AUGUSTA, GA – A Blythe man unleashed a hail of bullets on a police helicopter, and now he’ll spend the next 15 years and change paying the price. Terry Kielisch, 56, received 183 months in federal prison from U.S. District Court Judge Dudley H. Bowen. The sentence stems from two counts of Assaulting a Person Assisting an Officer of the United States, and one count of Use of a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. After his release, Kielisch will face five years of supervised release – a formality in a system without parole.
“When Terry Kielisch aimed and fired a high-powered rifle at a police helicopter, he callously endangered the lives of the officers aboard the aircraft and of any people on the ground,” stated U.S. Attorney Bobby L. Christine. “The resulting sentence appropriately reflects the senselessness of this attack.” Christine’s office led the prosecution in the Southern District of Georgia.
Court records show Kielisch, on March 12, 2019, fired two rounds from a .308 caliber rifle at a Georgia State Patrol helicopter. A GSP trooper was piloting, with a Richmond County Sheriff’s Office investigator riding shotgun. The chopper wasn’t chasing Kielisch; it was providing aerial support for Operation Gunsmoke – a coordinated effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) targeting drug trafficking and illegal firearms across Georgia and South Carolina. Kielisch wasn’t a target, he simply didn’t appreciate the aircraft flying over his property, investigators said.
The bullets narrowly missed critical fuel lines, causing $54,960 in damage. Judge Bowen ordered Kielisch to foot the bill for the repairs. Thankfully, the pilot managed to bring the aircraft down safely, and neither occupant suffered injury. Had those bullets connected differently, the outcome could have been catastrophic.
“The Georgia State Patrol is grateful the crew and those on the ground weren’t injured as a result of Kielisch’s careless actions,” said Lt. Stephanie L. Stallings, Public Information Director for the Georgia State Patrol. “This agency is equally grateful to U.S. Attorney Christine for the swift resolution in this case.” The investigation was a joint effort between the ATF, GSP, and the Richmond County Sheriff’s Office.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Hank Syms Jr. prosecuted the case for the United States. This case serves as a stark reminder that attacking law enforcement – from the ground or the sky – carries severe consequences. Kielisch will have plenty of time to contemplate his actions behind federal bars.
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Key Facts
- State: Georgia
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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