The Florida man who invoked the “stand your ground” self-defense law after shooting a black man in a dispute over a parking space was charged Monday with manslaughter, officials said.
Michael Drejka, 48, was arrested Monday morning in the fatal July shooting of Markeis McGlockton in Clearwater, Florida — an incident that was caught on video which sparked an uproar after its release.
The announcement that Drejka was charged with manslaughter provided McGlockton’s family with some comfort even as they continue to mourn.
McGlockton’s mother, Monica Moore, said at a news conference that she has been in a “daze” since her son’s death.
“So today when I head that he [Drejka] was being charged, I guess I could start healing,” Moore said.
McGlockton’s father, Michael McGlockton, said he believed Drejka should have been arrested and charged “from day one.”
“When I got the news today I was happy, I was ecstatic about it, but I’m just sorry that it took so long, you know, three weeks later,” he said. “I know this is going to be a long road. We are up for the task and we just hope for a good outcome at 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.
Source: ABC
