72-year-old man arrested for shooting at Walmart delivery drone

Lina Portman2 days ago

0 2 minutes read

Image for representation purposes only

In a bizarre turn of events in Clermont, Florida, a 72-year-old man was arrested after allegedly shooting at a Walmart delivery drone. “A bullet hole was discovered in the payload carried by the drone,” police said.

The Lake County Sheriff's Office said it received a complaint on June 26 that a Walmart delivery drone had been shot down. Apparently, a two-man team from Walmart was campaigning in the area making mock deliveries to attract community interest. While waiting for the delivery drone to descend, the crew heard a loud noise reminiscent of a gun. Further investigation revealed a bullet hole in the drone's payload system, which can cost up to $2,500.

Witnesses identified the shooter as Dennis Winn and directed officers who responded to his residence. Police then conducted a Miranda interview with Winn, during which he admitted to shooting the drone once with a 9mm pistol as it flew over his house. Winn reportedly said he had experiences with drones flying over his house and thought they were watching him.

Winn was arrested and charged with the following:

Shooting at an airplane (second degree felony)
Criminal mischief causing damages exceeding $1,000 (third degree felony)
Discharging a firearm in public or on residential property (misdemeanor)

Walmart has been testing drone delivery since 2021 and has completed more than 30,000 safe drone deliveries to date. Most recently, the retail giant added the option of drone delivery directly to its shopping app.

The incident follows the arrest of a 60-year-old man in New York for allegedly shooting down a neighbor's drone with a shotgun.

It is worth remembering that while regulations regarding flying over private property vary from state to state, federal law prohibits shooting down a drone, even in the case of trespassing. Indeed, shooting down a drone carries a serious risk of harm.

So, if you witness a drone not following the rules set by the Federal Aviation Administration, you can instead contact your local FAA Flight Standards office. FAA investigators may be able to investigate your report and follow up with the drone operator. Unauthorized drone operators may be subject to sanctions and criminal charges.

Learn more: The Secret to DJI's Drone Market Domination: Revealed

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