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JACOB H. FRIESFifteen-year-old Dustin Ford has been sent to the San Antonio Boys Village, a faith-based boot camp in eastern Pasco County.
CLEARWATER - Dustin Ford, the 15-year-old who shot and killed his older brother during a prank in May, pleaded guilty to a charge of negligent manslaughter, his family disclosed this week.
Ford told his grandfather he did not want to go to trial or to press for a lesser charge. Instead, the teen accepted his punishment - commitment to a boot camp - in hopes it might bring a measure of peace.
Ford shot his 17-year-old brother Christopher in the head on May 23, but had only intended to scare him, authorities say. Christopher died six days later.
"Dustin felt he needed to do something," said James Ladig, 62, the Ford brothers' grandfather, who had raised them since they were little. "Dustin needed to atone for what he did, even though it was an accident. He feels very obligated to make up for it. . . . That's the impression I got from talking with him."
Though he was conflicted about parting with a second grandson, Ladig said he did not try to dissuade Dustin.
"Dustin has good times and he has bad times, just like I do," Ladig said. "We suffer. We suffer a great loss."
Before, their home on S Prospect Avenue buzzed with the brothers' teenage friends. Now it feels empty, Ladig said.
"It is unbearable," he said. "We had two normal teenage boys who had a lot of friends and to go from that to nothing - it's a hard adjustment."
After pleading guilty July 1, Ford was placed at the San Antonio Boys Village, a faith-based program in eastern Pasco County with about 30 teenagers, Ladig said. He will remain there until he successfully completes the program.
On average, boys stay about seven months at the camp, where they receive therapy, attend school and hold down a job, said Al Capodiferro, the executive director of the Boys Village.
"It is our belief that behavior management should be success-oriented, rather than penal-oriented," said Capodiferro, who would not discuss details of teens in the program.
Ladig and his wife visited Ford for the first time on Sunday. He seemed to be doing well.
"If you were to have a talk with Dustin, or with any of the adults in Dustin's life, you'd understand why Dustin did this," Ladig said. "He's not one to shirk responsibility. I'm quite proud of him for what he's doing."
The day of the shooting, Ford's friend, Matthew Gebicke, brought a .22-caliber revolver to Ford's home, where the two teens loaded and unloaded the six-shooter, according to police.
Then, at 8:30 a.m., Dustin Ford said, "Let's go in and scare my brother."
Ford went inside and found Christopher half awake, police said. He stood about 3 feet away and pulled the trigger. Investigators think Ford knew the revolver contained some bullets, but thought the gun's hammer would strike an empty chamber.
Ford immediately called 911 and reported that his brother had been shot. Paramedics and police found him in tears.
Gebicke, however, fled the house with the gun and was later arrested on charges of culpable negligent manslaughter, carrying a concealed firearm, providing a firearm to a minor and tampering with evidence. He is scheduled to appear in court later this month.