A retired U.S. Army staff sergeant and former combat medic was fatally shot outside a North Lauderdale Walmart following a dispute over a parking space, with investigators continuing to gather evidence before prosecutors decide whether criminal charges are warranted against the woman who fired the weapon.
The confrontation unfolded shortly before 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the Walmart Supercenter on W. McNab Road in Broward County.
Deputies responding to reports of a disturbance found 62-year-old Bart Diguglielmo suffering from a gunshot wound in the parking lot.
Emergency responders treated him at the scene before transporting him to Broward Health Medical Center, where he later died from his injuries.
Authorities said the shooting stemmed from a dispute over a parking space that escalated within minutes, Law & Crime reported.
Investigators said Diguglielmo and an adult woman exchanged words before the confrontation intensified outside their vehicles.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as shoppers gathered nearby while the argument continued.
Cellphone video recorded by bystanders appears to show the woman standing outside her vehicle with a handgun pointed toward Diguglielmo as the two continued arguing.
The footage then appears to show Diguglielmo moving around another parked vehicle before a single gunshot is heard and he collapses to the pavement.
Witness David Anderson told CBS News Miami that he heard a woman screaming throughout the confrontation before the gunfire erupted, according to LifeZette.
Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances of the shooting.
Detectives are reviewing cellphone recordings, surveillance footage from the Walmart property, witness statements, and other physical evidence to determine exactly how the confrontation unfolded before the fatal shot was fired.
Originally from Hammonton, New Jersey, Diguglielmo served as a U.S. Army staff sergeant, combat medic, combat nurse, and tactical communications specialist during his military career, including service during Operation Desert Storm, according to Shore News Network.
After leaving the Army, he remained committed to helping others through a career in healthcare, working as a nurse and emergency medical professional in South Florida.
According to family members, he spent decades serving both in uniform and in hospitals before retiring. Relatives described him as a devoted father of three who dedicated much of his life to military service, medicine, and his Christian faith.
His daughter disputed suggestions that her father acted aggressively, saying he was “not that person” despite reports describing him moving toward the woman shortly before the shooting.
She said no one deserves to lose their life over a parking space. His sister similarly remembered him as “a Christian man and a very good person” who “would not hurt anyone.”
The woman remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators, telling deputies she acted in self-defense.
Authorities have not publicly identified her, and no arrest has been made.
Once detectives complete their investigation, the case will be forwarded to the Broward County State Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether criminal charges are warranted under Florida law.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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