Florida woman cleared of charges in Walmart parking lot shooting

Prosecutors have announced that Melissa Payne will not face charges following a fatal shooting in a North Lauderdale Walmart parking lot on June 30. The incident involved a dispute over a parking space between Payne and 62-year-old Army veteran Bart DiGuglielmo.

According to the Broward County State Attorney’s Office, video evidence including security footage and cellphone recordings showed DiGuglielmo repeatedly advancing toward Payne and circling her vehicle while she backed away. Payne reported that DiGuglielmo made threats to damage her vehicle.

Assistant State Attorney Stephen Zaccor stated that under Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law, Payne had no duty to retreat and her claim of reasonable fear of great bodily harm could not be disproven by ‘clear and convincing evidence.’ Consequently, officials determined her use of lethal force was legally justified under state statutes.