Buster

Colorado Man Pleads Guilty To Killing His Computer With Eight Shots From 9MM Pistol

The Colorado man who blasted a malfunctioning computer with a volley of shots from his 9mm pistol has pleaded guilty to a criminal charge stemming from the April execution, according to court records.

Lucas Hinch, 38, this month copped to discharging a firearm within the city limits of Colorado Springs, where he operates a homeopathic herb store with his girlfriend.

As part of a plea deal, a Municipal Court judge placed Hinch (seen at right) on a six-month deferment, a probationary period that requires him to not commit any new legal infractions. Upon successful completion of the terms of the deferment, the misdemeanor charge against Hinch will be dismissed.

In an e-mail, Hinch told TSG that he did not anticipate shooting any more computers. “Despite my previous actions (perforating a Dell), I'm always very laid back,” Hinch said, adding, “Since I have no criminal record and considering the circumstances, the judge found the situation hilarious.”

Police cited Hinch after responding to an April 20 911 call reporting shots fired in the alley behind Hinch’s residence (which also houses his business). Cops discovered that Hinch had fired eight shots into a Dell XPS 410 model. The late computer is pictured below.

A Colorado Springs Police Department blotter entry--headlined “Man Kills His Computer”--noted that a “fed up” Hinch had been “fighting with his computer for the last several months.” The dispute ended when Hinch “fired 8 shots into the computer with a handgun, effectively disabling it.”

“Most individuals have had a similar disposition towards computers when they fail during critical times,” Hinch said. “I just happened to dispatch mine within a rather unwarranted location, yet preferred means.”