A Florida man was charged after confessing that he shot down a Lake County Sheriff’s Office drone out of the sky with a rifle, authorities said.
Wendell Goney, 51, a resident of Mount Dora, was charged with possession of a firearm as a convicted felon and destruction of aircraft, according to a news release by the Department of Justice. If convicted of both charges, the man will have to face a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, the news release said.
Investigators said that on July 11, 2021, deputies were flying a drone at a 10-acre property in Mound Dora as they were investigating a burglary case when the drone was shot by Goney with a .22 caliber rifle from a neighboring property, NBC-2 reported citing the release.
Shooter Claims Drones Were ‘Harassing’ Him
The news release also stated that upon responding to the location, deputies confronted Goney who eventually admitted that he shot down the drone. He claimed that the drones were “harassing” him.
Wendell Goney Had 29 Felony Convictions
Goney also confessed to having 29 previous felony convictions in Florida, meaning that he could not lawfully acquire a weapon, Kiro7 reported.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office were all part of the investigation.
