A tragic incident unfolded in DeLeon Springs, Florida, when a man was fatally shot by his elderly neighbor over a property dispute. The Volusia County Sheriff’s Office reported that Edward S. Druzolowski, 78, is now facing a second-degree murder charge for the death of 42-year-old Brian J. Ford.
The incident occurred as Ford was trimming trees along the boundary of his property and Druzolowski’s. Druzolowski confronted Ford, believing he was trespassing. According to the sheriff’s office, Druzolowski threatened to shoot Ford if he did not leave, and when Ford failed to comply, Druzolowski shot him.
The sheriff’s office received two 911 calls reporting the incident shortly after 7 p.m. on Sunday. In one of the calls, Druzolowski admitted to dispatchers that he had approached Ford with a gun and ordered him to leave his property. He recounted that he fired the gun when Ford continued to approach him, despite the initial warning shot.
Druzolowski later told detectives that he felt threatened by Ford due to his criminal history and past conversations where Ford had boasted about winning fights in jail. However, Druzolowski’s wife confirmed that Ford was unarmed and did not threaten her husband during the confrontation.
The second 911 call was made by Ford’s mother, who pleaded with dispatchers to hurry, stating that her neighbor had shot her son. She also demanded that Druzolowski be arrested.
Upon arrival, the first two deputies on the scene attempted life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. Unfortunately, Ford was pronounced dead at the scene. After an investigation, detectives found probable cause to arrest Druzolowski, who is currently being held without bond.
Adding to the tragedy, a woman identifying herself as Ford’s sister commented on the sheriff’s Facebook post, revealing that Ford’s 8-year-old son was present during the shooting. She expressed her grief and outrage over the incident, stating that her brother was merely doing yard work for their 77-year-old mother when he was killed.