Florida Man Friday – 8 Year Old Witnesses Father Being Shot – Edward Druzolowski

In our latest true crime story, we talk about an incident that took place in DeLeon Springs, Florida. What began as a seemingly mundane tree trimming dispute escalated into a fatal encounter.

The incident happened in September 2023, when 78-year-old Edward Druzolowski shot and killed 42-year-old Brian Ford. The altercation started over tree branches that Ford was trimming near Druzolowski’s property line. According to Druzolowski, he felt threatened by Ford, who continued to approach him despite having a gun pointed at him. Druzolowski claimed that his fear was heightened due to his osteoporosis and Ford’s alleged reputation for violence.

Ford’s eight-year-old son witnessed the entire incident and he mentioned that his father had made a threatening remark while holding a chainsaw, although it wasn’t turned on. 

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood expressed disbelief over the incident, stating, “Somebody is dead over tree branches. Are you kidding me?” He emphasized that the situation could have been handled differently, suggesting that Druzolowski should have called the police instead of taking matters into his own hands.

Sheriff Chitwood said that Druzolowski might use Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law, which allows individuals to use deadly force if they believe they are in imminent danger. However, Sheriff Chitwood argues that the circumstances of this case do not justify such a defense.

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Question: Do you think Edward should face jail time or do you think the court should hold up the stand your ground and he should be released?

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