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Murder of Markeis McGlockton

On July 19, 2018, 28-year-old Markeis McGlockton and his three kids set out on a typical afternoon.

After picking up his girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, from work, she took the wheel, and the family went to the Circle A Food Store in Clearwater, Florida.

Jacobs, driving a Chrysler 200, parked in a space designated for disabled drivers without the necessary permit. While McGlockton and their 5-year-old son went inside, Jacobs and their two youngest kids stayed behind.

Soon, a Toyota 4Runner driven by 47-year-old Michael Drejka pulled into the lot and parked in an area not meant for parking.

Drejka, noticing the Chrysler in the handicapped spot, exited his SUV to see if the car had the appropriate permit to park in the handicapped space. When he realized it did not, Drejka confronted Jacobs, questioning her use of the restricted parking space.

The exchange seemed heated, and bystanders looked toward Drejka and Jacobs.

Meanwhile, another customer informed McGlockton about the commotion. Without hesitation, he stepped outside, leaving his son behind at the counter. McGlockton approached Drejka, who was still engaged in the argument with Jacobs. Surveillance video showed McGlockton forcefully shoving Drejka to the ground.

From the ground, Drejka pulled out a Glock .40-caliber handgun. As McGlockton began to back up and turn his body, Drejka steadied the gun with both hands and fired a single shot. The bullet struck McGlockton in the chest, just below the armpit.

Wounded, McGlockton stumbled back into the store, collapsing in front of his young son. Drejka placed his gun inside his SUV and waited for deputies.

Paramedics arrived approximately 19 minutes later, transporting McGlockton to Morton Plant Hospital. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at 4:04 p.m.

Meanwhile, Drejka was transported to a nearby station in Dunedin for questioning.

During the 6-hour interview, Drejka stated that he had acted in self-defense, fearing physical harm. He explained that he believed McGlockton was advancing toward him when he fired. Detectives even asked Drejka to reenact the sequence of events, with one of them standing in for McGlockton.

Sheriff Bob Gualtieri held a press conference the day after the shooting, announcing that Drejka would not be charged at that time. Citing Florida’s “stand-your-ground” law, Gualtieri explained that Drejka’s claim of self-defense prevented an immediate arrest. However, he also acknowledged the moral complexities of the case, remarking, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”

The surveillance footage was released to the public, sparking widespread debate. Critics argued that McGlockton had begun retreating before the shot was fired. Supporters of the law maintained that Drejka had acted within his rights.

The investigation was ultimately forwarded to the local state attorney’s office for review.

By August 10, Detective George Moffett had formally recommended charges of manslaughter with a firearm against Drejka, citing prior incidents where he allegedly threatened other drivers with guns—one of those incidents involved threats over handicapped parking.

Just three days later, on August 13, Drejka faced formal charges. His plea of not guilty followed on August 17.

Legal Proceedings

During the trial, prosecutors shed light on Drejka’s history of confrontations. Multiple incidents between 2012 and 2018 painted a picture of a man with a pattern of aggressive behavior. In one instance, a truck driver accused Drejka of threatening to shoot him over a parking dispute, even recalling Drejka using a racial slur. Prosecutors argued that these past actions demonstrated a tendency for violence, undermining Drejka’s self-defense claim.

Drejka maintained that he was tackled by McGlockton, which led to him fearing for his life. He argued that his actions were consistent with Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, though he regretted the outcome.

In a bid to explain his fixation on accessible parking spaces, Drejka cited personal experiences, mentioning his disabled mother-in-law and a deceased girlfriend from high school.

He denied any racist motives.

On August 23, 2019, Drejka was found guilty of manslaughter. He was facing up to 30 years in prison. At the sentencing on October 10, the judge acknowledged Drejka’s cooperation with police and lack of prior convictions, but criticized him for acting like a self-appointed enforcer of parking rules.

The court also heard emotional statements from McGlockton’s family. His father, still grappling with the loss, declared, “You deserve to die in prison.”

Ultimately, Drejka was sentenced to just 20 years in prison.

Drejka’s time locked up has not been without incident. In February 2020, he was attacked by another inmate at Lancaster Correctional Institution.

Despite challenges to his conviction, the verdict has been upheld. He has a projected release date of August 30th, 2037.