‘I must be a good shot’: 72-year-old retiree shoots down official Walmart drone, takes plea deal
Granted, drones can be all sorts of irritating. However, that doesn’t stop big companies like Walmart are experimenting with drones for delivery purposes. And, as evidenced by the actions of a 72-year-old Floridian and his handgun, safety concerns won’t stop people from shooting them down.
A 72-year-old Florida man shot down a Walmart drone with a single bullet as it performed a ‘mock delivery’ over his home
There’s a half-humorous, half-cautionary episode in the hit television show “Parks and Recreation,” wherein a predatory company uses drones to violate residents’ privacy. Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) shoots down a “Gryzzl” drone for bringing a delivery to his young child. While that sounds like TV shenanigans, it’s not far from the story of Dennis Winn.
Winn, 72, accepted a plea deal after shooting down a Walmart delivery drone. According to The Telegraph, the Walmart drone was on a demo delivery when it passed over Winn’s property. The retiree was cleaning the pool at his Lake County, Florida home when he heard the characteristic “whirring noise” as the drone dropped from an altitude of 230 feet to 75 feet.
He says he attempted to “shoo” the drone away but was unsuccessful. He then retreated into his home and collected his SIG SAUER handgun. According to the police report, Winn fired just one bullet at the buzzing machine.
“The defendant stated he had past experience with drones and believed they were surveilling him, the report said of Winn’s suspiciousness. “Therefore, he walks into his house, opened his gun safe, acquired his (Sig Sauer) 9mm pistol, went back to the pool pump, racked the firearm to chamber a round, aimed into the sky to acquire the drone, and shot one time.”
Winn jested at the preciseness of his shot. “They say I hit it, so I must be a good shot, or else it’s not that far away.” Authorities charged Winn with criminal mischief and discharging a firearm in a public space. Unfortunately for the 72-year-old, the DroneUp Delivery device was worth $2,500, and it took a single $0.25 bullet to bring it down.
