CLEARWATER, Fla. — A Florida man who killed an unarmed man over a handicapped parking spot in Clearwater last year has been sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Pinellas County Judge Joseph Bulone handed down the sentence to Michael Drejka, 48, just before noon on Thursday.
“The defendant was blindsided when he was pushed down," Judge Bulone explained.
A jury found Drejka guilty of manslaughter in August for the shooting death of Markeis McGlockton outside of a convenience store in July of 2018.
“I’m not really sure that I’ve heard any remorse,” Judge Bulone added.
Judge Bulone gave Drejka credit for the 92 days he has already spent in jail.
Drejka's case has sparked a nationwide debate over Florida's controversial "stand your ground" law after the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said Drejka was protected by "stand your ground" and did not initially arrest him.
“The video indicates that Markeis McGlockton wasn’t coming towards Michael Drejka. He wasn’t standing still. He was turning away and Markeis was retreating,” Judge Bulone said in his remarks before handing down the sentence.
Bulone also expressed several times during his remarks that Drejka was a "wanna-be police officer."
During the sentencing, Drejka agreed to pay $550 in court costs and $5,000 in funeral costs to the McGlockton family.
This story, originally published by WFTS, is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
