Man Shoots Down Drone with a Shotgun

[Paratus]

Ars Link


Guy starts flying his hexacopter over his parents orchard.
Next door neighbor has son blow it out of the sky with a shotgun.

• Neighbor thought it was a CIA surveillance device
• Shot it down over guys parents property by over 200ft
• Third time neighbor had ammo hit guys parents property
• Neighbor refuses to pay even with a small claims judgement against him

Some quotes

It was nice to meet you and your son. I wish it could have been under different circumstances, but I have to give credit to the McBay school of marksmanship. Still, I'm pretty bummed that I just built this hexacopter only to have it shot down. Also, it was a little disconcerting to know that the spread of the birdshot/buckshot was in my direction. In any case, I had a chance to test the components of the downed hexacopter. Good news is that the more expensive components (on the inside of the frame) are in tact. Stuff on the outside of the frame took the most damage.

With all do [sic] respect $700 dollars seems excessive. Perhaps in SF it's normal for folks to have drones hovering over their property but we live in the country for privacy. I will be willing to split the cost with you but next time let us know your testing surveillance equipment in our area. I'll drop a check of this afternoon.

I'm sorry, but I must insist on full payment for equipment you damaged, as you shot it when it was above my property. The aircraft's GPS data positions it clearly above our orchard. Additionally, the hexacopter crashed next to our driveway, ~203 feet (per Google Maps) from the dirt road that separates our respective properties.

I also dispute your characterization that I was "testing surveillance equipment." There was no camera on the hexacopter, and had a camera been mounted, the price for repairs would have been an extra $300. Just as you asked me to give the courtesy of notifying you of my flying activities, I also ask you the courtesy of not shooting live ammunition in our direction. This is the third time discharge from your firearms has hit our house and property. The first incident left a bullet hole in the door by our garage. The second incident occurred last Thanksgiving when birdshot from your skeet shooting activities rained into our backyard. The third, of course, being what we're currently discussing.

I'm hoping to resolve this in a civil manner. An entirely new rig would have cost $1500. Instead, I'm just asking that you pay for what you broke. Let me know if you wish to discuss further.

Your facts are incorrect, I'm considering the matter now closed.

The drone owner needs to call the cops on this guy for reckless discharge of a firearm.

 

[BoomerD]

Maybe...since it was allegedly over "his" property, (actually his parents' property, but for this argument, that's close enough) but if it strayed even one foot over the line, the neighbor should be 100% within his rights to shoot it down.

 

[Paratus]

Maybe...since it was allegedly over "his" property, (actually his parents' property, but for this argument, that's close enough) but if it strayed even one foot over the line, the neighbor should be 100% within his rights to shoot it down.

You'd think so but shooting down any aircraft can land you in jail.

Forbes Article

I'd also point out you'd be criminally liable for whatever your round hit if you'd miss.

 

[MongGrel]

Maybe...since it was allegedly over "his" property, (actually his parents' property, but for this argument, that's close enough) but if it strayed even one foot over the line, the neighbor should be 100% within his rights to shoot it down.

I'd doubt 200 ft is anywhere near 1 foot over the line.

If he's flying a drone over his own property and the neighbors kid is running around with a shotgun shooting at it, he should bear the cost of replacing it.

Probably a bit more.

If the kid is that dumb to begin with, he shouldn't be running around with a shotgun, I think his dad is a bit of a idiot.

 

[Ruptga]

"Court finds that Mr. McBay acted unreasonably in having his son shoot the drone down regardless of whether it was over his property or not," the Stanislaus County Court Small Claims Division found.

Especially since this is the third time they've had a problem with these clowns and their guns, fuck em.

 

[Markbnj]

You'd think so but shooting down any aircraft can land you in jail.

Yes, you should absolutely be able to shoot at aircraft that pass over your property.



Actually, in all seriousness, are "air rights" like mineral rights? I'm pretty sure I don't own a column of air over my acre.

 

[olds]

200 feet with a shot gun?

 

[Paratus]

Yes, you should absolutely be able to shoot at aircraft that pass over your property.



Actually, in all seriousness, are "air rights" like mineral rights? I'm pretty sure I don't own a column of air over my acre.

Well I actually don't think so, but most people seem to think it's ok to shoot at anything RC over their property.

 

[ImpulsE69]

Yes, you should absolutely be able to shoot at aircraft that pass over your property.



Actually, in all seriousness, are "air rights" like mineral rights? I'm pretty sure I don't own a column of air over my acre.

IIRC you don't, however there is a height regulation for normal aircraft. Not sure how that works with drones/rc controlled devices. Guessing they will need to make new ones.

 

[Sonikku]

200 feet with a shot gun?

damn.

 

[MongGrel]

damn.

Does seem a bit much, I'll bet the kid was trespassing to be honest.

200 feet is what 70 yards ?

 

[The Boston Dangler]

wtf 3 times his house and property have been shot by his neighbor? shoot back you fucking idiot! obviously the court doesn't give a shit.

 

[Tsavo]

Shoot the guy flying the drone, sell drone on Ebay.

People need to think outside of the box.

 

[adairusmc]

The neighbor could always invite the drone owner over to argue the merits of his case with the muzzle of the shotgun, if he continues to insist on full payment.

 

[rommelrommel]

200 feet with a shot gun?

damn.

With a tight choke it's doable. I doubt you have to deliver many pellets on target to down a drone.

 

[Paratus]

With a tight choke it's doable. I doubt you have to deliver many pellets on target to down a drone.

Single pellet hitting a rotor would shatter it. It's likely, even with a hex, the controller wouldn't be able to compensate.

 

[Paratus]

The neighbor could always invite the drone owner over to argue the merits of his case with the muzzle of the shotgun, if he continues to insist on full payment.

Sounds like you must be one of those "responsible" gun owners.

 

[futurefields]

The neighbor could always invite the drone owner over to argue the merits of his case with the muzzle of the shotgun, if he continues to insist on full payment.

What retarded fantasy world do you live in? Stop watching TV.

 

[SSSnail]

I'd then just drone a grenade right over his property, and let him shoot it down.

 

[Tsavo]

Drones are rapidly becoming the new green laser of the idiot world.

 

[mikeymikec]

wtf 3 times his house and property have been shot by his neighbor? shoot back you fucking idiot! obviously the court doesn't give a shit.

When sense and reason doesn't work, I very much doubt that attempting to out-redneck a redneck is going to work either, plus it will escalate the situation.

The neighbor could always invite the drone owner over to argue the merits of his case with the muzzle of the shotgun, if he continues to insist on full payment.

What. The. Fuck.

 

[Murloc]

why is a guy who shot 3 times in an inhabited area without proper safety, as shown by the bullet hole in the garage door, putting the life of others at risk, allowed to own guns?

I mean I'm all for gun ownership but this is retarded.

 

[Tsavo]

why is a guy who shot 3 times in an inhabited area without proper safety, as shown by the bullet hole in the garage door, putting the life of others at risk, allowed to own guns?

I mean I'm all for gun ownership but this is retarded.

I would assume that someone is making that part up.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

garnish wages? If they had a court ruling for them to pay up, why can't they just garnish wages? Or is that only for despicable credit collections companies?

 

[MongGrel]

The kid using deer slugs at that thing ?