Court released footage shows Ethan Ericson firing a shotgun into a northern suburbs home linked to the Hells Angels
Earlier this year security cameras on a northern suburbs home captured a shotgun-clad figure emerge from the darkness. A Comanchero bikie has now pleaded guilty. See the chilling footage.
Police & Courts
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In the evening of June 23, 2022, security cameras on the outside of a northern suburbs home captured a shadowy figure emerge from the darkness, a large shotgun in his hands.
He walks with purpose, but not excessive speed, to the driveway of a house where he turns and raises the gun.
The figure, later identified as Ethan Ericson, 26, grappled with the shotgun for a few seconds, ejecting unfired shells from the gun as he sought to get it to work.
But eventually he cleared the chamber and three guns shots boomed out into the evening air. Stopping only to pick up the shells, Ericson was filmed jogging from the scene to a waiting getaway car.
The home, which was frequented by a senior member of the Hells Angels was peppered with pellets from the gun which dented the roller shutters and tore strips off the wooden veranda posts.
At the time police said it was the latest in a string of escalating incidents between the Hells Angels and Comanchero – the two most powerful bikie gangs in SA.
No one was home at the time of the shooting, but the Hells Angels member and his partner along with her young child arrived home to find pellet marks across the front of the property.
But for Ericson it was the final event in his participation with the club with the still young man now awaiting sentencing and claiming to have distanced himself from the gang whose signs and symbols are emblazoned on his arms and face.
Ericson pleaded guilty to possession of the shotgun and firing it with the purpose of intimidating or frightening the occupant of the home.
In a detailed affidavit tendered to the court for sentencing, a detective from the Crimes Gangs task force outlined the intelligence on Ericson’s membership in the Comanchero.
On several different dates an associate of Ericson, who was a nominee with the club, posted photos on social media of the pair wearing “soft colours” – the colours and insignia of the gang but not their official colours.
On April 24, 2022, footage from the Marina Sunset Bar showed Ericson and a second man wearing the soft colours.
In May police searched the home where the two men were living and found T-shirts, hooded jumpers and a full set of colours in a room being used by Ericson.
On May 10, 2022, Ericson was at an ill fated meeting of the Comanchero at a Seacombe Heights property.
Many members of the gang were present when police arrived looking for a senior member of the gang wanted as part of Operation Ironside.
Photos taken that night show Ericson had a new face tattoo – ACCA or Always Comanchero, Comanchero Always – down the side of his face.
When police arrested Ericson over the shooting on July 12, 2022 more gang colours were found at his house.
The detective concluded that Ericson had been a full member of the Comanchero at the time of the shooting.
During sentencing submissions in the District Court before Judge Geraldine Davison, Andy Ey, for Ericson, told the court his client had left the Comanchero.
Judge Davison indicated she would only be satisfied of that fact if Ericson took the stand and gave evidence on oath.
During a second round of sentencing submissions last week, Mr Ey said his client would not take the stand.
However, he did reiterate his submissions that Ericson, who was supported in court by his partner, wanted to leave the life of crime behind him.
He will be sentenced in February next year.
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