Elderly Florida Man Accused of Killing Neighbor Trimming Trees on Fence Line Between Their Homes

An elderly Florida man has been arrested after he allegedly fatally shot his neighbor for trimming the trees along the fence line between their homes, according to authorities.

Around 7:15 p.m. on Sept. 17, police received two 911 calls regarding a shooting in DeLeon Springs, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

Responding deputies found 42-year-old Brian Ford on the ground suffering gunshot wounds. The deputies attempted life-saving measures until EMS arrived, but Ford was pronounced dead at the scene.

Investigators determined Ford was trimming tree limbs along the fence between his and his neighbor’s home when his neighbor, 78-year-old Edward Druzolowski, confronted him about being on his property, officials said.

Druzolowski claimed to police he threatened to shoot Ford, and when he didn’t leave, he shot him, authorities said.

Druzolowski was one of the 911 calls. He told dispatchers, “I was pointing a gun at him, trying to get him off my property and he kept walking to me real close, so I shot him,” People reported.

He continued, “First time [I pulled the trigger] it just clicked and he kept walking toward me after he heard the click, so I pulled the trigger again and it shot him.”

According to People, the other 911 call came in from Ford’s mother, who told the dispatcher, “My neighbor just shot my son…please hurry, hurry, hurry.”

Ford’s mother told WOFL that Ford’s son, who is 8, “was running around screaming, ‘My daddy’s shot! My daddy’s shot!’”

Druzolowski told police he had not spoken with Ford in years and they have never had any conflicts before, ABC News reported.

He said Ford didn’t make any violent or deadly threats, but he did admit that “Brian’s reputation caused him fear,” per ABC News.

Court documents show two knives were located near Ford’s body, officials said.

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Ford’s mother said, “Nobody bothered anybody. It’s hard to understand why this even happened,” WOFL reported.

Druzolowski was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

He was booked into the Volusia County Branch Jail and was being held without bond.