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CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) — The Latest on (all times local):
3:50 p.m.
The prosecution rested its case in the manslaughter trial of a man accused of fatally shooting an unarmed black man during a dispute over a handicapped parking space in Florida.
The prosecution rested Thursday after two days of testimony in the trial of Michael Drejka, who fatally shot Markeis McGlockton in July 2018. The trial is being held in Clearwater.
On Thursday, the prosecution played video of Drejka's interview with Pinellas County sheriff's detectives hours after the shooting. He told detectives he pulled his gun and fired after being pushed to the ground because he feared McGlockton would "finish" what he started. Drejka had been arguing with McGlockton's girlfriend because she was parked in a convenience store's handicapped space.
Drejka is white. He told the detectives he has a "pet peeve" about illegal parking in handicapped spots. He said he didn't see McGlockton before he was pushed.
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11 a.m.
The Florida man who fatally shot an unarmed black man during a dispute over a handicapped parking space told detectives he fired because he had been pushed to the ground and he feared the man was about to "finish" what he started.
Prosecutors played Michael Drejka's interview with Pinellas County detectives Thursday. Drejka is on trial in Clearwater for manslaughter for the July 2018 death of Markeis McGlockton.
Security video shows Drejka confronted McGlockton's girlfriend in her car outside a convenience store. McGlockton came outside and pushed Drejka to the ground. Drejka pulled a handgun and fired, killing McGlockton.
Drejka is white. He told the detectives he has a "pet peeve" about illegal parking in handicapped spots, so he confronted the girlfriend. He said he didn't see McGlockton before he was pushed.
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