A Columbia Falls man has been handed an eight-month prison sentence, followed by three years of supervised release and a $15,000 fine, for pointing a laser-mounted firearm at a helicopter. Travis Kurt Myers, 57, pleaded guilty in March 2025 to one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.
The incident occurred when Flathead County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report from a delivery driver who witnessed a green laser being pointed at his vehicle in Columbia Falls, Montana. The driver also reported hearing a gunshot. Another witness claimed Myers had aimed a gun at her and discharged it on the ground. During their interview with this witness, more gunshots were heard, prompting aerial surveillance.
A law enforcement helicopter equipped with thermal-capable cameras tracked down Myers outside his residence in possession of a firearm. Myers repeatedly pointed the weapon, mounted with a laser, towards the helicopter. The pilots observed the laser on their cameras and saw the gun being fired, though they remained unsure if it was directed at them. Nearby officers confirmed Myers’ awareness of targeting the helicopter.
Myers was taken into custody without incident. A search warrant for his property uncovered numerous firearms and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, an unregistered silencer, and a rifle equipped with a green laser. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, while the ATF and the Flathead County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided over the sentencing. Myers’ actions have sparked renewed concerns about laser pointer misuse, particularly in relation to aviation safety.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Public Corruption|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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