SANTA ANA, California – A Laguna Niguel man pleaded guilty last Friday, August 8, 2025, to using a semi-automatic rifle to repeatedly shoot at an Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter last year from a second-story window at his home, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Justin Derek Jennings, 40, pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to damage, destroy, disable, or wreck an aircraft in the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
According to his plea agreement, on March 9, 2024, Jennings – from a second-story window of his residence – used a semi-automatic rifle to shoot at a helicopter operated by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Court documents previously filed in this case stated that Jennings and his family were celebrating his birthday party on that day. Jennings had been drinking and became angry. As anger grew, family members in attendance left the home. After most of his family left, Jennings removed a rifle from his gun safe and fired an entire magazine worth of ammunition inside the home. The rest of Jennings’ family fled and reported the incident to law enforcement.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department responded with several deputies and a police helicopter that flew in circles around the area. Jennings then went to the home’s second story and began shooting a rifle upwards in the sky, firing only when the helicopter was visible to him. The shooting continued intermittently for at least 20 minutes. After speaking with an Orange County sheriff’s deputy, Jennings exited the residence and surrendered.
During a search of Jennings’ residence, law enforcement seized two revolvers, two handguns, and two rifles along with multiple rounds of ammunition. Bullet casings were scattered throughout the floor and law enforcement also seized two magazines and a box of ammunition that was on a couch beneath the window from where Jennings fired the weapon.
United States District Judge John W. Holcomb scheduled a January 30, 2026, sentencing hearing, at which time Jennings will face a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The Orange County District Attorney’s Office charged Jennings in connection with this incident but dismissed the case so the federal case against him could proceed.
The FBI and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department investigated this matter.
Assistant United States Attorneys Caitlin J. Campbell and Lisa J. Lindhorst of the Orange County Office are prosecuting this case.
Some people commit crimes when drunk because alcohol affects how the brain works:
- Poor judgment: Alcohol makes it harder to think clearly and make good decisions.
- Lowered self-control: People may do things they normally wouldn’t because alcohol reduces inhibitions.
- Stronger emotions: Alcohol can make feelings like anger or sadness more intense, which can lead to aggressive behavior.
- Mental health issues: If someone already has emotional or psychological problems, alcohol can make those worse.
- Environment and habits: People who grow up around violence or crime may be more likely to act that way when drunk.
- Biological differences: Some people react more strongly to alcohol due to genetics or how their body processes it.