Michael Drejka stood alone in a room at the Pinellas County Jail during his first appearance Tuesday.
Markeis McGlockton’s family sat in the courtroom and watched Drejka on a TV monitor.
“Sir, you’re charged with manslaughter with a firearm,” said Judge Joseph Bulone.
Drejka had little to say in court.
“Do you have any questions at all, sir?” asked Judge Bulone.
Drejka responded, “No sir.”
If Drejka bonds out, he’s not allowed to have weapons. He must wear a GPS monitor and stay away from the McGlockton family.
His concealed weapons permit is in the process of being suspended upon the pending charges.
After the hearing, Britany Jacobs and Michael McGlockton spoke outside the courtroom.
“When you have a gun, you do not fear for your life,” said Jacobs in reference to Drejka shooting McGlocton outside the Circle A Food Mart on July 19.
Drejka claimed it was in self defense.
Attorneys Benjamin Crump and Michele Rayner said this is only the first step in the process, hopefully towards a conviction.
“Manslaughter is a charge that we feel more confident that there will be a conviction on versus second degree murder, where you have to prove that the person had a premeditated thought to commit this heinous act or that there was ill will,” said Crump.
Drejka’s bond remains set at $100,000.
