An 8-year-old boy witnessed the fatal shooting of his father, who was shot to death by an elderly neighbor for cutting tree limbs across the man’s property line in Florida, officials and court records reveal.
Edward Druzolowski, 78, was arrested by Volusia County Sheriff’s deputies Sunday night, as seen in body camera video released by the agency, after calling 911 to report that he had shot 42-year-old Brian Ford.
“Someone died on a tree branch. Are you kidding me?” Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood told station WFTV.
“I can’t imagine what that 8-year-old boy was thinking when he saw his father die in front of him.”
Druzolowski, who now faces charges of second-degree murder, suggested he fired in self-defense.
“I pointed the gun at him at that point to try to get him off my property and he kept walking towards me very close, so I shot him,” the suspect admitted to emergency dispatchers.
Druzolowski told detectives he was afraid of Ford because he had served prison time, but Sheriff Chitwood said that doesn’t excuse his violent actions.
Edward Druzolowski, 78, appeared in court Monday to face second-degree murder charges in the shooting death of Brian Ford.CNN
Druzolowski said during an interview with a detective that he was watching a football game at his home in the 1800 block of Alameda Drive in DeLeon Springs when his wife told him that Ford was cutting tree limbs at their home.
The homeowner grabbed a loaded .357 Magnum revolver from his nightstand and, holding the firearm behind his back, headed into his yard to confront Ford and order him off his property, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by The Post.
The 42-year-old allegedly replied “something to the effect of ‘mind your business,'” followed by a string of expletives.
The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office has released body camera video showing Druzolowski’s arrest in DeLeon Springs, Florida, Sunday afternoon. Volusia Sheriff’s Office
Druzolowski then pointed his gun at Ford, who asked if the old man was going to shoot him — and then began advancing on the armed neighbor.
The 78-year-old said he yelled “Stop now or I’ll shoot,” and when Ford didn’t comply and continued to move closer, he pulled the trigger the first time, but no bullets came out because he said he “kept his first two [rounds] empty for security reasons.”
Ford heard the “click” of the revolver but still didn’t stop, Druzolowski said. That’s when he pulled the trigger again — and this time shot Ford in the chest.
He speculated that the round hit Ford, who was shirtless, in one of his lungs.
The gunman then told his wife to call 911 for the victim’s medical assistance. Ford died at the scene.
Druzolowski’s wife was quoted as telling emergency dispatchers in Ford’s fatal shooting that her husband only “meant to scare her and he hit her.”
Druzolowski allegedly confessed to shooting and killing his neighbor after he refused to leave his yard where Ford was trimming tree limbs.WTVD-TV
Druzolowski admitted to authorities that Ford did not have any weapons in his hand during their confrontation and that he never threatened to kill or injure him.
His wife also told investigators that Ford was not armed and did not make verbal threats to hurt her husband.
However, Ford’s son, who was in the yard and witnessed his father’s death, later told investigators that his father told Druzolowski, “I’m going to cut your head off with a chainsaw” he claimed his father was holding, but which he didn’t.
The affidavit states that when officers responded to the scene, they found a chainsaw and two knives next to Ford’s lifeless body lying facing Druzolowski’s yard.
Druzolowski said Ford was unarmed and did not threaten to kill or injure him, but he was afraid of being hurt anyway. Volusia Sheriff’s Office
Druzolowski and Ford had no previous history of feuding, but the elderly suspect said he stopped talking to Ford several years ago because his frequent run-ins with the law “scared him” after the 42-year-old bragged about winning. fighting while in prison.
The 78-year-old also said that he thought if he had pointed a gun at Ford, he would have left his yard. But as the argument escalated, Druzolowski claimed “he was scared [Ford] would hurt or kill him if he didn’t shoot him.”
Druzolowski also mentioned that he has osteoporosis – a bone disease – and was worried that if he was rejected by Ford it “would hurt really bad.”
“He stated his health condition, he would not confront anyone without a firearm,” according to the affidavit. “By [Ford’s] his reputation feels safer with a gun in his hand.”
Chitwood predicted that Druzolowski would make a “Stand Your Ground” case and argued that he fired in self-defense because he was in fear for his life, especially given his health — but the sheriff said the septuagenarian should have called the police instead of taking matters into his own hands.
“You can’t shoot people just because they stepped on your property,” said Chitwood, who called Ford’s death “senseless.”
Druzolowski remains in the county jail without bond. He is due back in court for a hearing on October 12.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
