An Orange County man pleaded guilty to repeatedly shooting at an Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter after drinking during his birthday party.
Justin Derek Jennings, 40, of Laguna Niguel, pleaded guilty on Aug. 8 to one count of attempting to damage, destroy, disable, or wreck an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
On March 9, 2024, Jennings was hosting a birthday gathering at his home with family. He had been drinking and, for reasons not disclosed, became angry. After most of his family members left the home, he took out a rifle from his gun safe and fired an entire magazine worth of ammunition inside his home, prosecutors said
The remaining family members who were inside the home fled the residence and reported the shooting to law enforcement.
OCSD deputies and a police helicopter responded to the home. When Jennings spotted the helicopter, he went upstairs and began shooting his semi-automatic rifle into the sky, firing only when the helicopter was visible to him, authorities said.
The shooting continued sporadically for at least 20 minutes. After speaking with a sheriff’s deputy, Jennings finally exited his home and surrendered to authorities.
While searching his residence, deputies seized two revolvers, two handguns, and two rifles along with multiple rounds of ammunition. Bullet casings were found scattered across the floor.
On Aug. 8, he pleaded guilty to the charge. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Jan. 20, 2026, where he could face up to 20 years in federal prison.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The post Man pleads guilty to shooting at O.C. Sheriff’s helicopter with semi-automatic rifle appeared first on KTLA.
