Police drone shot at during standoff in Killeen, Texas

On Monday afternoon, Killeen Police Department officers were dispatched to the 2600 block of Legacy Lane, in reference to a report of a person with a firearm and shots fired. The ensuing standoff, during which the police drone was shot at, has the suspect facing both a felony and a misdemeanor charge.

Police drone shot at during standoff in Killeen, Texas

A witness told police that the suspect, 41-year-old Fredrick Eldon Ralls was emotionally upset. He has been charged with deadly conduct and discharging a firearm in the city — a felony and a misdemeanor, respectively, according to two separate criminal complaint affidavits, reports the Killeen Daily Herald.

Before the police arrived two shots had been fired in the direction of a fence in the backyard of a residence. According to two witnesses, Ralls had pointed a gun at them and fired two shots in the ground warning them to ‘stay back.’

The KPD SWAT was activated and police officers had a lengthy conversation with Ralls. The standoff with the police lasted nearly 2 1/2 hours before Ralls was taken into custody. No injuries were reported.

According to KPD Chief Charles Kimble said at least one shot was fired before police arrested the man. KPD body camera footage shows Ralls shooting his firearm in his backyard in an attempt to shoot down a KPD drone.

Ralls’ bond for the felony and misdemeanor charges have been set at $100,000 and $5,000, respectively. The incident took place in Killeen, Texas.

Shooting down an aircraft is a federal crime, whether it is a manned or unmanned aircraft. Over the last few years, we have seen a number of cases in which a drone was being shot at. However, we have yet to see anybody being prosecuted under federal law for any of these offenses.

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Photo: Killeen Daily Herald