Nearly a year after Michael Drejka shot and killed Markeis McGlockton in a Clearwater parking lot, a judge has sentenced the 47-year-old to 20 years in prison.
The sentence was handed down Thursday morning by Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Joseph Bulone. According to the Tampa Bay Times, McGlockton’s friends and family were present at the hearing, and pushed for a maximum 30 years. No Drejka supporters were in the courtroom “out of fear for their safety,” says his attorney.
The sentencing comes after Drejka argued with McGlockton over a handicap-reserved parking spot in July of 2018. Surveillance video of the incident showed McGlockton exiting a Circle A in Clearwater, and then shoving Drejka to the ground in the parking lot. Drejka then pulled out his .40-caliber Glock handgun and shot McGlockton.
Drejka was convicted with manslaughter last week.
McGlockton’s death caused tremendous backlash from activists and civil rights leaders, claiming that Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri’s decision to not arrest Drejka, citing Florida’s controversial “stand your ground,” law.
Drejka was eventually charged with McGlockton’s murder three weeks later.
This is a developing story, and we’ll update it when more information is available.
Follow @cl_tampabay on Twitter to get the most up-to-date news + views. Subscribe to our newsletter, too.
This article appears in Oct 3-10, 2019.
