Orange County man arrested at birthday party for shooting at police helicopter

A still from an OCSD training video shows an Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter.

A 39-year-old Orange County man faces 20 years in federal prison after reportedly firing at an Orange County Sheriff’s helicopter when his birthday party ended in disaster, authorities said Monday.

According to a press release from the Central District of California Attorney’s Office, Laguna Nigel resident Justin Derek Jennings and his family were celebrating his birthday on March 9 when the incident occurred.

“Jennings was reportedly drinking and became enraged. As his outburst escalated, the family members present left the house,” the press release states. “After most of his family left, Jennings allegedly took a rifle from his gun safe and fired a full magazine load of ammunition into the house. The rest of Jennings’ family fled and reported the incident to law enforcement.”

OCSD officers went to the house and flew over the area in a police helicopter.

At this point, according to the public prosecutor, the 39-year-old repeatedly fired at the helicopter from the second floor of his house as it circled over his property. The sporadic shots lasted for about twenty minutes.

Jennings eventually left the apartment and turned himself in to authorities.

“During a search of Jennings’ residence, officers seized two revolvers, two handguns and two rifles, as well as several rounds of ammunition,” prosecutors said. “Bullet casings were scattered on the floor, and officers also seized two magazines and a box of ammunition lying on a couch beneath the window from which Jennings allegedly fired shots.”

Laguna resident Nigel was charged with attempting to damage, destroy or disable an aircraft.

Jennings, who is being held without bail, is scheduled to go on trial in August.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, authorities said.