Story perspectives

Woman Won’t Face Charges in Walmart Fatal Shooting

9/4/2026

Summary

Story summary

Melissa Payne will not face charges for killing Bart DiGuglielmo in a North Lauderdale Walmart parking lot.
The shooting occurred on June 30, 2026 after a parking-space dispute.
Bart DiGuglielmo, a 62-year-old Army veteran, died from a gunshot wound.
Witnesses said DiGuglielmo threatened Payne’s car and kept approaching her.
Prosecutors cited video showing Payne repeatedly warned him and acted in self-defense under stand-your-ground law.

History

Historical Context

Florida’s 2005 “stand-your-ground” law, enacted after the high-profile Zimmerman-Martin case, codified the right to use deadly force without retreat. The Florida Senate passed the statute 71-27, and Governor Jeb Bush signed it on March 3, 2005, amid a $1.5 million civil settlement for the Martin family. Like Melissa Payne’s 2026 Walmart shooting, the DiGuglielmo case invokes the same legal doctrine, with prosecutors relying on video evidence to claim self-defense. The precedent fuels ongoing debates over public safety and prosecutorial discretion, prompting states to reevaluate similar statutes and their impact on homicide charges.

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Story summary

Melissa Payne will not face charges for killing Bart DiGuglielmo in a North Lauderdale Walmart parking lot.
The shooting occurred on June 30, 2026 after a parking-space dispute.
Bart DiGuglielmo, a 62-year-old Army veteran, died from a gunshot wound.
Witnesses said DiGuglielmo threatened Payne’s car and kept approaching her.
Prosecutors cited video showing Payne repeatedly warned him and acted in self-defense under stand-your-ground law.

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