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| ‘Stand Your Ground’ Trial in Florida Ends With Manslaughter Verdict | ‘Stand Your Ground’ Trial in Florida Ends With Manslaughter Verdict |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| In a test of the self-defense law known as “Stand Your Ground,” a Florida jury on Friday night found Michael Drejka guilty of manslaughter for killing Markeis McGlockton after an argument over a parking spot escalated outside a convenience store in Clearwater, Fla., last summer. | In a test of the self-defense law known as “Stand Your Ground,” a Florida jury on Friday night found Michael Drejka guilty of manslaughter for killing Markeis McGlockton after an argument over a parking spot escalated outside a convenience store in Clearwater, Fla., last summer. |
| After the death of Mr. McGlockton, who was black and unarmed, officials did not arrest Mr. Drejka, who is white, for three weeks, citing the state’s self-defense laws. | |
| The citing of the law, as well as the races of the men, reminded many of the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, in Sanford, Fla., in 2012. | The citing of the law, as well as the races of the men, reminded many of the fatal shooting of Trayvon Martin, an unarmed black teenager, in Sanford, Fla., in 2012. |
| Prosecutors in Pinellas County, Fla., eventually charged Mr. Drejka, who is white, with one count of manslaughter. He did not testify in the trial, according to The Associated Press, and the six-person jury deliberated for about six hours on Friday. | Prosecutors in Pinellas County, Fla., eventually charged Mr. Drejka, who is white, with one count of manslaughter. He did not testify in the trial, according to The Associated Press, and the six-person jury deliberated for about six hours on Friday. |
| The maximum sentence Mr. Drejka could face is 30 years in prison. He had been free on bond since September 2018, but a judge remanded him to jail after the verdict, according to court records. | The maximum sentence Mr. Drejka could face is 30 years in prison. He had been free on bond since September 2018, but a judge remanded him to jail after the verdict, according to court records. |
| On July 19, 2018, Mr. McGlockton, 28, was in the convenience store with his 5-year-old son while his girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, and two small children were sitting in a car parked in a handicapped space. Mr. Drejka, 49, approached the car and started arguing with Ms. Jacobs about parking in the space without a handicap permit, according to the sheriff. | On July 19, 2018, Mr. McGlockton, 28, was in the convenience store with his 5-year-old son while his girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, and two small children were sitting in a car parked in a handicapped space. Mr. Drejka, 49, approached the car and started arguing with Ms. Jacobs about parking in the space without a handicap permit, according to the sheriff. |
| In grainy surveillance footage of the scene, Mr. McGlockton leaves the store, approaches Mr. Drejka and shoves him to the ground. Mr. McGlockton then appears to take a few steps back from Mr. Drejka, who pulls out a gun while sitting on the pavement and shoots Mr. McGlockton once in the chest. | In grainy surveillance footage of the scene, Mr. McGlockton leaves the store, approaches Mr. Drejka and shoves him to the ground. Mr. McGlockton then appears to take a few steps back from Mr. Drejka, who pulls out a gun while sitting on the pavement and shoots Mr. McGlockton once in the chest. |
| Mr. McGlockton was seen stumbling back into the store, clutching his wound. He collapsed next to his son and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. | Mr. McGlockton was seen stumbling back into the store, clutching his wound. He collapsed next to his son and was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. |
| Originally passed in 2005, the law allows people to use deadly force without first trying to retreat from a dangerous situation if they “reasonably believe” that their lives are threatened. The law received support from the National Rifle Association but was vigorously opposed by law enforcement officers. | Originally passed in 2005, the law allows people to use deadly force without first trying to retreat from a dangerous situation if they “reasonably believe” that their lives are threatened. The law received support from the National Rifle Association but was vigorously opposed by law enforcement officers. |
| A majority of states have adopted laws that are similar to Florida’s, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Violence. | A majority of states have adopted laws that are similar to Florida’s, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Violence. |
| In 2017, the Florida Legislature strengthened the law, shifting the burden of proof to prosecutors: Defendants are no longer required to offer evidence, typically by taking the stand, to prove their claim to Stand Your Ground. | In 2017, the Florida Legislature strengthened the law, shifting the burden of proof to prosecutors: Defendants are no longer required to offer evidence, typically by taking the stand, to prove their claim to Stand Your Ground. |
| After Mr. Martin was killed, the police invoked the Stand Your Ground law when they initially declined to arrest George Zimmerman, who had fired the weapon. Mr. Zimmerman argued that he acted in self-defense but did not offer a Stand Your Ground case. He was acquitted when a jury found he was justified in pulling the trigger. | After Mr. Martin was killed, the police invoked the Stand Your Ground law when they initially declined to arrest George Zimmerman, who had fired the weapon. Mr. Zimmerman argued that he acted in self-defense but did not offer a Stand Your Ground case. He was acquitted when a jury found he was justified in pulling the trigger. |
| Critics of the law say it is a shoot-first law that inflames already violent confrontations, and the Trayvon Martin case brought renewed scrutiny to racial profiling. | Critics of the law say it is a shoot-first law that inflames already violent confrontations, and the Trayvon Martin case brought renewed scrutiny to racial profiling. |
| “You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot I said that this could have been my son,” President Barack Obama said at the time. “Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.” | “You know, when Trayvon Martin was first shot I said that this could have been my son,” President Barack Obama said at the time. “Another way of saying that is Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago.” |
| The six jurors had to decide whether Mr. Drejka feared being killed and justifiably shot Mr. McGlockton after he knocked him to the pavement. In the video, which was shown at the trial, it is clear Mr. McGlockton was stepping away from the confrontation. But Mr. Drejka has told the authorities he was fearful that he was going to be struck again. | The six jurors had to decide whether Mr. Drejka feared being killed and justifiably shot Mr. McGlockton after he knocked him to the pavement. In the video, which was shown at the trial, it is clear Mr. McGlockton was stepping away from the confrontation. But Mr. Drejka has told the authorities he was fearful that he was going to be struck again. |
| Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs contributed reporting. | Nicholas Bogel-Burroughs contributed reporting. |