Social Justice
Florida woman won’t face charges after fatally shooting man in Walmart parking lot
A Florida woman who fatally shot a man during a confrontation over a Walmart parking space will not face criminal charges, prosecutors said, citing the state’s Stand Your Ground law.
North Lauderdale, Fla. — A Florida woman who fatally shot a man during a confrontation over a Walmart parking space will not face criminal charges, prosecutors said, citing the state’s Stand Your Ground law. The Broward County State Attorney’s Office announced Thursday that Melissa Payne is immune from prosecution in the June 30 shooting that killed 62‑year‑old Bart DiGuglielmo in North Lauderdale.
Prosecutors Say Video Shows Aggressive Approach
Authorities said the entire encounter was captured on multiple video recordings, including cellphone and Tesla footage. Payne and DiGuglielmo attempted to park in the same space, leading to a brief stalemate before both exited their vehicles. Witnesses told investigators they heard DiGuglielmo threaten Payne, saying he would “mess her car up” and “f— her s— up.”
Because Payne was with her niece and her niece’s baby, prosecutors said she repeatedly warned DiGuglielmo not to approach her. However, video showed him continuing to walk toward her “aggressively,” even after she displayed a firearm.
Stand Your Ground Law Shields Shooter
Prosecutors wrote that Payne had a legal right to stand her ground because she reasonably believed she faced imminent harm. Under Florida law, she did not have to retreat before using deadly force if she feared death or great bodily injury.
The memo stated that the state could not disprove Payne’s self‑defense claim by clear and convincing evidence. As a result, Payne is immune from arrest and prosecution.
DiGuglielmo, a U.S. Army veteran, was taken to a hospital and later died. Officials described the dispute as “tragic and absurd,” noting that the confrontation began over a single parking space.
Case Closed After Review of Evidence
Payne was detained after the shooting but released once investigators reviewed the footage and witness statements. Prosecutors emphasized that the video evidence left little ambiguity about how the confrontation unfolded.
The case has sparked renewed debate over Florida’s Stand Your Ground statute, which has been applied in several high‑profile self‑defense cases.
The Broward County State Attorney’s Office confirmed the case is now closed and Payne will not face charges.
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thomas flittie
September 4, 2026 at 4:43 pm
while my sympathies lie with the shooter, this was not right. the man was a st-pid f–king idiot but didn’t deserve to die. a warning shot probably would have ended his aggression and if not her second shot would still have been deadly. what a stupid law.