A 40-year-old Laguna Niguel man pleaded guilty Friday to using a semi-automatic rifle to repeatedly fire at an Orange County Sheriff’s Department helicopter from his home last year, federal prosecutors said.
On March 9, 2024, Justin Derek Jennings had been drinking during his party when he became angry and family members began leaving, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. After most had gone, Jennings retrieved a rifle from his gun safe and fired an entire magazine of ammunition inside the home.
The remaining guests fled and called law enforcement, prosecutors said in a news release.
Deputies responded with several units and a helicopter, which began circling the area. From a second-story window, Jennings fired into the air, shooting only when the helicopter was in view, court docum