It was just a normal day in Florida until a man invoked the “stand your ground” law of self-defense when he shot another man during a parking lot dispute that was over nothing other than a parking space. This incident occurred in Clearwater, Florida. The man, 48-year-old Michael Drejka, had shot and killed Markeis McGlockton, and it was all caught on camera. Drejka has been charged with manslaughter, as per reports.

This incident has sparked a controversial discussion over the “stand your ground” law and the debate has run wild. Some believe that Drejka acted in self-defense after he was pushed to the ground. Others believe he acted too aggressively by shooting a man who had only attacked him with his hands. Others believe that being allowed to “stand your ground” might include using any means of self-defense possible, including utilizing firearms.

What started the incident, as per ABC News, is that Drejka was “berating” McGlockton’s girlfriend because she parked in a handicapped space. It appears in the video that McGLockton came out of the store, pushed the Drejka to the ground, and then Drejka shot McGlockton. This is all because of where McGlockton parked and because Drejka felt the need to be the parking lot boss. Now we have one person deceased and another facing jailtime. Seems like a pointless incident all around, right?

Controversy is also swirling around Drejka because he has a history of road rage, reportedly. However, those incidents do not have anything with this incident and a judge or jury might not consider those incidents in court. What happens in one incident does not exactly have anything to do with another indication, however it might be the prosecutors who use this to paint it as a character flaw and picture Drejka as the aggressor.

McGlockton saw a man harassing his girlfriend and protected her. Drejka was pushed over by a man and protected himself. Now what? That is the crucial point where everyone might be stuck. However, was it necessary for McGlockton to push Drejka? Not really. Drejka was talking to the woman, but he was not touching her, therefore no physical contact was necessary to intervene in the dicussion. Parking in the wrong spot started the mess, but then it escalated once Drejka thought he was the parking monitor. Then it got worse when McGlockton put his hands on the other man. The shooting was the icing on this horrible cake.

Here is a news clip of this incident that has people up in arms in every direction possible. The shooting could have been prevented by not parking in a handicapped space when you’re not supposed to. That’s the first thing that caused all of this to happen and spiral out of control. Drejka’s weapon was deemed legal to be carried.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywZLi_xwUT8

Drejka was originally not charged on account of standing his ground. Now he’s being charged with manslaughter.

ABC News stated: “The announcement that Michael Drejka will be charged with manslaughter provides our family with a small measure of comfort in our time of profound mourning,” McGlockton’s family said in a statement. “While this decision cannot bring back our partner, our son, our father, we take solace in knowing our voices are being heard as we work for justice.

“This man killed Markeis in cold blood, without a second thought about the devastating impact his actions would have on our family, but this charge gives us a measure of hope that the truth will win and justice will prevail in the end.”

Drejka was booked at the Pinellas County Jail and bond was set at $100,000. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Tuesday, at which time a judge will review his bond status and decide whether to appoint an attorney for Drejka or if the defendant can afford to hire his own lawyer.

Bernie McCabe, the state attorney for Pinellas County, announced his decision to file charges against Drejka 12 days after receiving investigative reports on the case from the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office.

“We have filed a formal charge, and he has been arrested, and he will now go through the court system,” McCabe said in a statement.

McCabe said charging Drejka is “consistent with the decision-making process established under Florida law in this case.”

Attorneys for Jacobs, the mother of McGlockton’s three young children, and McGlockton’s parents have held several press conferences to say they do not believe Drejka should have been given immunity from arrest under “stand your ground.”

At this point, the first act of violence came from McGlockton, the man who pushed Drejka to the ground, then was followed by being shot.

Was it necessary to push him? Was it right to shoot him?

What will the judge and jury decide?