78-year-old man shoots neighbour dead for trimming trees over property line

18 September 2023 , 23:36

1078     0

Edward Druzolowski said Brian had a "reputation that caused him fear (Image: Volusia County Sheriff's Office)

A 78-year-old man allegedly gunned down his neighbour Sunday evening while the victim trimmed his trees along their shared property line in Florida, according to local authorities.

Brian Ford, 42, was trimming trees along the fence between his and Edward Druzolowski’s properties in DeLeon Springs at around 7.10pm when he was confronted by Druzolowski, the Volusia Sheriff's Office said. DeLeon Springs is roughly 45 miles north of Orlando.

Authorities were called to the shooting scene of at around 7.13pm. Druzolowski was arrested and charged with second-degree murder, ABC News reports.

Druzolowski told investigators that he told Brian to "get off his property," to which Brian replied: "mind your business," according to court documents.

Edward claimed he was scared of what Brian might do to him if he didn't pull the trigger (WESH)

At this point, Druzolowski brandished his gun to Brian and threatened to shoot him if he didn't move away from the fence. According to the suspect, Brian asked him: "You are pointing a gun at me, are you going to shoot me?"

Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe

Druzolowski told authorities "Brian kept walking closer to him and that's when he pulled the trigger for the first time," according to court documents. "He said his firearm holds 6 rounds in the cylinder, but he keeps the first two empty for safety reasons.”

“He stated Brian heard the gun click and continued to advance towards him, so he pulled the trigger the second time. He advised this time the firearm went off and he shot Brian."

Immediately after the shooting, Brian's son rushed to his father and screams" you just shot my daddy. You just shot my daddy," Brian's mother, who lives next door, told Fox Orlando.

According to the murder suspect, the pair hadn’t spoken in a few years and hadn’t had an issue before. He also added that Brian had never threatened to hurt or kill him prior to the incident, but “Brian’s reputation causes him fear.” Authorities found two knives on Brian’s body, according to court documents.

Edward was charged with second-degree murder for Brian's slaying (wftv)

Druzolowski also said that "he believed the only thing he could have done tonight was confront" Brian and his neighbor. He told authorities that he didn’t think about calling police because "he did not think they would respond to something like this," court documents said.

Edward's wife echoed her husband saying they've always just co-existed with their next-door neighbours with no issues for the past 30 years.

Claiming self defence, Edward said he chose to kill Brian because he was afraid of what his neighbour might do to him if he didn't. However, the Floridan didn't expect Brian to stand his ground.

The 78-year-old also said "he has osteoporosis and if he had been pushed to the ground it would have hurt really bad," court documents said.

Mataeo Smith