AdvertisementHours later, an inspection of a helicopter that responded to the shooting call at Byers’ home revealed a bullet had pierced the tail. Byers said he smoked marijuana and drank tequila before the incident and said it would have been impossible for him to make the shot LAPD claims nearly caused a helicopter crash. Gunshot residue tests confirmed Byers had recently fired a weapon, according to Siddall. Mike Bland said a single gunshot to a helicopter’s rotor blades or windshields could be enough to cause a crash. In November, an LAPD helicopter orbiting over the scene of an assault with a deadly weapon call was allegedly shot at at least three times by 57-year-old Anthony Whitsey.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 13, 2026 14:09 UTC