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A family lawyer of a Florida man shot dead during a fight on a parking lot said Tuesday that if authorities allow the shooter to break free on the basis of the controversial Stand Your Ground Law they will "punish murder".
The family of Markeis McGlockton is expressed at a press conference in a church in Clearwater, Florida, claiming that they want justice for their loved ones and will not rest as long as the prosecutor does not accuse him.
WFTS-TV Markeis McGlockton, 28, was shot dead Thursday in front of her three young children after he went out to a Clearwater convenience store to find Michael Drejka, 47, verbally abusing his girlfriend, Britney Jacobs. , about parking in a handicap area.
WFTS-TV [19659005AphotoofshootingvictimMarkeisMcGlocktonisshownatapressconferenceheldbyherfamilyonJuly242018inClearwaterFlorida
A surveillance video showed McGlockton interposing between Drejka and Jacobs, then pushing Drejka to the ground. The images show Drejka pulling a weapon and firing as McGlockton seemed to move back, turning and withdrawing.
An injured McGlockton returned to the store and died later.
![PHOTO: Britney Jacobs talks about the deadly murder of her boyfriend Markeis McGlockton as her father, Michael McGlockton and family lawyer Michele Rayner, in Clearwater, Florida on July 24, 2018. [19659004] WFTS-TV [19659005] Britney Jacobs talks about the death of her boyfriend Markeis McGlockton as her father, Michael McGlockton and family lawyer Michele Rayner, in Clearwater, Florida on July 24, 2018. </span></figcaption></figure>
<p itemprop=](https://s.abcnews.com/images/US/markeis-mcglockton-presser-06-wfts-jc-180724_hpMain_4x3_992.jpg)
After Drejka, who holds a hidden legal-weapons license, invoked the Stand Your Ground self-defense law, the sheriff of Pinellas County, Bob Gualtieri refused to lodge a complaint against him .
"He had to shoot to defend himself," Gualtieri said at a press conference Friday about Drejka. "These are the facts and it's the law, no matter how you cut it or cut it, it was a violent push on the ground."
Luis Santana / Tampa Bay Times via AP Although the autopsy results of the forensic pathologist on McGlockton were not disclosed, the family argues that he was shot in the left flank, thus contradicting the sheriff's statement that McGlockton was injured in the chest.
"Our position is that this case It's not a case of Stand Your Ground because one of the things I just know as a criminal defense lawyer you encounter is a murderous life with lethal force ". Mr. McGlockton, he pushed Mr. Drejka He pushed her because he was advancing on Mrs. Jacobs, he was walking on the vehicle and he pushed her to protect her as well as two of her three children who were in the vehicle at that time "
She said that McGlockton was not armed, and there is no evidence that Drejka was in imminent danger, let alone mortal danger.
"You can not provoke a fight and hide behind Stand Your Ground, that's really what happened," Rayner said.
Rayner and McGlockton's family says that they want Sheriff Gualtieri to continue investigating the case before handing over to Bernie McCabe, the Pinellas County Attorney, who will decide whether the charges against Drejka are justified.
WFTS-TV ABC News has made numerous attempts for comments from Drejka, but he did not answer the phone calls. He also posted a sign outside his home that he does not comment on and advises reporters not to trespass.
"We believe and are confident and very optimistic that Bernie McCabe's office will do the right thing in this case and file a complaint against Mr. Drejka," Rayner said. "We are asking Bernie McCabe's office to lay charges against Mr. Drejka because otherwise they will punish murder, purely and simply."
Rayner said that if Drejka is allowed to leave without fear, she fears what will happen next.
Luis Santana / Tampa Bay Times via AP "It could become an open season, and you are going to have people hiding behind this law," she said.
McGlockton's family started the press conference by focusing on how McGlockton lived, not how he died.
"Markeis was a loving father, he was a very good son, he was calm, but he loved everyone," said his mother, Monica Moore, before allowing himself to be overcome by sorrow. no longer able to speak.
Michael McGlockton added: "Markeis was a nice giant, Markeis, a man above all men, I raised him to be a man and, unfortunately, it cost him his life."
His girlfriend, Jacobs, the mother of his three children, said McGlockton was "the best man in the world."
"He was at my side, he was standing next to his children, he was still there," she said. "He did not have to go like this."
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