placards, te," Rosenwasser said.
bodily harm. But it also says here in Florida." ground. Seconds later, Dre- sometimes taking photo- Defense attorney John
the shooter could not have Theresa Jean-Pierre Coy, jka pulled out a handgun graphs. He said he often Trevena told the jurors such
instigated the altercation. one of Drejka's attorneys, and shot McGlockton, 28, sees people illegally parked comments are ridiculous.
Members of McGlockton's told reporters outside the as he backed away. Mc- in the handicapped spot Drejka retired in his 30s from
family wept as the verdict courthouse that she re- Glockton ran inside the at that convenience store, his tree-trimming job be-
was read and hugged and spected the verdict, but store, where he collapsed but the owner doesn't do cause of health problems.
shook hands with the pros- her team would likely file an and died in front of his son. anything about it. "Does he look like Charles
ecutors after court was ad- appeal. She expressed her The video was played mul- Drejka said he saw Mc- Bronson in 'Death Wish'?"
journed. condolences to the Mc- tiple times for the jury of five Glockton's car in the handi- he asked, referring to the
"This conviction doesn't Glockton family and said men and a woman. capped spot in July 2018, 1974 action movie. "This isn't
bring our son back, but it that while she was disap- Drejka didn't testify on his so he went to its back and a vigilante."
does give us some sense pointed in the verdict, she behalf, although jurors front, looking for stickers, Drejka, the son of a police
of justice because far too was "happy they received were played a video of his which store security video officer, had no record be-
often the criminal justice the justice they were seek- interview with detectives. shows. He said the car's fore the shooting.q