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groundloop

(14,022 posts)
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 07:58 AM Friday

Man fatally shot in Walmart parking lot following dispute over parking space: Authorities

Source: ABC News

A man was shot and killed in the parking lot of a Walmart in Florida following a dispute over a parking space, according to authorities.

The woman who pulled the trigger is claiming self-defense, according to the Broward County Sheriff's Office, which is investigating the shooting.

[....]

"The preliminary investigation revealed an adult female and the victim were involved in a verbal altercation over a parking space in the Walmart parking lot prior to the shooting," the Broward County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

"According to investigators, the shooter, the adult female, remained on scene, cooperated with detectives and she told them the shooting was in self-defense," the statement continued.

Read more: https://abcnews.com/US/man-fatally-shot-walmart-parking-lot-dispute-parking/story?id=134422575

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Man fatally shot in Walmart parking lot following dispute over parking space: Authorities (Original Post) groundloop Friday OP
Good news for her. Now, she'll have her own, permanent parking space. 3Hotdogs Friday #1
His parking spot will be in an urn over the fireplace wolfie001 Friday #16
Oofff Hassin Bin Sober Friday #87
Ah, America. Where the answer to every problem is a gun. sinkingfeeling Friday #2
It was a middle aged Black woman angrychair Friday #35
it would SEEM you are correct but.... democratsruletheday Friday #38
Why didn't she get in her car or walk into the store? I don't accept killing a person when there were other solutions. sinkingfeeling Friday #39
What I saw was him closing the distance to her Kaleva Friday #42
She initially got out of the car with a gun in her hand. That might be a problem for her. Hassin Bin Sober Friday #94
Time will tell Kaleva Friday #107
She tried angrychair Friday #45
White Privilege Dlpger61 Yesterday #126
Retail stores have parking adequate for the holiday shopping season Blumancru Friday #3
There's more to the story than this. flvegan Friday #4
"Around the parking lot?" ... JustABozoOnThisBus Friday #5
Testosterone poisoning? Miguelito Loveless Friday #7
From the video, she appears to be a Woman of Color, that wish is going to be hard to get in Fla irisblue Friday #18
Yes, she warned him several times, backed away from him again and again, tried to put cars between them. Midnight Writer Friday #22
100%. and Thank You! (for putting some realistic perspective on this incident) stopdiggin Friday #29
Wow what a nasty take. Wiz Imp Friday #23
nah. asshat really brought this on himself. stopdiggin Friday #30
She did more than most would angrychair Friday #36
It looked like a clear case of self defense to me Kaleva Friday #43
Wow. Unbelievable. Wiz Imp Friday #44
If the guy was rational, he would have retreated the moment he saw the Gun Kaleva Friday #50
and called for cops to arrest her for threatening him muriel_volestrangler Friday #62
No one in their right mind would approach someone with a gun Kaleva Friday #104
It's a stand your ground state. NutmegYankee Friday #54
SOmething was also seriously wrong with that woman. Wiz Imp Friday #56
A jury will have to consider what he said prior, if anything, to advancing toward her. LudwigPastorius Friday #57
100% agree bluestarone Friday #74
As a whole, we ARE a disappointing species. There good people among us but I fear we are in societal collapse. OrlandoDem2 Friday #11
Listen to the news story. Wiz Imp Friday #26
That isn't the whole story angrychair Friday #37
stop making sense.... democratsruletheday Friday #40
People should be nicer to one another. twodogsbarking Friday #6
Don't wanna make it about me but as a 66 yo white male..... wolfie001 Friday #15
It looks like he was stalking her but she should have retreated to her car and not brandished the gun. Ritabert Friday #8
Stop shopping at Walmart. So many People of Walmart suck! OrlandoDem2 Friday #9
He seemed intent on a physical confrontation, despite her pointing a gun 70sEraVet Friday #10
+1. dalton99a Friday #19
maybe it's the "Exception that Proves the Rule" Hieronymus Phact Friday #28
Plus 2 bluestarone Friday #75
I'm Sorry, But She Had Ample Opportunities to Return to the Store, Drive Off, Whatever DrFunkenstein Friday #12
She tried angrychair Friday #41
I didn't see in the video where he was preventing her from driving off MichMan Friday #46
In Florida that's legal angrychair Friday #51
I noticed MorbidButterflyTat Friday #67
Old loser white guy kept on wolfie001 Friday #13
I am guessing that there is a backstory here, and not a pretty one. niyad Friday #14
If This Was a Black Man and a White Woman, Imagine the Fox News Coverage and Campaign Ads DrFunkenstein Friday #17
This could go either way NewEnglandAutumn Friday #20
It was an argument over a parking spot. sop Friday #21
If the guy was rational, he would have backed off as soon as he saw the gun Kaleva Friday #47
Those are a lot of assumptions to justify shooting a man to death in a parking lot. sop Friday #55
I certainly didn't see anything in the video that justified a shooting. NT Midwestern Democrat Friday #48
Floriduh. SergeStorms Friday #24
She didn't have to kill him, that's how the jury would see it FakeNoose Friday #25
People are touchy these days. ananda Friday #27
This is the Supreme Court's America J_William_Ryan Friday #31
Had he the brains to back up & call the police saying a woman was threatening him with a gun, Wonder Why Friday #32
I'm Pretty Sure Everyone Here Was Operating From The Amygdala, Except One Had a Handgun DrFunkenstein Friday #34
Clearly angrychair Friday #53
Why did she exit her car brandishing the gun instead of just driving away? MichMan Friday #33
By law, she isn't required to drive away Kaleva Friday #49
She isn't required to shoot and kill either MichMan Friday #60
larger male repeatedly physically advancing on female that is (repeatedly) stopdiggin Friday #71
Based on what I saw, I'd say her actions were resonable Kaleva Friday #105
Some of these responses are disturbing angrychair Friday #52
Why does race have to be a factor? MichMan Friday #58
Why does gender have to be a factor? MorbidButterflyTat Friday #69
Why should race be ignored? Torchlight Friday #70
Because, it always about skin color angrychair Friday #72
"People haven't even seen the video" MichMan Friday #95
I'm not assuming anything angrychair Friday #96
We have video; he was not in a position to physically threaten her muriel_volestrangler Friday #61
Interesting angrychair Friday #73
I might put it as "the unarmed person didn't do anything wrong or threatening" muriel_volestrangler Friday #76
Then the unarmed man angrychair Friday #79
I don't see "might is right" as a good guiding principle muriel_volestrangler Friday #81
No angrychair Friday #86
'Malice'? No. Recklessness, yes. muriel_volestrangler Friday #88
We are done angrychair Friday #90
"Victim blaming"? I'm not blaming the victim. The victim is the dead guy. muriel_volestrangler Friday #91
But his behavior was irrational Kaleva Saturday #111
Being irrational is not a reason to be shot. muriel_volestrangler Saturday #113
Approaching someone armed with a gun is highly irrational behavior Kaleva Saturday #114
No: we must be absolutely clear: her behaviour was extremely irrational, and she killed him as a result muriel_volestrangler Saturday #115
sorry, I see her as a gun humper Skittles Friday #102
Sorry angrychair Friday #103
SHE could have driven away too Skittles Friday #106
He was the aggressor angrychair Friday #108
That's just stupid. I can't imagine shooting someone over a parking space. Vinca Friday #59
I am not to say this was justified or not, but I have a question sarisataka Friday #63
He should have MichMan Friday #64
So she is just supposed to stand there angrychair Friday #77
You see an "attack"; I see an argument muriel_volestrangler Friday #78
I see centerists angrychair Friday #82
As I said, I really don't understand where "centrists" come into this muriel_volestrangler Friday #83
No angrychair Friday #89
Very few people deserve to be killed sarisataka Friday #84
Another thing to keep in mind is that... LudwigPastorius Saturday #110
I agree Kaleva Saturday #112
Bottom line, stupidity got him killed. Buddyzbuddy Friday #65
"That's an entitled man that was used to scaring other people into doing what he wanted." MorbidButterflyTat Friday #68
Leave it to judge and jury. Sneederbunk Friday #66
Black woman, white older man csusan Friday #80
Did you pull out a gun and shoot your SIL brother? MichMan Saturday #123
No csusan Saturday #125
Having been right is poor consolation when you're dead or in prison. RockRaven Friday #85
In MN, she'd be incarcerated, whatever her story, because she didn't physically run away first. OC375 Friday #92
MN has castle doctrine sarisataka Friday #93
Castle doctrine in name only. OC375 Friday #97
Can you provide a case sarisataka Friday #98
State vs Blevins 2024 OC375 Friday #99
Not in the home sarisataka Friday #100
We'll have to see... OC375 Friday #101
you have completely misrepresented almost the entirety of what the stopdiggin Saturday #109
We'll see OC375 Saturday #116
But are you retreating if you get out of your car with a gun in your hand? Hassin Bin Sober Saturday #117
Unrelated sarisataka Saturday #118
The man was shouting; the woman was pointing a gun at him. muriel_volestrangler Saturday #119
That is for a grand jury to decide sarisataka Saturday #120
We do see her getting out of her car with the gun; at that time, he's out of the frame muriel_volestrangler Saturday #121
Did he make any threats during their confrontation sarisataka Saturday #122
This message was self-deleted by its author MichMan Saturday #124
Which one stood the ground best? OAITW r.2.0 Yesterday #127

3Hotdogs

(15,790 posts)
1. Good news for her. Now, she'll have her own, permanent parking space.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 08:14 AM
Friday

More good news for her. Florida has "Stand yer ground" protection for shooters. The parking spot was clearly supposed to be her ground.

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
35. It was a middle aged Black woman
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:13 PM
Friday

And a 60+ white male that would not leave her alone. She told him to back off multiple times and he kept harassing her. In the final moments she can be heard on video telling the guy to back off but he kept approaching so she shot him.

She tried a peaceful solution but the guy wasn't in the mood for a peaceful solution so he got dead.

sinkingfeeling

(58,309 posts)
39. Why didn't she get in her car or walk into the store? I don't accept killing a person when there were other solutions.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:29 PM
Friday

Kaleva

(40,498 posts)
42. What I saw was him closing the distance to her
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:32 PM
Friday

She was walking away from him but he kept walking towards her.

Hassin Bin Sober

(27,575 posts)
94. She initially got out of the car with a gun in her hand. That might be a problem for her.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 07:05 PM
Friday

That and the fact she is a black woman in Florida who shit a white man. I give it 70% she gets charged

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
45. She tried
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:41 PM
Friday

He kept harassing her.

It's hard to tell in the video I've seen but someone said it looked as if when he came back he had partially blocked her in.
She tried to walk away and create space and vehicles between them but he kept coming at her.

She had repeatedly asked him to back off but he kept coming.

What if she had tried to go to the store? What if he chased her down and attacked her? What do you think the chances are that anyone is going to help her in a Florida Walmart parking lot?

He was overtly aggressive and wasn't taking no for an answer.

I'm very anti-gun and there is 17 years of posts on this site to prove that.

I also know there are exceptions to every rule. This is about as straightforward a self defense situation as you are ever going to get.

Blumancru

(409 posts)
3. Retail stores have parking adequate for the holiday shopping season
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 08:18 AM
Friday

So there were probably plenty of parking spaces. Was this really a good reason to die? Or kill someone?
This seems exceptionally violent and stupid……but Florida strikes again

flvegan

(66,711 posts)
4. There's more to the story than this.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 08:27 AM
Friday

"over a parking space" doesn't seem right. I'm assuming (from the pics) she got out of the Honda she's standing next to. There's an open space directly behind that Honda. In the first pic in the article, they're both standing in it (more or less). The article said that she was already parked prior to the first appearance of the gun, so they don't seem to be having some automotive parking standoff.

" The woman appears to be pointing a handgun at Diguglielmo with one hand and holding a cellphone in the other as they move around the parking lot." Around the parking lot? That's pretty vague.

I expect more info on this as the details are made public. Otherwise, generally, a shooting over a Walmart parking space makes us sound like a pretty fucking disappointing species as a whole.

JustABozoOnThisBus

(24,799 posts)
5. "Around the parking lot?" ...
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 08:53 AM
Friday

In the short video I saw, she had a gun, but was trying to defuse, trying to get him to back off. He was clearly the agressor, stalking her through the parked cars.

He brought a fist to a gunfight.

I hope she is cleared of charges.

Miguelito Loveless

(6,084 posts)
7. Testosterone poisoning?
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 09:23 AM
Friday

She a woman and doesn’t know how to use a gun, I am a man and will not be intimidated by a mere female?

irisblue

(38,271 posts)
18. From the video, she appears to be a Woman of Color, that wish is going to be hard to get in Fla
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 10:41 AM
Friday

Midnight Writer

(26,051 posts)
22. Yes, she warned him several times, backed away from him again and again, tried to put cars between them.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 10:50 AM
Friday

The fool kept coming after her. Was his intent to hurt her? I don't know why else he would not back off. If this was macho posturing then he went way too far with it. In either case, he was coming after her angrily, even after she pointed a gun at him, and she had no way of knowing his intention. He was clearly out of control.

Tragic, but he had every chance to walk away and go home safe. Over a parking space.

It is easy for us burly men to forget how vulnerable a woman is to an assault by a man. Some men exploit that vulnerability, using their size and strength to intimidate and control. It looked to me like she was afraid and he was angrily aggressive.

If it was me, I would have physically defended myself with my size and strength. She did not have that option.

Judging solely from the video, and not knowing what else was going on, I can't blame the woman for shooting. Perhaps she could have outrun the guy, perhaps not. But it is not her duty to take a beating or worse from a stranger who attacks her.

I'm not a legal scholar. This is just my opinion.

stopdiggin

(15,858 posts)
29. 100%. and Thank You! (for putting some realistic perspective on this incident)
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 11:25 AM
Friday

this guy simply would NOT leave it alone. Repeatedly stalking and advancing. He is, in the main, absolutely responsible for what happened here. And - real, real hard to label him 'victim'.

And - perhaps we should stop framing these incidents (when they occur) - as , "Man shot over parking space"
When that so poorly describes or elucidates ...

stopdiggin

(15,858 posts)
30. nah. asshat really brought this on himself.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 11:29 AM
Friday

perhaps the man doesn't deserve to be dead ... But let's stop painting asshats as 'victims'. Yeah?

Plenty of real victims and real tragedies out there to shed tears ....

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
36. She did more than most would
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:21 PM
Friday

To avoid a conflict. She actually tried to walk away but also didn't want to leave her car vulnerable to the guy either.

She repeatedly asked the guy to back off and he wouldn't.
She repeatedly tried to put space and other vehicles between them but he kept coming.

Especially in Florida, she more than meets the standard for a Stand Your Ground justified shooting.

I don't agree with gun violence but this is one of those rare incidents were it's completely justified.

Wiz Imp

(10,951 posts)
44. Wow. Unbelievable.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:41 PM
Friday

He had no weapon. He never came all that close to her. She could easily have gotten back in her car and drove off or retreated into the store. That's an extremely weird definition of self defense to me.

Kaleva

(40,498 posts)
50. If the guy was rational, he would have retreated the moment he saw the Gun
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:48 PM
Friday

The fact that he kept following her despite repeated warnings and the presence of the gun suggests to me he was capable of anything had he got close enough to the woman.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
62. and called for cops to arrest her for threatening him
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 03:27 PM
Friday

It doesn't say "capable of anything" to me; it says "he thought no one in their right mind would shoot someone over an argument about a parking spot".

Kaleva

(40,498 posts)
104. No one in their right mind would approach someone with a gun
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 08:46 PM
Friday

Most anyone that watches the news even just occasionally would know not to do that.

NutmegYankee

(16,488 posts)
54. It's a stand your ground state.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:55 PM
Friday

No duty to retreat. But logic says that if a woman has a gun out, you don't keep approaching. Something was seriously wrong with that man.

LudwigPastorius

(15,316 posts)
57. A jury will have to consider what he said prior, if anything, to advancing toward her.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 02:32 PM
Friday

If he threatened to kill her, and they believe the physical mismatch was such so that she feared for her life, then the shooting could be considered as justified.

OrlandoDem2

(3,264 posts)
11. As a whole, we ARE a disappointing species. There good people among us but I fear we are in societal collapse.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 09:59 AM
Friday

Wiz Imp

(10,951 posts)
26. Listen to the news story.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 11:10 AM
Friday

He intentionally partially blocked a space, got out of his car and went inside. She squeezed her car in anyway (you caan see her car is way over to the edge of the spot, possibly even crossing the line to the next spot. ) He came out of the store, then moved his car. Then eventually walked toward her. Nothing more to it. She was mad that he intentionaly tried blocking her from parking in a space. He was mad that she had the audacity to talk back to him. Standard road rage confrontation in a parking lot. He seems to be a giant asshole. However, nothing justifies her murdering him.

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
37. That isn't the whole story
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:24 PM
Friday

And if you knew that much detail on how it started you know that

She repeatedly tried to create space between them. She repeatedly told him to back away.

He kept coming at her.

Women have the right to self defense.

She was also the one that called police and is fully cooperating with them.

wolfie001

(8,251 posts)
15. Don't wanna make it about me but as a 66 yo white male.....
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 10:22 AM
Friday

....I specifically say to myself, "Just be nice" before driving off to grocery shop, pick up meds, go see a doctor, visit family. Regular ritual.

Ritabert

(2,888 posts)
8. It looks like he was stalking her but she should have retreated to her car and not brandished the gun.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 09:47 AM
Friday

70sEraVet

(5,783 posts)
10. He seemed intent on a physical confrontation, despite her pointing a gun
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 09:58 AM
Friday

If she didn't have that gun, it may well have been her body lying in the morgue (he looked to be a pretty good-sized man).
I am usually against the stand-your-ground laws, but she continually backed away and he wouldn't stop.

Hieronymus Phact

(789 posts)
28. maybe it's the "Exception that Proves the Rule"
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 11:19 AM
Friday

I didn't watch the video, so not making judgements.

DrFunkenstein

(8,950 posts)
12. I'm Sorry, But She Had Ample Opportunities to Return to the Store, Drive Off, Whatever
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 10:09 AM
Friday

I don't doubt that this guy was horrible, abusive, you name it. But she could have taken many, many options before fatally shooting him. Just getting out of the car with the pistol in her hand was already an issue.

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
41. She tried
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:32 PM
Friday

And he had driven off but then came back and engaged with her.

She repeatedly tried to put space between them and repeatedly asked him to back off and leave her alone.

I'm very anti-gun and my posts for almost 18 years on this website supports that.

I also realize that people have a right to defend themselves as a last resort.

She is under no obligation to retreat as she is not the one being aggressive.

If I hadn't seen the video I would think as you but she tried to end it peacefully and the guy wasn't having it

MichMan

(17,699 posts)
46. I didn't see in the video where he was preventing her from driving off
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:41 PM
Friday

She chose not to and exited the car holding the gun.

It doesn't appear like she had already been carrying it on her person, but went to the car to get it.

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
51. In Florida that's legal
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:50 PM
Friday

But I honestly don't know if she went back to her car or not. The video I saw started with her already holding the gun.
That she repeatedly tried to deescalate the situation is very clear in the video.
It was clearly not her intent to shoot him from the video.

I find it telling that a lot of people on here are putting the blame on the Black woman and saying nothing about what the man was doing.

That ignorant asshole literally started to drive away and came back to harass her but somehow it's her fault?!?

Sometimes I wonder why I stay on this site, even here the old white man is always blameless

MorbidButterflyTat

(4,996 posts)
67. I noticed
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 04:09 PM
Friday

"...a lot of people on here are putting the blame on the Black woman and saying nothing about what the man was doing," too.



wolfie001

(8,251 posts)
13. Old loser white guy kept on
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 10:19 AM
Friday

He should've walked away but kept pursuing her. What a fucking idiot. Def stood her ground!

niyad

(135,620 posts)
14. I am guessing that there is a backstory here, and not a pretty one.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 10:21 AM
Friday

Also notice that while she is clearly shown, the man's face is blocked out. Black woman/ white guy? It wiill be interestiing to see how this goes.

DrFunkenstein

(8,950 posts)
17. If This Was a Black Man and a White Woman, Imagine the Fox News Coverage and Campaign Ads
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 10:38 AM
Friday

Still, I'm sure the NRA will run with this anyway. And so the long national nightmare continues.

NewEnglandAutumn

(284 posts)
20. This could go either way
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 10:45 AM
Friday

She took out her gun early on in the encounter
In Florida race is always a factor

She was backing up and he kept going towards her
She warned him multiple times and he kept advancing
It is a stand your ground state

sop

(20,014 posts)
21. It was an argument over a parking spot.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 10:46 AM
Friday

I didn't see the guy physically threaten her, he just walked towards the woman. From what was shown on the video, the victim wasn't holding a knife, club or gun, he didn't attempt to hit or touch her, and he certainly didn't rush towards her in a threatening way just before she shot him.

A lot of people will say it was "stand your ground" and she was acting in self defense. From my view, they argued, he approached her, and she shot him because she was afraid. I don't see how this can be legally justified, but it is Florida.

Kaleva

(40,498 posts)
47. If the guy was rational, he would have backed off as soon as he saw the gun
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:41 PM
Friday

The fact that kept closing the distance despite repeated warnings and the presence of the gun, suggests to me that he was capable of anything had he got close enough to the woman.

sop

(20,014 posts)
55. Those are a lot of assumptions to justify shooting a man to death in a parking lot.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 02:03 PM
Friday

Florida’s "Stand Your Ground" law (Florida Statute 776.013) allows individuals "to use deadly force in self-defense without a duty to retreat if they are in a place they have a legal right to be and reasonably believe such force is necessary to prevent imminent death, great bodily harm, or the commission of a forcible felony."

Luckily, for most of us, the stand your ground law doesn't allow you to shoot someone in a parking lot simply for arguing over a parking spot, not immediately walking away when you brandish a gun, then walking towards you in an obviously unthreatening manner. I suppose she'll claim she "reasonably believed" she was in imminent danger of being killed or seriously injured, but the video evidence doesn't show that.

SergeStorms

(21,153 posts)
24. Floriduh.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 10:56 AM
Friday

Rapidly trying to overtake Texas as the most gun-happy lunatic asylum in the contiguous 48.

FakeNoose

(43,215 posts)
25. She didn't have to kill him, that's how the jury would see it
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 11:04 AM
Friday

Even if he did threaten her, she could have aimed his foot (or the ground in front of him) and achieved the same thing.

I'll never understand the "stand your ground" mentality but it has been argued and upheld in various court rulings. So this is where we are now.

It doesn't surprise me that no tourists (especially no Europeans) have an interest in visiting Floriduh any more.

ananda

(35,901 posts)
27. People are touchy these days.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 11:14 AM
Friday

A few days ago a man parked next to
my car, leaving his tail end sticking out.

I told him he wasn't parked right, and
he retorted, who make you the parking
boss?

Then i said, I'm worried you'll get hit
since you're car is sticking out. So then
he said, OK, and moved it forward.

He was a rich, elderly, crotchety guy
driving an old long type Mercedes.

J_William_Ryan

(3,686 posts)
31. This is the Supreme Court's America
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 12:05 PM
Friday

Guns for everyone – violence is a legitimate means of conflict resolution.

Wonder Why

(7,493 posts)
32. Had he the brains to back up & call the police saying a woman was threatening him with a gun,
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 12:25 PM
Friday

there would be an entirely different ending.

But then this is Florida.

DrFunkenstein

(8,950 posts)
34. I'm Pretty Sure Everyone Here Was Operating From The Amygdala, Except One Had a Handgun
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:10 PM
Friday

Don't think there was a lot of rational thinking happening, and honestly I doubt my rational brain would be working in the same situation. Plus, we don't know if there is any mental health issues going on here.

The main talking point here is why there was a handgun in the conversation.

Chekov once said, "If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise don't put it there." Why was there a pistol "on the wall" here in the first place?

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
53. Clearly
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:55 PM
Friday

The white man harassing her had something to do with it.

I find it interesting that so many here are blaming the Black women but never even acknowledge that the white man could have just walked away and left her alone

It gives "but what was she wearing" vibes

MichMan

(17,699 posts)
33. Why did she exit her car brandishing the gun instead of just driving away?
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 12:42 PM
Friday

Undermines a self defense claim IMO

MichMan

(17,699 posts)
60. She isn't required to shoot and kill either
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 03:19 PM
Friday

Stand your ground is not absolute. Self defense is determined on what a reasonable person would have done. Ultimately if she is charged, a jury will have to make that determination. I would think that the availability of other options other than firing would play into that decision.

stopdiggin

(15,858 posts)
71. larger male repeatedly physically advancing on female that is (repeatedly)
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 05:13 PM
Friday

trying to create distance and (again repeatedly) asking that he stop.

I guess we'll (eventually) let a jury decide this. But (some of us at least) are not going to have great difficulty ...

Kaleva

(40,498 posts)
105. Based on what I saw, I'd say her actions were resonable
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 08:49 PM
Friday

And based on what I know about Florida law, I don’t think she’ll be charged but that’s just my opinion.

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
52. Some of these responses are disturbing
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 01:52 PM
Friday

I find it telling that a lot of people on here are putting the blame on the Black woman and saying nothing about what the old white man was doing.

That ignorant asshole literally started to drive away and came back to harass her but somehow it's her fault?!?

Way to many of these responses are giving "but what was she wearing" vibes.

Sometimes I wonder why I stay on this site, even here the old white man is always blameless

MorbidButterflyTat

(4,996 posts)
69. Why does gender have to be a factor?
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 04:19 PM
Friday

Because IT IS.

Wishing or pretending race and gender don't matter doesn't make it so.

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
72. Because, it always about skin color
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 05:51 PM
Friday

Even when people say

People haven't even seen the video and automatically lay blame at her feet and completely ignore, don't even mention, the actions of the old white man.

Very telling that only the actions of the Black woman get mentioned.

MichMan

(17,699 posts)
95. "People haven't even seen the video"
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 07:06 PM
Friday

You know that, how?

Quite ignorant to blindly assume anyone with a different viewpoint didn't watch it before commenting.

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
96. I'm not assuming anything
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 07:14 PM
Friday

Some have said themselves they haven't seen the video.

I'm done listening to victim blaming. I will not respond again. Move along and hope you have a great 4th of July weekend.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
61. We have video; he was not in a position to physically threaten her
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 03:23 PM
Friday

Maybe it's "the person who was not attacking, but who got killed, is blameless"? I don't think saying "I'll shoot you" is a good enough excuse for shooting someone.

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
73. Interesting
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 05:55 PM
Friday

That you saw the same video I saw, I assume, and your take away is the white man didn't do anything wrong or threatening.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
76. I might put it as "the unarmed person didn't do anything wrong or threatening"
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:01 PM
Friday

I'm surprised there is talk of him sitting up at first, after being shot, without a description of what anyone did to try and save his life. By the end, it looks like a police officer and the shooter are calmly talking over his dead body.

For the record, I thought George Zimmerman should have been convicted of killing Trayvon Martin. I suppose you might say that "equal Florida justice" here should mean this woman should go free too.

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
79. Then the unarmed man
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:08 PM
Friday

Should have left the armed women alone and moved along.
The best way to not get shot is to not be there in the first place.
He had left and she was trying to leave and he came back and engaged with her again.

Saying from my childhood comes to mind:
"Dont write checks your ass can't cash"

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
81. I don't see "might is right" as a good guiding principle
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:12 PM
Friday

But if that is the way you want the USA to be, go for it. It's your fellow citizens who will end up dead, not mine.

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
86. No
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:38 PM
Friday

That man had every advantage over her: He was bigger. He was stronger. He was a man. He was cloaked in white privilege.

To imply she acted out of malice is exactly what Black people have been told their whole lives whenever they stand up to those attacking them.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
88. 'Malice'? No. Recklessness, yes.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:44 PM
Friday

The thing was, he wasn't attacking her. He was shouting at her. She was the threat to him; she had been pointing a gun at him for some time.

If a police officer saw them, do you think he should have shot the man first, or her? Or, just maybe, neither - and thus, she shouldn't have shot either?

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
91. "Victim blaming"? I'm not blaming the victim. The victim is the dead guy.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:57 PM
Friday

I can't see where you're "listening to victim blaming".

Kaleva

(40,498 posts)
111. But his behavior was irrational
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 05:12 AM
Saturday

Despite the repeated warnings and the presence of the gun, he kept advancing towards her.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
113. Being irrational is not a reason to be shot.
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 05:20 AM
Saturday

They got into a shouting match over a parking spot. Yes, that's irrational. People are irrational every day. We have two irrational people, and one of them gets out of her car with a gun, threatens the other, and then kills him.

Kaleva

(40,498 posts)
114. Approaching someone armed with a gun is highly irrational behavior
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 06:55 AM
Saturday

She kept retreating while warning him but he kept coming. Her behavior was rational. His wasn’t.


The 21 foot rule comes into play here. The distance an antagonist can cover in about 1.5 seconds. For self defense, one should strive to keep a potential antagonist more then 20-30 feet away. Her retreating suggests to me she wasn’t attempting to create to create a buffer zone but his insistence on trying to close the distance suggests to me that he was a clear threat.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
115. No: we must be absolutely clear: her behaviour was extremely irrational, and she killed him as a result
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 07:51 AM
Saturday

She got out of her car, holding her gun. She moved into the public space with a deadly weapon. She repeatedly pointed it at him, when he had not come close to attacking her. He was walking, all the time. A very fast walk is 6 feet per second - and he was ambling about half that speed.

She's a killer. She was not acting rationally.

Skittles

(173,769 posts)
102. sorry, I see her as a gun humper
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 07:58 PM
Friday

if she had missed and shot someone else what would you be saying?

these two assholes created an entirely avoidable situation

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
103. Sorry
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 08:26 PM
Friday

All he had to do was walk away. He had her car partly blocked in, she couldn't drive away.

Skittles

(173,769 posts)
106. SHE could have driven away too
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 08:50 PM
Friday

there are all sorts of crazy out there and there are BETTER WAYS to deal with them

over and OUT

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
108. He was the aggressor
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 08:56 PM
Friday

That so many run to defend an old white man harassing a Black woman shouldn't surprise me but I guess I shouldn't be surprised anymore

Vinca

(54,614 posts)
59. That's just stupid. I can't imagine shooting someone over a parking space.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 03:08 PM
Friday

If you feel threatened, get in the car and lock the doors. Call for help or drive to the store entrance and go in. It's Florida, though, so she'll probably get a medal.

sarisataka

(23,074 posts)
63. I am not to say this was justified or not, but I have a question
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 03:27 PM
Friday

To all who say the woman could have just walked away-

Why couldn't the man have walked away or stopped approaching?

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
77. So she is just supposed to stand there
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:03 PM
Friday

And let him attack her? She literally had a gun on him and repeatedly asked him to back off
Literally tried to put space and cars, between them and he kept coming.

Yet you people put the burden of retreat and withdrawal on her and not him.

Not one mention of his responsibility to retreat, only her.

More and more the reason so many people support centrists becomes clearer to me.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
78. You see an "attack"; I see an argument
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:07 PM
Friday

which she escalated by getting out of her car with a gun, and then pointing it at him.

I'm really not sure with side of "centrist" you see your 2nd Amendment on.

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
82. I see centerists
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:27 PM
Friday

Tired of explaining the same thing over and over again.

Believe what you want. No sense arguing when a mind has already decided.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
83. As I said, I really don't understand where "centrists" come into this
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:29 PM
Friday

Are you saying the left and right are both pro-2nd Amendment, Shoot the Unarmed Person types?

angrychair

(12,605 posts)
89. No
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:51 PM
Friday

What I'm saying is that centrists and Republicans are more likely to defend white males and more likely to blame women or Black people when they try to defend themselves against aggressive white males.

sarisataka

(23,074 posts)
84. Very few people deserve to be killed
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:32 PM
Friday

However, it is reasonable to assume someone who you have attempted to flee multiple times but keeps on approaching you, even himself having left and come back that it is a very small step from argument to physical harm.

LudwigPastorius

(15,316 posts)
110. Another thing to keep in mind is that...
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 04:36 AM
Saturday

unarmed doesn’t necessarily mean incapable of murder.

About 4% to 5% percent of homicides per year in the U.S. are committed without the aid of a weapon.

Buddyzbuddy

(3,092 posts)
65. Bottom line, stupidity got him killed.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 03:47 PM
Friday

I hate guns and I'm skeptical of those that own them. They're used out of fear, anger, survival and ego. Licensing and ownership need to have stricter requirements.
I grew up around them, mostly illegal, had them pointed at me on many occasions, been shot at on a few occasions had several cousins and uncles killed and one paralyzed.

Having said this, I ask, was this man shot in the back? Was he on the phone with the police to call for help? Was he defending somebody else by placing his body in harms way?

She was in possession of a gun, legally or not. Stress point, parking spot. Really stupid reason. She's scared, maybe angry, he's definitely angry. He's bigger and likely stronger she has this "equalizer" which emboldens her. She thinks, I'm scared but this will scare him away.
He "thinks" WTF! I'm an entitled person and I fear no ***** person, especially holding a gun. I'll show you. He goes after the person holding the gun, not knowing if she's crazy, murderous or really scared and may shoot accidentally. Nobody in their right mind goes toward the shooter without a gun unless the threat is imminent. Not even LEO's would do that. It wasn't heroics it was STUPIDITY. Sure she was the shooter and that will be investigated but he will not celebrate another 4th of July because he was STUPID. That's an entitled man that was used to scaring other people into doing what he wanted. Sound familiar?

NO MORE GUNS

MorbidButterflyTat

(4,996 posts)
68. "That's an entitled man that was used to scaring other people into doing what he wanted."
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 04:16 PM
Friday

Exactly!

csusan

(124 posts)
80. Black woman, white older man
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:10 PM
Friday

Unless any of you are a black woman you really can't know the fear she might have been feeling. Can you imagine what it might have been like for her to have a white man walking toward even after she repeatedly asked him to back off. Black people and women in particular have good reason to be scared of an approaching white man who refuses to back off. She could not count on any other person in the parking lot to help her. I'm an older white woman and I had my SIL's brother get in my face and start cussing me and yelling. He was much bigger than me and it was terrifying. Being a white woman, I felt it was ok for me to stand my ground. There were a number of people standing around but none did anything. Black women do not have the same privilege that I have.

MichMan

(17,699 posts)
123. Did you pull out a gun and shoot your SIL brother?
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 10:29 PM
Saturday

I'm also a white male about the same age as the guy that was killed. Since like you said, I can't possibly comprehend the fear Black women are feeling, this is the first time I'm hearing that my mere presence could be terrifying to them as I never considered such a thing.



csusan

(124 posts)
125. No
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 11:52 PM
Saturday

Lucky for my SIL brother I don't own any guns. Never held a gun and have no use for a gun. I know women my age that carry guns in their purses. They are all maga and are scared all the time.

RockRaven

(20,151 posts)
85. Having been right is poor consolation when you're dead or in prison.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 06:32 PM
Friday

You may think you have a right to walk towards a person brandishing a firearm, but any such right does not mean you can do so safely.

And only a fool would count on the criminal justice system to fairly decide that you had acted correctly when it comes to killing someone.

OC375

(1,227 posts)
92. In MN, she'd be incarcerated, whatever her story, because she didn't physically run away first.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 07:00 PM
Friday

Here you must try to run away, even in your own home, even on public transit that's in motion, even if the other person has a weapon already out, pointed, and clearly states intent to kill you. You gotta try and book it, even if your wife is over there, and you are over here, and they're in between you two... tough luck, you're both on your own. Grow a pair and run separate directions.

You will be charged with 2nd Degree Assault (No Injury) if you draw without running first, even if you never fire a shot.. Even if the guy ultimately attacks you, and you get hurt, and he doesn't, you get charged. You're going to prison too.

Getting robbed or accosted is much worse on some states than others. She's luck she's in Florida in this instance.

I have no pity for bullies, robbers or opportunists who get smoked victimizing people, even if they are normally nice, or just getting their life together, or came from a bad home, or love puppies, or were just try to scare them, or whatever.

We have plenty of people already, and we'll get along fine with one less ash hole.

sarisataka

(23,074 posts)
93. MN has castle doctrine
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 07:05 PM
Friday

you do not have to flee in your home. While I am not a lawyer, her attempts to keep away from him would meet duty to retreat IMO.

OC375

(1,227 posts)
97. Castle doctrine in name only.
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 07:27 PM
Friday

You must try to evade, actively, within the home.

You can't shoot someone because they kicked in your door, and decided to start punching your wife or kid cause she done someone wrong or said something about someone. Duke it out, run away, whatever... grab a bat, or gun or anything useful, you're now the bad guy.

For that matter, if someone kicks in your door, grabs you by the shirt, and says gimme all your money or else... Well, you can't shoot them either, cause all they did grab and threaten you. Duke it out, run away, whatever... grab a bat, or gun or anything useful, you're now the bad guy.

No castle allows that.

sarisataka

(23,074 posts)
98. Can you provide a case
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 07:33 PM
Friday

where a person in their home was convicted for using lethal force to stop a physical assault against them in their home?

I have seen a few egregious prosecutions for self-defense but not within one's home.

sarisataka

(23,074 posts)
100. Not in the home
Fri Jul 3, 2026, 07:47 PM
Friday

There was a prosecution, Blevins found guilty of assault for failing to retreat from an alleged threat with a knife.
It did affirm duty to retreat {in public} rather than assumed stand your ground, but different standards apply within one's home.

stopdiggin

(15,858 posts)
109. you have completely misrepresented almost the entirety of what the
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 03:29 AM
Saturday

law really says. You're entitled to your opinion - but that is all that you advance here.

OC375

(1,227 posts)
116. We'll see
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 08:39 AM
Saturday

Seems like a bad decision and it will be interesting to see how it’s applied in the home when the case details aren’t black and white, and the media gets involved. It’s a poor precedent that forces unnatural reactions from people in horrible situations. It also favors the aggressor which is stupid on its face. My opinion of course.

Hassin Bin Sober

(27,575 posts)
117. But are you retreating if you get out of your car with a gun in your hand?
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 09:24 AM
Saturday

Are you standing your ground?

I can’t get past the fact there was apparently no apparent reason to exit the car with a gun in hand

When she exits the car with the gun, he’s nowhere near her car. Based on the parking spots he’s a good 20 feet away off screen to the right




sarisataka

(23,074 posts)
118. Unrelated
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 02:47 PM
Saturday

That goes to what is often termed unwilling participant. Under that definition you must not start or escalate a confrontation. Since the video begins in media res we cannot be sure if she had displayed her weapon before getting out of the car. Further details of the encounter are needed.

However as this happened in Florida, the pertinent law governing this situation is very favorable to a claim of self-defense-

FL 766.012
(2) A person is justified in using or threatening to use deadly force if he or she reasonably believes that using or threatening to use such force is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the imminent commission of a forcible felony. A person who uses or threatens to use deadly force in accordance with this subsection does not have a duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground if the person using or threatening to use the deadly force is not engaged in a criminal activity and is in a place where he or she has a right to be.

776.041 Use or threatened use of force by aggressor.—The justification described in the preceding sections of this chapter is not available to a person who:
(1) Is attempting to commit, committing, or escaping after the commission of, a forcible felony; or
(2) Initially provokes the use or threatened use of force against himself or herself, unless:
(a) Such force or threat of force is so great that the person reasonably believes that he or she is in imminent danger of death or great bodily harm and that he or she has exhausted every reasonable means to escape such danger other than the use or threatened use of force which is likely to cause death or great bodily harm to the assailant; or
(b) In good faith, the person withdraws from physical contact with the assailant and indicates clearly to the assailant that he or she desires to withdraw and terminate the use or threatened use of force, but the assailant continues or resumes the use or threatened use of force.

I am still unsure if her use of force was justified, but it appears to be legal.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
119. The man was shouting; the woman was pointing a gun at him.
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 03:10 PM
Saturday

There was one aggressor, and it was her. There was no "imminent death or great bodily harm" threatened to her; she did that to him by pointing a loaded gun at him.

sarisataka

(23,074 posts)
120. That is for a grand jury to decide
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 03:20 PM
Saturday

We do not see who started the confrontation, it was in progress when the video begins.

If he started the argument she may, under Florida law, be legally allowed to point a gun at him.

Legally justified and morally justified are not synonymous.

If the races were reversed I would say there would be a 100% chance of no charges. In this situation I'd guess 60/40 in her favor.

muriel_volestrangler

(106,981 posts)
121. We do see her getting out of her car with the gun; at that time, he's out of the frame
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 03:29 PM
Saturday

which indicates he is quite a way away, and not a threat. He may have started the argument, but an argument is not imminent threat of great bodily harm.

sarisataka

(23,074 posts)
122. Did he make any threats during their confrontation
Sat Jul 4, 2026, 03:37 PM
Saturday

while approaching her? Also if he was quite a way away, why did he come back?

If he was walking towards her saying I should kick your ass.. that may be consider a threat of great bodily harm by a larger person to a smaller.

Yes, an argument over a parking space is a stupid reason to die/kill someone but there is quite a bit we do not know at this point.

Response to sarisataka (Reply #93)

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