A dispute over a parking space at a Walmart in Florida ended with the death of a 62-year-old Army veteran — but the woman who shot him will not face criminal charges.
Melissa Payne fatally shot Bart Diguglielmo during a confrontation outside a Walmart in North Lauderdale on June 30, 2026. The incident began after the two became involved in a dispute over a parking space.
According to prosecutors, multiple surveillance cameras and cellphone videos captured the confrontation. Diguglielmo was unarmed, but prosecutors said the footage showed him repeatedly approaching Payne and that witnesses reported threats toward her and her vehicle.
Payne told authorities that she feared for her safety and had repeatedly warned Diguglielmo to back away before she fired a single shot. Diguglielmo was taken to a hospital, where he later died.
The Broward County State Attorney’s Office has now determined that Payne is protected by Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law. Prosecutors said the evidence did not allow the state to disprove her claim of self-defense by the legal standard required under Florida law.
The decision means Payne is immune from prosecution in connection with the shooting.
Diguglielmo’s family has expressed disappointment with the decision, arguing that threats involving property should not justify the use of deadly force.
The case has drawn attention because what began as an argument over a parking space ultimately resulted in a fatal shooting — and a legal decision that leaves Payne facing no criminal charges.