Free Republic

A mischaracterization of the Tueller Drill — the so-called 21 foot rule — deprived Michael Drejka of a potentially effective defense. On Friday, August 23 , 2019, a Florida jury convicted Michael Drejka, the handicap parking spot shooter who killed Markeis McGlockton, of manslaughter. As a result, at his September 10 sentencing hearing the 48-year-old Drejka will likely be sentenced to a mandatory minimum of 25 years to life in prison, without possibility of early release. My problem with this outcome has nothing to do with the fact that Michael Drejka was found guilty—maybe he was guilty. My problem with...

A white man who cited Florida’s “stand your ground” self-defense law after fatally shooting a Black man during a dispute over a parking space last year has been convicted of manslaughter. Jurors in Clearwater, located roughly 25 miles west of Tampa, deliberated for six hours on Friday before announcing their verdict against Michael Drejka, 49, in the shooting death of Markeis McGlockton, reported the Tampa Bay Times. Drejka’s attorneys reportedly plan to appeal the verdict after their client’s sentencing hearing, which has been scheduled for Oct. 10. He faces up to 30 years in prison. The shooting occurred after McGlockton,...

Michael Drejka, the 47-year old shooter of 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton over a July 19 dispute about a handicap parking spot, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter, reports the Tampa Bay Times and other news sources. He is being held on $100,000 bail in Pinellas County Jail.We previously covered this case immediately after it occurred here:Law of Self Defense VIDEO: Just because it's lawful to present the gun doesn't mean it's lawful to press the triggerand here:Law of Self Defense: VIDEO: Shove-Shoot Case Sheriff's StatementDrejak has a potential, if marginal, justification claim of self-defense here. The key issue is whether...

Troublemaker: The “Rev.” Al Sharpton, like all of his race-baiting colleagues, long ago ceased to be a useful force for change in America. That’s because long ago — in the 1960s — our country adopted a series of civil rights laws and regulations cementing the Constitution’s promise of equal treatment and justice for all. But in 2018 Sharpton continues to pretend like our country has made no progress at all when it comes to civil rights, so every time there is an incident involving a black man killed by a white person, he has to show up and needlessly stir...

Ali Salous, the owner of the Circle A convenience store, told us Drejka has caused problems at his store before. "This guy -- he did this before," Salous said. "He always hangs out in the parking lot and if he sees someone parking, he just wants to start trouble with people." Gualtieri, however, maintained that Drejka's history didn't matter when it comes to making an arrest. All that matters, according to the sheriff, are the facts of this brief confrontation caught on tape. "He might well be a thorn in people's side. He might be a jerk," Gualtieri explained. "He...