A Black woman in Florida will not face charges for the fatal shooting of a 62-year-old white man during a parking spot dispute, as prosecutors cited the state's "Stand Your Ground" law and evidence that she acted in fear of great bodily harm.
The incident took place on June 30, 2026, in the parking lot of a Walmart in North Lauderdale, Florida. It involved Melissa Payne, who is Black, and 62-year-old Bart Diguglielmo, who was white. The encounter began as a verbal altercation over a parking space and quickly escalated into a fatal confrontation.
Sources
Details of the Incident
According to investigators and video evidence released by the Broward County State Attorney's Office, the dispute started when Payne attempted to back into a parking spot. Diguglielmo, a veteran and former trauma nurse, reportedly confronted her, leading to a heated exchange.
Video Evidence — Tesla Dashcam
Video captured by a nearby Tesla and witnesses showed Diguglielmo aggressively approaching Payne's vehicle. Bystanders were heard on the video urging Diguglielmo to walk away, with one person saying:
"Sir, it's not worth it, please just leave her alone."
The Fatal Moment
As Diguglielmo reached the driver's side of the car and appeared to lean toward or reach into the vehicle, Payne fired a single shot into his abdomen.
She remained at the scene, cooperated with the Broward Sheriff's Office, and immediately claimed she acted in self-defense. Diguglielmo was transported to a local hospital but later died from his injuries.
Legal Decision and "Stand Your Ground"
On September 3, 2026, the Broward County State Attorney announced that Payne would not face criminal charges.
Prosecutors explained that under Florida's "Stand Your Ground" law, the state would be unable to overcome her claim of self-defense in court. The law allows individuals to use deadly force if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent imminent death or great bodily harm.
Prosecutorial Finding
The State Attorney's Office noted that the evidence supported Payne's assertion that she was in fear for her safety during the aggressive approach by Diguglielmo. Video evidence of his aggressive approach was cited as the deciding factor.
Reactions and Context
The case has drawn significant attention and comparisons to previous high-profile "Stand Your Ground" cases in Florida, such as the 2018 shooting of Markeis McGlockton by Michael Drejka.
The McGlockton Parallel
In the McGlockton case, the roles were reversed — a white man shot a Black man during a parking dispute — but Drejka was ultimately convicted of manslaughter. The contrasting outcomes have intensified public discourse around the application of Stand Your Ground protections across racial lines.
Diguglielmo's family has expressed disappointment with the decision and continues to push for charges to be filed.
Legal experts point to the specific video evidence of the aggressive approach as the deciding factor in this case.