Full Breakdown
Woman Who Shot Man Over Parking Spot Will Not Face Charges in Florida
9/4/2026, 3:08:39 PM
Fatal Shooting in a North Lauderdale Walmart Parking Lot
On June 30, 2026, Melissa Payne fired a single shot into the abdomen of Bart DiGuglielmo, 62, in the Walmart parking lot at 7900 W. McNab Road, North Lauderdale, Florida. Surveillance, a deputy’s body-camera and cellphone recordings captured the dispute from the moment the two drivers contested the same space until Payne exited her vehicle and fired. DiGuglielmo died at a hospital from the wound.
Legal Context
Florida’s “stand-your-ground” statute allows a person who reasonably fears death or great bodily harm to use deadly force without a duty to retreat. The Broward County State Attorney’s Office, led by Assistant State Attorney Stephen Zaccor, concluded the evidence does not disprove Payne’s claim of reasonable fear and therefore determined she is immune from prosecution under the law.
Key Facts and Timeline
- June 30, 2026 – A parking-space dispute escalates; DiGuglielmo leaves his car, re-enters the lot and approaches Payne while she holds a gun.
- Moments later – Payne warns him to stay away, steps out of her vehicle and fires once, striking him in the abdomen.
- After the shot – Payne places the firearm on her car’s roof, remains on a call with her husband, and is briefly detained by the Broward Sheriff’s Office before being released after asserting self-defense.
- Early September 2026 – The State Attorney’s Office releases an 18-minute video compilation and a memorandum explaining its decision not to file charges.
Official Statements & Responses
The office noted Payne is not a convicted felon and therefore possessed the firearm lawfully.
Criticism & Opposition
Melissa Rodriguez, attorney for DiGuglielmo’s daughter, expressed disappointment, stating “this is not a situation in which deadly force was reasonable.” She argued that threats to property do not meet the legal threshold for justified deadly force.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He's made several threats about doing something to my vehicle,” — Melissa Payne, her attorney
- “When I see he come walking up again, he's walking in my direction, I step out of the vehicle, I had my gun down on the side,” — Melissa Payne, her attorney
- “The video does not demonstrate that MP was in the right, rather it demonstrates that the State of Florida cannot overcome her claim that she was in reasonable fear of great bodily harm by clear and convincing evidence,” — Stephen Zaccor, unit division chief
- “This is not a situation in which deadly force was reasonable,” — Melissa Rodriguez, attorney for the man’s daughter
Why It Matters
The case highlights how Florida’s stand-your-ground law can shield individuals from criminal liability even when a dispute begins over a non-violent matter such as a parking spot. The decision has drawn criticism from the victim’s family and fuels ongoing debate about the law’s application in public spaces.
