USD

Shotgun-Toting New Jersey Neighbor Faces Charges That He Shot Down Man's Drone

Prosecutors near the Jersey Shore charged a shotgun-toting man, who they said took matters into his own hands to bring down a drone flying over his neighbor’s home.

The Cape May County Prosecutor's Office charged Russell Percenti with weapons and criminal mischief charges stemming from the September takedown of a drone flying over Seashore Drive in the Erma section of Lower Township.

Lower Township Police said they received a call on Sept. 26, 2014 from the drone’s owner, Leonard Helbig, who said he was flying the device over his friend’s home along the 1000 block of Seashore Drive to gather some aerial photographs of construction being done at the home when the drone suddenly went down.

As the man lost control of his drone, he heard what sounded like several gunshot blasts, said investigators.

When he recovered the drone, the owner found several holes in the device, police said.

When police arrived, the victim pointed them in the direction of where he heard the blasts. Police then went to Percenti’s home. There, officers found the shotgun used to shoot down the drone, police said. 

Officials didn’t say why Percenti allegedly pulled the trigger. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Contact Us