Bizarre moment $200 inflatable Santa Claus is gunned down in Kentucky drive-by shooting

A Kentucky neighborhood has calmed down after an inflatable Santa Claus was shot on a resident's lawn in a drive-by shooting.

The footage captured the moment a car passed in front of the Lexington home and flashed a grin at the smiling figure before turning and driving away.

The three-metre-tall Santa then fell backwards before slowly deflating on the grass with an 18-inch wound in his chest.

Homeowner Donald Nelson said he fears the shooter could then return and target other Santas in the West Gardenside neighborhood.

“Once they do one, they will probably do several,” he warned Lex18.com.

Hours later, security footage captured the moment a gunman approached the man and let go of the bearded mannequin before turning and driving away.

The illuminated Santa Claus waved happily over Lexington's West Gardenside neighborhood when owner Donald Nelson put it up on Nov. 26

Nelson says neighbors have promised to help him repair the torn remains by Christmas

Nelson was home with his wife when the gunman approached the house on November 26 around 8:15 p.m.

“We were sitting on the couch watching TV and we heard a little bang or something and she asked me to take a look,” he said.

'When I looked out the front door, we saw that the bouncy castle had fallen over.'

Only later did he realize that his $200 award had fallen victim to gun violence.

“This is, you know, you're firing a gun at someone's house,” he said

“I went back and looked at our security camera and it showed a vehicle turning around in the court and a noise that sounded like a gun, shoot it,” he explained.

“As soon as that sound went off, the bounce house fell down.

“I mean, there are several neighbors who also have inflatables and I mean sure those could be targeted as well.”

Nelson had purchased the illuminated Santa Claus a few days earlier and it was only in the air for five hours before it was shot down.

But the community is determined not to let the Santa haters win.

“We have a few neighbors who know how to sew and have pledged their services to get it up and running again,” Nelson said.

He has reported the incident to the police and hopes that they will catch the perpetrator before something more serious happens.

“I just beg people to watch what your kids are doing,” he added.

“Once they do one, they'll probably do several,” Nelson warned. There are several neighbors who also have inflatable boats'

'I hope this doesn't happen to anyone else.

'We don't want anyone to get hurt. It's not a cute, fun thing.

“This is, you know, you're firing a gun at someone's house.”

“Hopefully people have Ring cameras, security cameras, that will capture a license plate or give us a better description of who's doing this.”