Guy Who Got Drunk And Shot At Police Helicopter Sentenced To 9 Years

Justin Derek Jennings, has been ordered to spend three years on probation following his release from a nine-year prison stint after accepting a plea deal. The sentencing comes after an incident that took place after his birthday party got a little too out of hand.

The Orange County birthday party was on March 9, 2024, an inebriated Jennings became angry and family members decided to leave. It was when family began leaving that Jennings retrieved a rifle from his gun safe and fired an entire magazine of ammunition inside the home.

Man using rifle

Remaining family members ran out of the home and called 911, which brought deputies to the neighborhood. As police arrived, so did a police helicopter to monitor the situation from the air. Jennings fired at the helicopter from a second-story window of his house.

The gunfire lasted intermittently for at least 20 minutes until Jennings was taken into custody. Deputies found two revolvers, two handguns, two rifles, quite a bit of ammunition and bullet casings scattered across the floor of the home. There were also two magazines and a box of ammunition on a couch under the window Jennings was shooting from.

blue car on the street during night time

His attorney wrote in a sentencing brief that Jennings' alcohol addiction was at the heart of the incident that led to his arrest. The attorney explained that Jennings started drinking early in the morning before his 39th birthday party. Shortly before the shooting started, Jennings finished polishing off an entire handle of Jack Daniels (1.75L).

“Mr. Jennings himself is now cognizant of how dangerous his alcohol addiction is and intends to never use alcohol again,” his attorney wrote. “He is also remorseful for his conduct and has accepted responsibility.”

The judge, John W. Holcomb, acknowledged that Jennings was insanely drunk at the time, but said it was still "an extraordinary crime."

Read more at Police 1