Two Men Indicted for Laser Strikes on Police Helicopters

LAS VEGAS – Two Las Vegas men in separate cases were indicted and have made their initial appearances in court for allegedly aiming a laser pointer at and striking police helicopters. According to allegations contained in the indictments: On April 10, 2026, James Bodie Moore III aimed the beam of a laser pointer multiple times at and in the flight path of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter. He is charged with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is five years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 28, 2026, before United States District Judge Richard F. Boulware II. On June 7, 2026, Jason Lamars Lee aimed the beam of a laser pointer two times at and in the flight path of a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department helicopter. He is charged with one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. If convicted, the statutory maximum penalty is five years in prison. A jury trial has been scheduled for September 28, 2026, before United States District Judge Gloria M. Navarro. Pointing a laser pointer into the sky to see how far it will shine may seem like a fun thing to do but it 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 - potentially causing a midair collision or other incident - and in some cases permanent vision problems or blindness. According to the FAA, in 2025, pilots reported 10,993 laser strikes. If you spot someone aiming a laser at the sky in a suspicious manner, 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.