What Happened on September 17th
Edward Druzolowski, a 78-year-old man from Florida with osteoporosis, shot and killed his neighbor, 42-year-old Brian Ford, on September 17th, 2023.
Source: YouTube
However, exactly what happened is still essentially unknown. As Brian cannot tell his version of the events, the police only have Druzolowski’s word to go by, and his account of the murder is a bit puzzling.
Druzolowski’s Version of the Events
After being apprehended by the police, Druzolowski explained what happened and why he killed his neighbor, Brian Ford.
Source: YouTube
He said that he was in his home watching football, when his wife told him that Ford was trimming a tree on their property. He then got his .357 Magnum revolver from his dresser and went outside to confront Ford.
The Situation Escalated
Then, Druzolowski informed the police that he told Ford to get off his property, and Ford responded by cursing at the old man and telling him to “mind his business.”
Source: iStock
Druzoloski then took his revolver out of its holster and pointed it at Ford, who apparently responded by saying, “‘You are pointing a gun at me, are you going to shoot me?’”
Firing to Kill
Druzolowski told the authorities that he told Ford that he would shoot if he didn’t stop moving toward him. But he also said that he always kept the first two chambers of his revolver empty for safety. So when he aimed the gun at Ford, he knew the first two shots wouldn’t fire.
Source: Facebook
However, that’s not exactly what happened. The first chamber was empty, but the second held a bullet, the bullet that killed Brian Ford.
Druzolowski & Ford’s Relationship
Druzolowski also reported that though he had not spoken to his neighbor Brian Ford for years, and that he was extremely afraid of him.
Source: YouTube
According to Edward Druzuolowski’s wife, Ford had threatened her husband before and that Edward only took the gun outside to scare him.
Brian Ford’s 8-Year-Old Son Gave an Interesting Statement
What’s especially sad about this tragedy is that Brian Ford’s 8-year-old son was with him trimming the trees at the time of the murder.
Source: iStock
Although extremely young and obviously traumatized, Ford’s son is the only other witness to the crime, and when giving his statement to the police, he said that his dad threatened Druzolowski and said, “I’ll cut your head off with the chainsaw.”
Ford Was Found Dead With a Chainsaw Next to Him
While Ford was found dead with a chainsaw at his feet, the chainsaw was not running, and the police did not mention the possibility of the threat in their report.
Source: iStock
However, it’s also interesting to note that alongside the chainsaw, the police apparently found two knives on the ground next to Ford’s body.
The Gunshine State Is Facing Backlash
The case has not yet been tried, so the public doesn’t yet have the full story as to what happened that day. However, the state of Florida is already making headlines for its immense number of gun licenses.
Source: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Dubbed by many as the “Gunshine State,” there is one gun permit per every eight people in Florida. And just last March, a new law was passed allowing residents of the state to carry concealed firearms without a permit or training.
Gun Reform Is One of the Biggest Debates in the USA
Of course, the gun reform debate is not a new conversation. It has been one of the biggest points of contention between Republicans and Democrats throughout the country for years.
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Those who support the right to own a gun claim that it is a constitutional right established by the Second Amendment and that most gun owners have the proper training and permits and only use their guns when absolutely necessary.
Many Are Fighting for Gun Reform
On the other hand, many argue that the sheer number of available guns in the USA has led to unnecessary deaths and that something drastic needs to change if Americans ever want to feel safe again.
Source: Mario Tama/Getty Images
The example of Druzolowski and Ford will likely be used by those who want to eliminate the availability of guns throughout the country. But sadly, there are hundreds if not thousands of similar situations happening every day, and none of these stories have been able to change the national gun legislation.
Druzolowski Awaits Arraignment in Jail
For now, Edward Druzolowski is being held in Volusia County Jail without bail, waiting for his arraignment hearing on October 12th.
Source: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
What will happen to the 78-year-old Florida resident is anybody’s guess at this point. But as the detectives noted, “Edward said he was afraid Brian would have hurt or killed him if he didn’t shoot him,” so it’s likely that he’ll be pleading self-defense when the time comes.