Posted on 07/01/2024 11:02:24 AM PDT by Red Badger
The Lake County Sheriff’s Department in Florida reported a 72-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly shooting down a Walmart delivery drone.
Dennis Winn, 72, was arrested after he allegedly shot down a Walmart Delivery drone that was making mock deliveries in his neighborhood.
According to Local 12 News, Winn fired shots at the drone because he believed it was watching him.
Winn is being charged with”shooting at an aircraft, criminal mischief with damage over $1,000, and discharging a firearm on public or residential property.”
Despite taking a bullet, the drone was able to fly back safely to Walmart, but an investigation revealed the drone received close to $2,500 worth of damages.
Per WCTV:
A Florida man was arrested after he shot down a Walmart delivery drone in his neighborhood, according to officials.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said they received a call about a Walmart delivery drone being shot on Wednesday.
Responding deputies confirmed there was a bullet hole in the load that the drone was carrying.
Witnesses identified the shooter as Dennis Winn, 72. When speaking with deputies, Winn admitted to shooting at the drone once with a 9mm pistol, the sheriff’s office said.
Winn was arrested and charged with shooting at an aircraft, criminal mischief damage over $1,000, and discharging a firearm in public or residential property.
According to Forbes, Walmart started offering drone deliveries in 2021 and currently offers them in Arizona, Florida, and Texas.
Here’s how Walmart’s drone deliveries work:
VIDEO AT LINK..............
Florida Man Ping!..................
The Florida Man air defense system.
Where are the posted signs that say it’s not open-season on Walmart drones?
Oops 😬
Seems like inalieble right territory, but maybe walmart has the right, as a company, to film your property to see what they can learn to sell to you better. Facebook does it internally, rather than externally.
Was it in his air space?
Not going to Ukraine because there’s no kickbacks for defense contractors and politicians.
FWIW, some kind of directed microwave or EMP would take out drones better than a gun would. Just sayin’.
admitted to shooting at the drone once with a 9mm pistol
Single shot, moving target, probably a few hundred feet up, with a pistol?
Good shot. After 9/11 when terrorists used civilian airliners as missiles, and Palestinians use drones to kill civilians overseas, it is hard to blame him. Not everyone keeps up with the latest in package delivery.
Only thing is, it may be unreasoble to assume a terrorist with a drone would want to come after a 72 year old retired guy.
Maybe drone operators should have to contact and warn anyone whose airspace they fly over, if only with postcards... that there are going to be drones making deliveries.
I am calling bs on $2500 in damages.
they claim it hit the payload, but I am sure that nothing walmart would deliver by drone is over $100
if it hit the payload and also the drone, but it was still able to fly there is no way it could be $2400 in damage.
but the guy was a good shot.
I don't know how high up the drone was when he shot it, or how fast it was moving, but aiming up at and angle, with a 9mm pistol, and actually hitting the payload shows good aim and probably proper firearm control (i.e. both hands, etc.).
Although I doubt his range practice included firing into the air...
LOL!
Florida Man was on his front porch, smoking an unfiltered camel, throwing back cheap beer and had a 12 gauge in arms reach, what else do you need for an effective air defense system.
So it is legal to discharge a firearm on commercial and industrial property? Would he not be charged if he went to Walmart and shot it on their property?
Oh was the drone registered with the FAA and was the sticker visible? Next:
In addition to registering the drone, did they follow the rules of the sky. They include:
Fly at or below 400 feet.
Keep your drone within sight
Don't fly in restricted airspace
Don't fly near other aircraft, especially near airports
Don't fly over groups of people
Don't fly over stadiums or sporting events
Don't fly near emergency response efforts such as fires
Don't fly under the influence
Sounds to me that a few of those were violated….
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.