PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. -- The man charged with manslaughter in a fatal July shooting outside a Clearwater convenience store said he feared for his life when he shot the victim.

Michael Drejka spoke Friday from the Pinellas County Jail.

He is facing manslaughter charges in the shooting death of Markeis McGlockton. The case was originally ruled a stand your ground case by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Drejka said he has had time to think and that off the top of his head, he wouldn't change anything.

He also says he believes he followed the stand your ground law the way it's supposed to be followed.

Surveillance video showed McGlockton shoving Drejka to the ground after Drejka confronted McGlockton's girlfriend for parking in a handicapped spot outside the Circle A Food Store on Sunset Point.

Drejka shot McGlockton in response in front of his three young children. McGlockton later died of that wound.

Drejka says when he heard the State Attorney's Office would be charging him in the case, he was shocked and devastated.

The interview was conducted by a 10 News reporter and began with Drejka describing himself as a "normal, average every day person with average problems."

He talked about the financial issues he and his wife are having and said she has been receiving threats.

He denies that the shooting was racially motivated. He says he grew up in a family where he was taught to treat everyone equal.

When asked about the moments before he fired his gun, he said he feared for his life.

"I didn't know what was coming for me and there's only one way to look at that, you have to be scared for it because if you're not and you're wrong, I was very scared," Drejka said. "I've never been confronted like that. I've never been assaulted like that if you will."

Drejka was asked if there was something he wanted say to McGlockton's family.

At first he said the jail wasn't the place to do that but then he said he was sorry.

But he acknowledged they likely wouldn't accept an apology under the circumstances.