CLEARWATER, Fla. — On the one-year anniversary of the fatal shooting that took the life of Markeis McGlockton, his family and friends gathered to remember him at Mount Zion Methodist Church in Clearwater.

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Mixed in with the songs and sentiments celebrating McGlockton's life Friday night was the deep sadness and sense of loss still felt by those closest to him.

"Many people ask me, 'am I OK?'" said McGlockton's mother, Monica Moore-Robinson. "Honestly, I will never be 'OK' because a part of me is no longer there."

That sorrow cannot be expressed any more deeply than by McGlockton's own parents.

"Just the absolute thought of he's not here, it's been pretty rough," said McGlockton's father, Michael.

But as difficult as they say the last year has been for them, Michael said the toughest days may lay ahead, as his son's killer, Michael Drejka, goes on trial next month.

"I know that we're going to have to relive that day all over again, and it's just going to bring up a bunch of emotions that we had last year," Michael explained. "So I'm really not looking forward to that, but I know it's something that has to be done."

 

After the vigil, friends and supporters marched and called for justice for McGlockton. 

"In the past year, this terrible murder has never left my mind," said supporter Eileen Senn.

As for moving forward and healing after the trial, Michael said it was difficult to think beyond a near future that feels so uncertain.

"I just want a guilty verdict," Michael said. "And after we get that guilty verdict, I don't know. I don't know. To be honest, I'm not even thinking that far. I can't."