Virginia man opens fires on helicopter, thinking occupants are terrorists, police say

Associated Press / SFGate

[RCW2001]

Saturday, July 20, 2002
©2002 Associated Press

URL: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2002/07/20/national1301EDT0525.DTL

(07-20) 10:01 PDT WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (AP) --

A man armed with an assault-style rifle opened fire on a helicopter landing in a residential neighborhood, thinking the chopper was carrying terrorists, police said.

Helicopter pilot John S. Sutton landed his helicopter July 13 at the home of businessman John Peters to pick him up, police said.

John Chwaszczewski, a semiretired construction worker, became alarmed when he saw the chopper swoop down over his garage, about a block from Peters' home.

"Maybe I overreacted, but I did feel this was terrorism at its utmost," Chwaszczewski said.

Chwaszczewski told police the shooting was "a natural reaction," after having watched the events of Sept. 11.

A woman who identified herself as Sutton's wife said he would have no comment.

Sutton was charged with recklessly operating an aircraft, a misdemeanor, Deputy Police Chief Ken Middlebrook said Friday. If convicted, he could face a month in jail.

Chwaszczewski was charged with interfering with an aircraft, discharging a firearm, an AR-15 rifle, in a public place, reckless handling of a firearm and assaulting Sutton. He faces up to eight years in prison and $10,000 in fines if convicted.

©2002 Associated Press  

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Two bits it was a black chopper. Man, i am going out for a new tinfoil hat now.BWHAHAHAHAHA!

[TaxPayer2000]

yeah, tin foil hats are only good for 3-6 months

[Hugin]

Chwaszczewski told police the shooting was "a natural reaction," after having watched the events of Sept. 11.

Yeah, perfectly normal to assume low flying helicopters are terrorsts and shoot at them. I wonder what he thought would happen if he had brought it down on someone's house?

It also makes me wonder how many adult beverages the guy had consumed.

[AF68]

There's got to be a Pollock joke in there someplace.

[Bobby777]

Chwaszczewski

wow ... how does one pronounce that? (I can guess about 80% of it ... hehe)

[Husker24]

Chwaszczewski..............WOW! im not even going to try and pronounce that one!

[scholar]

i am going out for a new tinfoil hat now.

Currently, I am not as worried about terrorists as I am nuts like this and the continuing violations of our civil rights.

[Eska]

Cubs buzz the cabin at treetop level all the time. No big deal, usually neighbors that land in their yards anyway.

Now when you've been out on a remote river and haven't heard a sound for 3-4 days the sound is unsettling. I figure in a city the pressure to explode must be far greater.

[smoking camels]

yeah... at the very least he could have watched them covertly while covering them with his weaponry

he's an idiot

[1tin_soldier]

isn't it great that schitzos like this can legally own assault rifles?

They can't. They can, however own assault-styled rifles. I wonder if a fully automatic rifle with a larger magazine would've made a difference.

[Semper911]

It's a GD good thing it wasn't a military helo. They would have flattened him.

[Aim small miss small]

It's a GD good thing it wasn't a military helo. They would have flattened him

It is good as well that this gentleman cannot shoot straight.

[Cachelot]

wow ... how does one pronounce that?

Madrussian???????

[Commie Basher]

I am not as worried about terrorists as I am nuts like this and the continuing violations of our civil rights.

I am more worried about the govt violating our civil rights than I am about "terrorists" and "nuts like this" combined.

[mamelukesabre]

I'm gonna guess it's pronounced something like......KAZESKEE or maybe even KAZKEE.

Names like that tend to have alot of silent letters.

They said this occurred in virginia? Is that correct? Are they sure it wasn't WEST VIRGINIA?

[Amerigomag]

During basic rotary wing training instructors tell you time and time again "resist the urge to utilize this aircraft to it's full potential .... DONT BE STUPID ENOUGH TO TRY TO LAND IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD".

Regardless of this sound advice A full 50% of new, civilian, rotary wing pilots end up in minor to major hot water because they won't listen.