Three Florida lawmakers are among those asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate last week's shooting death of Markeis McGlockton in Clearwater and the possible use of Florida’s Stand Your Ground law in the case.
U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and Florida Congressmen Charlie Crist of St. Petersburg and Alcee Hastings of Fort Lauderdale and two other lawmakers signed a letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, requesting that the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division investigate.
McGlockton, 28, was black, while the man who shot him, Michael Drejka, is white. Police say McGlockton and Drejka, 47, fought in a Clearwater parking lot last week over McGlockton’s girlfriend being parked in a spot requiring a handicap permit.
Police say McGlockton shoved Drejka to the ground during the dispute and Drejka shot McGlockton in response.
The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office did not arrest Drejka, citing Florida's Stand Your Ground law. McGlockton’s family is asking State Attorney Bernie McCabe to reconsider that recommendation.
The investigation to determine if there will be charges filed locally continues separate of the request made to the Department of Justice. That letter, filed Friday, is also signed by U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California.
