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No Charges for Florida Woman in Fatal Shooting on Walmart Parking Spot
Prosecutors said a memo and video show Payne acted in self-defense under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law after DiGuglielmo advanced toward her.
Prosecutors announced they will not charge Melissa Payne for the June 30 shooting of 62-year-old Army veteran Bart DiGuglielmo outside a North Lauderdale, Florida, Walmart, citing her protection under the state's "Stand Your Ground" law.
Following a "brief stalemate" over a parking spot at the Walmart, DiGuglielmo threatened to "mess her car up" and "---- her s--- up" before driving off and returning to aggressively approach Payne's vehicle.
In a memo written Thursday, Homicide Trial Unit Deputy Chief Stephen J. Zaccor wrote that Payne "had the right to stand her ground if she was in reasonable fear of death or great bodily harm," with no duty to retreat.
The Broward County State Attorney's Office released about 18 minutes of surveillance footage supporting its findings, while DiGuglielmo's family disputes the decision, arguing the circumstances did not justify deadly force.
Zaccor noted the prosecution bears the burden to prove Payne is not immune under the law, while NBC 6 attempted to contact Payne after the decision but a man at her home said she was not talking.