Comanchero bikie Ethan Ericson jailed for shooting up rival Hells Angel member’s home

A young Comanchero who fired four shots into the home of a Hells Angel – despite clear signs a child lived there – has been jailed.

A young bikie who shot up a rival gang member’s northern-suburbs home has been jailed for the “unacceptable” offending, leading to an outburst in court.

Wearing a hoodie and dark clothing, Ethan Ericson, 26, of Andrews Farm, exited the passenger seat of a car and walked “purposefully” up to the front of the Hells Angel member’s home about 7.30pm on June 23 last year and fired four rounds.

In sentencing, Judge Geraldine Davison said he then picked up some of the spent shells, returned to the waiting car and drove off.

The rival gang member, his partner and young child arrived home about a minute later.

In an outburst after being jailed for two years on Thursday, Ericson could be heard saying the sentence imposed was “f---ed”.

Comanchero Ethan Ericson in club colours. Picture: Supplied

A screen grab from CCTV showing the moment Ethan Ericson shot at the front of the home. Picture: District Court

“Your offending was extremely serious as you were not only in possession of an illegal firearm but you used this firearm to fire shots at a residential property four times where the victim, his partner and young child usually resided,” Judge Davison said.

“The fact that violence is commonplace within the motorcycle gang towards rival outlaw motorcycle gangs is an unacceptable part of that society … it puts the lives of innocent members of the community at risk.”

Crime-scene photos from the scene. Picture: District Court

Judge Davison said Ericson had joined the Comanchero while incarcerated for earlier offences in 2019 and had offended within months of serving a prison term.

Erickson has been jailed over the shooting. Picture: Supplied

“Outlaw motorcycle gangs such as the Comanchero are characterised by a code of silence, practices of intimidation towards the community and police, illegal acts and internal and external violence,” she said.

She rejected earlier submissions his crimes were minimised because the target of his acts was a rival gang member.

“This offending was extremely serious and I find it difficult to accept that the damaging effects of crimes such as this have been diminished purely due to the victim’s membership with an outlaw motorcycle gang,” she said.

At the time of the incident, police said the shooting was part of escalating tensions between the Comanchero and Hells Angels – the state’s two most powerful bikie gangs.

The weapon used in the offending was delivered to Ericson via a family member and has not been recovered. Ericson, a father of one, was arrested about three weeks after the incident.

She said his “premeditated and deliberate” offending was unacceptable, particularly because play equipment in the front yard made it obvious a child lived there.

The front of the home, with visible child’s play equipment. Picture: District Court

Crime-scene photos from the scene. Picture: District Court

The court had previously been told that Ericson, who has “ACCA” – Always Comanchero, Comanchero Always – tattooed down the side of his face, had quit the gang.

Judge Davison rejected that claim and said Ericson’s continued involvement with the gang meant his prospects of rehabilitation were “poor”.

After discounts for his early guilty pleas, Ericson was jailed for three years, seven months and seven days.

Judge Davison set a non-parole period of two years and two months and imposed a firearms prohibition order.

Prior to being sentenced, Andy Ey, for Ericson, told the court his client was “a little upset” he was appearing via video link from prison and not in person.

“He wanted to appear to show respect to your honour and the court process,” he said.

Ericson also delivered an apology, telling the court he was “deeply regretful” for his actions.

“There is no amount of apologising I can do … after this I have decided to leave this life behind due to the fact that this isn’t a life at all,” he said.