72-year-old arrested for shooting at Walmart delivery drone

In a bizarre turn of events in Clermont, Florida, a 72-year-old man was arrested after allegedly shooting at a Walmart delivery drone. “A bullet hole was discovered in the payload the drone was carrying,” the police said.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office said they received a complaint on June 26 that a Walmart delivery drone had been shot. Apparently, a two-man Walmart crew was campaigning in the area by conducting mock deliveries to attract the interest of the community. While awaiting the delivery drone’s descent, the crew heard a loud sound consistent with a gun. Further investigation revealed a bullet hole in the drone’s payload system, which can cost up to $2,500.

Witnesses identified the shooter as Dennis Winn and directed the responding deputies to his residence. The police then conducted a Miranda interview with Winn, during which he admitted to shooting at the drone once with a 9mm pistol when it was flying over his home. Winn allegedly said he had experiences with drones flying over his home and believed it was watching him. 

Winn was arrested and charged with the following:

• Shooting at an aircraft (a second-degree felony)
• Criminal mischief causing damage over $1,000 (a third-degree felony)
• Discharging a firearm in public or on residential property (misdemeanor)

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Walmart has been trialing drone delivery since 2021 and has completed over 30,000 drone deliveries safely to date. More recently, the retail giant added drone delivery option directly to its shopping app.

This incident comes in quick succession of a 60-year-old being arrested in New York for allegedly shooting down a neighbor’s drone using a shotgun.

It’s worth reiterating that while the regulations for flying a drone over private property vary from state to state, federal law makes it illegal to shoot down a drone even if it is trespassing. This is because shooting down a drone carries a serious risk of harm.

So, if you witness a drone not following the rules set by the Federal Aviation Administration, you could reach out to your local FAA flight standards district office instead. The FAA’s investigators may be able to investigate your report and follow up with the drone operator. Unauthorized drone operators may be subject to penalties and criminal charges.

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