Armed Man’s Threat Over Dog Backfires, Deputies Say

PORT RICHEY, FL — A 60-year-old man upset over his belief a neighbor’s dog had been in his yard found out the hard way late Tuesday night that pulling a gun can sometimes have unintended consequences.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, the man, Donald R. Disbro accidentally shot himself after pulling his gun on a neighbor. The incident that ended with a bang began just before 11 p.m. Oct. 18 in the 9500 block of Shamokin Lane in Port Richey.

Disbro and a neighbor got into a verbal dispute around that time because Disbro thought the man’s dog had been on his property, an arrest report stated. The neighbor reportedly told Disbro that neither he nor his dog had crossed the property line, the report said.

As the argument became heated, Disbro is accused of moving closer to the neighbor while pulling a small handgun from his pants pocket. Disbro pointed the gun at the neighbor, who then told Disbro he was leaving the area, the arrest report said.

“As Donald went to conceal the handgun once again, he accidentally fired the gun and injured himself in the process,” the report noted.

After deputies arrived on the scene, the neighbor’s story was backed up by a witness. Disbro told deputies he pulled a gun, but never pointed it at the neighbor. Footage from Disbro's own security camera, however, indicted otherwise, the arrest reported noted.

Disbro was ultimately charged with aggravated assault, according to the sheriff’s office. He was arrested early Wednesday morning and booked into the Pasco County Jail.

It is unclear if he had to be taken to a hospital first for treatment of the injury.

Booking photo courtesy of the Pasco County Jail