⏱ 2 min read
Jorge Pinon Armendariz, 48, aimed a green laser pointer at a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office helicopter over Albuquerque on October 7, 2025, striking the cockpit more than a dozen times and hitting the pilot in the eyes. The helicopter was flying over the city when the attack occurred. Armendariz continued to aim the laser at the helicopter even as it approached his location, endangering the crew and the public.
The pilot reported momentary flash blindness, eye irritation, and blind spots lasting 10 to 15 minutes after being struck in the eyes by the laser. The pilot also experienced migraine headaches for 30 to 36 hours afterward, along with continued eye irritation and light sensitivity.
Armendariz had an active state warrant at the time of the incident for violating conditions of pretrial release in a state case allegedly involving receiving or transferring a stolen motor vehicle and possession of a controlled substance. He pled guilty to aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft and was sentenced to 4 months in prison followed by 2 years of federal supervision.
The sentence reflects the seriousness of the crime, which posed a significant threat to the safety of the helicopter crew and the public. The use of a laser pointer to attack an aircraft is a federal offense that can cause serious harm to pilots and passengers.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Violent Crime
- Defendant: New Mexico
- Location: NM
- Source: DOJ Press Release
