A Los Angeles judge handed down a 12-year prison sentence to an ex-con who shot an LAPD helicopter with an AR-15-style semi-automatic rifle, rejecting prosecutors’ demands that he spend more than four decades behind bars.
Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Mildred Escobedo sentenced Douglass Byers to 12 years and eight months in prison after exercising her authority to throw out severe firearm enhancements that could have substantially increased his punishment.
Escobedo acknowledged that Byers’ actions warranted prison time but pointed to his drug abuse and his polite behavior while representing himself in court.
The terrifying incident unfolded in August 2025 after residents in South Los Angeles called 911 to report a barrage of gunfire coming from behind a home Byers shared with his mother.
Responding officers discovered an AR-15-style rifle, mock firearms and 18 spent shell casings scattered around the property. Police initially handcuffed Byers for negligent discharge, but investigators soon discovered that the situation had been far more dangerous.
A post-flight inspection of an LAPD helicopter that had been circling above the area revealed that a high-powered bullet had pierced the aircraft’s tail section.
The round struck within inches of critical control equipment. Authorities determined that if the bullet had hit a different location, the helicopter could have crashed into the neighborhood below, endangering the pilot, tactical officer and people on the ground.
Forensic investigators linked shell casings recovered from the property to the rifle found inside Byers’ shed.
Byers later acknowledged purchasing the weapon outside California and bringing it back into the state aboard a train. He maintained that he only fired the gun during holiday celebrations.
His mother told investigators that Byers had been suffering from illness and severe paranoia before the shooting. Byers also admitted that around the time of the incident he had consumed tequila, smoked marijuana and used methamphetamine.
Byers nevertheless maintained his innocence during his trial. Representing himself, he argued that he was too intoxicated to make the shot and said he did not harbor a grudge against law enforcement.
Jurors rejected his defense, deliberating for less than an hour before convicting him of assault on a peace officer and firearm possession by a felon.
Prosecutor Eric Siddall expressed frustration following the sentencing, arguing that Byers deserved a significantly harsher punishment after nearly killing two police officers and committing perjury.
Prosecutors had sought a 41-year prison sentence.
Escobedo instead rejected the tougher firearm enhancements and imposed the shorter sentence, citing factors including Byers’ substance abuse and conduct while defending himself.
The result means Byers will serve 12 years and eight months for a shooting that came dangerously close to bringing down an LAPD helicopter over a populated Los Angeles neighborhood.
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