White man charged with fatally shooting black man in Florida

ST PETERSBURG, Florida (AP):

Prosecutors charged a white man with manslaughter yesterday in the death of an unarmed black man whose video-recorded shooting in a store parking lot has revived debate over Florida's "stand your ground" law.

Michael Drejka, 47, has been charged with the July 19 death of Markeis McGlockton outside a Clearwater convenience store, Pinellas County State Attorney Bernie McCabe said. Drejka was being held at the county jail on $100,000 bail. It was unknown if he had an attorney.

At a news conference yesterday afternoon, relatives of McGlockton said they were pleased with the charge.

"I know this is going to be a long road," said Michael McGlockton, the victim's father. "We are up for the task. I just hope for a good outcome."

'Ultimate Goal'

Family attorney Michele Rayner said "the ultimate goal is conviction," and that she believed manslaughter was the correct charge. She also noted that yesterday was bittersweet.

"It's little Markeis' first day at school," she said, referring to McGlockton's five-year-old son.

McGlockton's girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, who was seated in the couple's car with two of their children, ages three years and four months, said Drejka confronted her for being parked in a handicapped-accessible space. McGlockton, 28, had gone into the store with young Markeis.

Video shows McGlockton leaving the store and shoving Drejka to the ground. Seconds later, Drejka pulls a handgun and shoots McGlockton as he backs away.