Colin Flaherty (Author of Don't Make the Black Kids Angry) Commentary News Video "One year after controversial Clearwater parking lot death, shooter awaits trial" "Former Michigan State star Mateen Cleaves acquitted on all charge…
Colin Flaherty (Author of Don't Make the Black Kids Angry) Commentary News Video "One year after controversial Clearwater parking lot death, shooter awaits trial" "Former Michigan State star Mateen Cleaves acquitted on all charges in rape trial"
CLEARWATER, Fla. (FOX 13) - One year has passed since Markeis McGlockton was shot and killed in a Clearwater convenience store parking lot. The man who pulled the trigger, Michael Drejka, stands to face a jury next month.
It was one of the most closely watched 'stand your ground' cases in the state. That is until Drejka's defense team announced in June that they wouldn't use the immunity law to try to beat the homicide charges.
Drejka's attorneys are expected to argue self-defense in the killing of McGlockton
Following the shooting, it took one month for sheriff's deputies to arrest Drejka. Initially, Pinellas County Sherrif Bob Gualtieri said he couldn't arrest Drejka because evidence showed the shooting to be a potential stand your ground case.
"That was a slam to the ground," Gualtieri said a day after the shooting. "So, he pushes him. He violently goes down to the ground. So, he's sitting there, he takes the gun out and what he's saying is in his mind -- the next thing he's thinking -- is, 'This guy's going to come at me again,' and he fires."
FLINT – A jury acquitted former Michigan State basketball star Mateen Cleaves on Tuesday on all charges in his rape case in Genesee County Circuit Court.
Cleaves is the Flint native who led Michigan State to the 2000 NCAA championship. He faced up to 15 years in prison if he had been convicted of unlawful imprisonment, assault with intent to commit sexual penetration, and criminal sexual conduct.
A jury of nine women and three men began deliberating his case at 1:45 p.m. and reached a verdict in about 2½ hours.
"I want to publicly apologize to her because I never should have put her in this situation," Cleaves said. "She's a great wife and a great mother to my kids."
