CLEARWATER, Fla. — The visitation for Markeis McGlockton was moved from a local funeral home to St. John Primitive Baptist accommodate a larger crowd.
Mourners began filing into the church around 4:00 p.m. Friday, the last groups leaving just after 8 p.m.
“He was a family man... he loved his kids, he loved Britany,” Yolanda Cobb said. “He was loved by so many. So many people loved him, you know, and just to have his life taken away was a horrible thing. He has a 4-month-old, a 2-year-old, a 3-year-old, a 5-year-old. Their father will be dearly missed. Britany now has to raise those kids by herself.”
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McGlockton, 28, was shot and killed on July 19 outside Circle A Food Store in unincorporated Clearwater after an argument over a handicap parking spot. Store surveillance video shows McGlockton push Michael Drejka, 47, to the ground. Seconds later, still on his knees, Drejka pulls out his concealed handgun and fires a single shot. McGlockton ran back inside the store and collapsed.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri says Drejka told law enforcement he felt threatened by McGlockton and was protecting himself. Under Florida’s stand your ground law, Gualtieri said he would not file charges against Drejka.
“They really need to get rid of that stand your ground law they really do cause it really sucks and it’s just not good for anybody,” Renee Moore said outside the visitation. “People are just abusing it. And, they are not using it in the correct way.”
McGlockton’s funeral is Saturday. The family is still waiting to learn whether the State Attorney will file any charges against Drejka.
