Las Vegas Man Pleads Guilty to Pointing Laser at Police Helicopter

LAS VEGAS - A Las Vegas man pleaded guilty today to aiming a laser pointer at a police helicopter.

According to court documents, on September 24, 2025, Daveon Lamar Horn aimed the beam of a laser pointer at and in the flight path of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter.

Horn pleaded guilty to one count of aiming a laser at an aircraft. Sentencing has been scheduled for November 13, 2026. The statutory maximum penalty is five years in prison.

Pointing a laser pointer at an aircraft is dangerous and can have serious consequences. Aiming a laser beam at an aircraft poses a serious safety risk for those on board and on the ground. Laser beams can cause disorientation, temporary blindness, and in some cases permanent vision problems or blindness, all of which could potentially cause a midair collision or other incident. According to the FAA, pilots reported 10,993 laser strikes in 2025.

"Shining a laser at any aircraft, including a police helicopter is a malicious, intentional act that can lead to danger not only to the pilot, crew, and passengers but to people on the ground," said Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Office. "A laser beam directed at an aircraft is not a trivial offense - it can have deadly consequences. The FBI will continue to thoroughly investigate incidents involving lasers aimed at aircraft and pursue those responsible."

First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada and Special Agent in Charge Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Office made the announcement.

The FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department investigated this case. Assistant United States Attorney James Gaeta is prosecuting this case.

If you spot someone aiming a laser at an aircraft, you can report it to the FBI by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or visiting tips.fbi.gov. You can also report laser strikes to local law enforcement and the FAA.

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