Video shows deadly shooting over parking spot at Clearwater convenience store

ABC Action News ^ | 7/23/2018 | WFTS Webteam, Michael Paluska, Adam Winer

[simpson96]

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Hundreds from around Tampa Bay marched with the family of the Clearwater man fatally shot over a parking spot.

Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says the shooting was justified under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law. The deadly shooting at a convenience store in unincorporated Clearwater occurred Thursday.

Sgt. Spencer Gross of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office tells ABC Action News the shooting stemmed from an argument over a parking spot.

Deputies said Michael Drejka, of Clearwater, confronted a woman who parked in a handicapped parking space outside the Circle A Food Store on Sunset Point Road.

Witnesses told deputies the two were arguing because Drejka was upset the woman parked there even though she wasn't handicapped. The woman's boyfriend, Markeis McGlockton, of Clearwater, was inside the store to buy his little boy a candy bar, according to the store owner.

McGlockton exited the store to defend his girlfriend and shoved Drejka to the ground.

Drejka responded by taking out a pistol and shooting McGlockton in the chest. McGlockton ran back into the store where his five-year-old son was standing at the front door, watching the entire incident happen right before his eyes. McGlockton fell to the ground inside of the store and he was pronounced dead at a local hospital.

Investigators say multiple people witnessed the shooting and called 911.

Drejka is a legal concealed weapons permit holder and will not be charged because of Florida's Stand Your Ground law, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

[freedumb2003]

>>Drejka should have pistol-whipped and shot the baby-momma, too, for parking in his mom’s handicapped parking spot.<<

I don’t think the baby momma assaulted and menaced him.

Play stupid games...

[READINABLUESTATE]

“I always thought that use of force by anyone had to be reasonable based on the force being used against you.

I guess I was wrong.”

When a man half your age walks up and shoves you to the ground.... I’m not a mind reader, but you might be defending your life at that point.

[Lurker]

Mind your own business.
Keep your hands to yourself.

L

[ontap]

I did not get a CCW to let some asshole shove me around. While I would never have done what the shooter did simply because I have to be especially aware of a needless confrontation, If a person comes at me in a physically threatening manner I will shoot him. I have no need to wait for him to do physical harm!!

[freedumb2003]

>>NOT if the attack has ended!<<

Based on the video the thug was advancing. The attack clearly was not over.

[BenLurkin]

Exactly.

You never know if a psychopath in the parking lot is armed. So keep your hands to yourself.

[freedumb2003]

I was wrong.

[1Old Pro]

Based on the video the thug was advancing. The attack clearly was not over.

Agree, he was a millisecond away and could easily have attacked him again with his fist or a knife. The shooter had a millisecond to shoot under those threatening circumstances or easily could have lost his life. The victim did not retreat until he was shot in the torso and turned around to get back in the store.

[Georgia Girl 2]

LOL!

[AppyPappy]

I don’t see how telling someone not to park in a handicapped spot is “picking a fight”.

[carmen2017]

Any day Any Time.

[kiryandil]

I think that what the people who are angry about this should do is print up a bunch of handicapped parking signs that say "Mike Drejka's Mom's Handicapped Parking Spot. Violators Will Be Shot.", and put them all over town to mock the local law enforcement officials.

And in 2012, Tyler Smith, 18, accused a driver later identified as Drejka of hanging a gun outside of his truck window during a road rage incident in Palm Harbor, northwest of Tampa, according to law enforcement documents obtained by NBC News.

Smith, whose account was corroborated by his passenger, told a Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy that Drejka began yelling and honking at him when he stopped at a yellow traffic light, the documents say.

Smith said Drejka then dangled a black handgun from his driver’s side window and placed two magazines on his truck’s dashboard. After Drejka followed the car, the passenger told the deputy, Smith called the sheriff’s office to report him — though he didn’t want to press charges, according to the documents.

During an interview with deputies, Drejka said he’d yelled at Smith and honked his horn after the car cut him off, the documents say. Drejka denied following the vehicle or displaying a Glock that he kept in his truck’s center console.

No charges were filed in the case and the documents say Drejka’s concealed weapon’s license was valid.

Just a quick word of advice, freeedumb.

If you visit Mike's town, check with the local officials to find out where Mike's personal no-go zones are...

   

[1Old Pro]

I might PULL a gun in case the other guy was planning on following it up with more

Given the person who violently assaulted the person on the ground and was perhaps one second away from him if he wanted to finish him off with his fist or a knife, how long would you contemplate pulling a gun for self defense and using it?

[CommerceComet]

IMO pulling the gun was more than justified after being pushed to the ground violently.

Whether he was justified in shooting the guy is another issue altogether that doesn't look like a clear call.

[Mr Rogers]

He was backing away when the man fired.

[1Old Pro]

IMO pulling the gun was more than justified after being pushed to the ground violently. Whether he was justified in shooting the guy is another issue altogether that doesn't look like a clear call.

Yep, well stated.

[Sans-Culotte]

I always thought that use of force by anyone had to be reasonable based on the force being used against you. I guess I was wrong.

In my CHL classes (in Texas), we were taught to never get involved in BS like this. Because we are carrying, we should go out of our way to avoid crap like parking space fights. Even though the guy may have been "in fear of his life", the shooter actually initiated the confrontation by appointing himself "parking lot monitor". He should have merely muttered under his breath "what a jerk" and moved on.

[kiryandil]

These ferals are going to learn to live in a civilized manner or they will no longer be a part of our society

No worries! Mike Drejka on the job, sir - one feral at a time!

In an interview with Tampa’s Fox 13, store owner Ali Salous said he wasn’t surprised Drejka killed someone after watching him “become argumentative” over the same issue last month. The owner also said he called police after the first fight.

=================

Salous says Drejka has a history of confrontations in and around his store.

"He told me I can't help it. Every time I do this I get in trouble, and I can't help it. I keep doing it," Salous said.

Kelly, who drives a septic tank, briefly parked his tanker in this handicapped spot outside the Circle A Food Store before running inside this store for a beverage. When he came out, he saw Drejka taking pictures of his vehicle.

"He asked me (if) was I handicapped, and I said, 'Obviously, I'm driving a tanker. I'm not handicapped.' And I asked if was he handicapped and he stated 'No, my mom is,'" Kelly said.

===================

And in 2012, Tyler Smith, 18, accused a driver later identified as Drejka of hanging a gun outside of his truck window during a road rage incident in Palm Harbor, northwest of Tampa, according to law enforcement documents obtained by NBC News.

Smith, whose account was corroborated by his passenger, told a Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy that Drejka began yelling and honking at him when he stopped at a yellow traffic light, the documents say.

Smith said Drejka then dangled a black handgun from his driver’s side window and placed two magazines on his truck’s dashboard. After Drejka followed the car, the passenger told the deputy, Smith called the sheriff’s office to report him — though he didn’t want to press charges, according to the documents.

During an interview with deputies, Drejka said he’d yelled at Smith and honked his horn after the car cut him off, the documents say. Drejka denied following the vehicle or displaying a Glock that he kept in his truck’s center console.

No charges were filed in the case and the documents say Drejka’s concealed weapon’s license was valid.

[kiryandil]

Doin Right ain't got no end, Sans (Captain Redlegs - The Outlaw Josey Wales)

In an interview with Tampa’s Fox 13, store owner Ali Salous said he wasn’t surprised Drejka killed someone after watching him “become argumentative” over the same issue last month. The owner also said he called police after the first fight.

=================

Salous says Drejka has a history of confrontations in and around his store.

"He told me I can't help it. Every time I do this I get in trouble, and I can't help it. I keep doing it," Salous said.

Kelly, who drives a septic tank, briefly parked his tanker in this handicapped spot outside the Circle A Food Store before running inside this store for a beverage. When he came out, he saw Drejka taking pictures of his vehicle.

"He asked me (if) was I handicapped, and I said, 'Obviously, I'm driving a tanker. I'm not handicapped.' And I asked if was he handicapped and he stated 'No, my mom is,'" Kelly said.

===================

And in 2012, Tyler Smith, 18, accused a driver later identified as Drejka of hanging a gun outside of his truck window during a road rage incident in Palm Harbor, northwest of Tampa, according to law enforcement documents obtained by NBC News.

Smith, whose account was corroborated by his passenger, told a Pinellas County sheriff’s deputy that Drejka began yelling and honking at him when he stopped at a yellow traffic light, the documents say.

Smith said Drejka then dangled a black handgun from his driver’s side window and placed two magazines on his truck’s dashboard. After Drejka followed the car, the passenger told the deputy, Smith called the sheriff’s office to report him — though he didn’t want to press charges, according to the documents.

During an interview with deputies, Drejka said he’d yelled at Smith and honked his horn after the car cut him off, the documents say. Drejka denied following the vehicle or displaying a Glock that he kept in his truck’s center console.

No charges were filed in the case and the documents say Drejka’s concealed weapon’s license was valid.

[AppyPappy]

Clearly, Mr Drejka is suffering from “ThatOldWhiteManMustBeCrazy”.