A Florida court has dismissed charges against a 79-year-old man who invoked a controversial self-defense law after fatally shooting his neighbor’s adult son as he trimmed tree limbs — and threatened him — from the defendant’s side of a shared fence.
The case drew attention as another seemingly ordinary misunderstanding between neighbors turned deadly in a nation with more guns than people. It also shined a fresh spotlight on Florida’s controversial “ Stand Your Ground ” law, which like others across US states lets people respond to threats with potentially lethal force and no fear of criminal prosecution; such measures have been linked to increased homicide rates.
A Volusia County Court judge ruled Friday that Edward Druzolowski, is immune from prosecution after asserting a claim of self-defense, court records show. The defendant argued he felt threatened by his neighbor’s son, who was known to have a criminal history and a reputation for violence, according to court documents…