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Boy shot by brother dies

The 17-year-old Clearwater boy died on Sunday, six days after he was shot in the head by his brother during a prank.

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published May 31, 2005

CLEARWATER - The 17-year-old boy shot in the head by his brother during a prank last week has died, authorities confirmed Tuesday.

Christopher Ford was shot May 23 by his 15-year-old brother, Dustin, who had not expected the gun to fire, police said. Ford died Sunday at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg.

Dustin Ford got the .22-caliber pistol from his friend, Matthew Gebicke, who brought it to Ford's home in Clearwater, police said. Investigators were still trying to determine where Gebicke got the gun.

At 8:30 a.m., Dustin Ford went to his brother, who was half awake, and pulled the trigger from about 3 feet away, firing one bullet into his brother's head, police have said. Dustin Ford then called 911.

Dustin Ford has been charged with shooting into an occupied dwelling and culpable negligence. Gebicke has been charged with resisting arrest without violence and tampering with evidence.

See tomorrow's Times or sptimes.com for the full report.

[Last modified May 31, 2005, 14:14:04]