CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Well-known civil rights attorney Ben Crump put it plainly: The murder of Markeis McGlockton was cold-blooded, done at the hands of a wannabe cop.
Crump, who represented the family of Trayvon Martin, the Sanford teenager shot and killed in 2012 by George Zimmerman, was hired to represent the family in the Clearwater deadly shooting case.
The law expands upon a person's right to use force -- including deadly force - without fear of consequences if the person could rightfully claim self-defense.
Crump called on Florida Attorney General Bernie McCabe for "simple justice" for McGlockton's family. With them at Crump's side, they listened as Crump pled for charges to be brought against 47-year-old Michael Drejka.
McGlockton's girlfriend, Britany Jacobs, sat in the driver's seat of a car on July 19 at the Circle A convenience store in Clearwater. Seeing as it was in a parking spot for a disabled person, Drejka approached and began arguing with her and three young children inside.
McGlockton left the store and confronted Drejka, pushing him to the ground. Seconds later, Drejka shot him.
All of it was seen on store surveillance video. Drejka has a concealed weapons permit and has not been charged.
"They all saw it first-hand and for the rest of their lives, they're going to have to deal with the unbelievable traumatic episode of seeing their father gunned down in cold blood," Crump said.
Video: Attorney: Don't be surprised if prosecutors file charges in Clearwater 'stand your ground' case
More: Man at center of Clearwater 'stand your ground' case previously had confrontation at same store
Crump said there's a racial component to the shooting, drawing parallels to the Martin case, highlighting the fact the shooter was white and the victim black.
"If they would have called the police and let the police do their job, none of us would be here in either scenario," Crump said. "They could have just let the police do their job, but these wannabe cops initiated the confrontation and shot and killed in cold blood these unarmed black men and then they both were allowed to go home and sleep in their bed that night after killing unarmed black men.
"We have to say, 'No, this is not justice.'"
The case has garnered widespread national attention, with hundreds of people protesting outside the Clearwater convenience store during the weekend.
There is no determined timeline in which the state's attorney's office could issue charges against charges against Drejka, if they do at all.
The 'stand your ground argument' was not used in Zimmerman's case. Instead, Zimmerman's defense team used a traditional self-defense argument. The judge only mentioned 'stand your ground' in the jury instructions for the case.
"If George Zimmerman was not engaged in an unlawful activity and was attacked in any place where he had a right to be, he had no duty to retreat and had the right to stand his ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he reasonably believed that it was necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony," the judge wrote.
Zimmerman later was acquitted of murder and manslaughter charges.
Editor's Note: A previous version of this story wrongly stated George Zimmerman claimed protection under the 'stand your ground' law. He did not. He used a traditional self-defense argument. The story has been updated.
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