Florida Parking Space Dispute Ends in Fatal Shooting of Army Vet
Army Veteran Fatally Shot in Florida Walmart Parking Lot Dispute; Woman Claims Self-Defense
NORTH LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A verbal dispute over a parking space outside a South Florida Walmart turned deadly on Tuesday afternoon, leaving a retired U.S. Army staff sergeant dead and authorities weighing a claim of self-defense.
According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the fatal shooting occurred just before 12:30 p.m. outside the Walmart Supercenter in North Lauderdale, Florida.
Authorities have identified the victim as 62-year-old Bart Diguglielmo, a New Jersey native, father, and decorated military veteran.
A Deadly Escalation
Investigators stated that Diguglielmo and an unidentified woman became embroiled in a heated verbal confrontation over an empty parking space in the store’s crowded lot. The argument escalated rapidly, culminating when the woman pulled out a handgun and fired a single shot.
Graphic video footage circulating on social media captured the tense moments leading up to the gunfire. In the clip, obtained by Local 10 News, a woman wearing a white shirt is seen standing outside her vehicle, brandishing a firearm as she argues with Diguglielmo.
The two are seen pointing at one another during the confrontation. At one point, Diguglielmo raises both of his hands while standing in the empty parking space. The footage then shows him walking around another vehicle toward the woman as she continues to keep the weapon aimed at him. Moments later, a single gunshot rings out, and Diguglielmo collapses to the pavement.
Emergency responders rushed Diguglielmo to a nearby hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The shooter remained at the scene and told arriving deputies that she fired her weapon in self-defense. As of Wednesday, authorities have not publicly identified the woman, and no criminal charges have been filed. The investigation remains ongoing.
Witness Accounts and Family Grief
Witnesses described a chaotic and terrifying scene immediately following the gunshot.
“I was walking up and heard a lady screaming,” witness David Anderson told CBS News Miami. “She was screaming and she was saying a lot of things.”
As detectives review surveillance footage, cellphone video, and witness statements, Diguglielmo’s family is speaking out to ensure he is remembered for his life of service rather than his tragic death.
His daughter, Amanda, fought back tears during an interview with Local 10 News, remembering her father as a “good man” who proudly served his country. She added that no one “deserves to lose their life over a parking spot.”
Amanda shared that she and her father had been estranged for several years but had recently begun rebuilding their relationship before it was abruptly cut short. She noted that she was initially hesitant to speak to the media but chose to do so because she wanted her father “to be remembered for who he was and not who the media is portraying him to be.”
Diguglielmo’s sister also confirmed that he was a decorated military veteran who served during Operation Desert Storm. According to his military background, the Hammonton, New Jersey native possessed a diverse skillset, having served as a combat nurse, combat medic, and tactical communications expert.
The Broward Sheriff’s Office urges anyone who witnessed the altercation or has additional video evidence to come forward as they determine whether the shooter will face criminal charges.
