Kieren Jay De La Cruz, 31, of Mount Warren Park sentenced for shotgun shooting during pursuit

A serial violent criminal rolled down his window and let loose with a 12-gauge shotgun, despite nearby police before fleeing over roofs, a court has heard.

Police in pursuit of a violent career criminal saw a flash, heard a bang and smelled gunpowder after he rolled down his car window and let loose with a 12-gauge shotgun, a court has heard.

Appearing at Beenleigh District Court on Friday (June 3), Kieren Jay De La Cruz, 31, of Mount Warren Park was granted immediate parole release after serving nearly two years in pre-sentence custody.

He pleaded guilty to a string of charges.

They included dangerously operating or interfering with a vehicle after a previous conviction, possessing a weapon, endangering the safe use of vehicles and related transport infrastructure, evading police and possessing dangerous drugs, among others.

The court heard the serial violent offender was 29 on September 11, 2020 when he sped away from police in a stolen car after they tried to apprehend him at his residence.

According to police, De La Cruz drove dangerously and at high speed through roundabouts and into oncoming traffic during the protracted affair.

Despite the presence of the POLAIR police helicopter and deflated tyres from deployed road spikes, he sped on, the court was told.

Two police officers were trying to move their vehicle to avoid a collision with an oncoming De La Cruz approaching on the wrong side of traffic when he reached for his weapon.

When 10 – 15 metres away from the officers the defendant rolled down his window and fired his 12-gauge shotgun, the court heard.

According to police testimony read to the court, officers saw a flash, heard a bang, smelled gunpowder and ducked inside their vehicle.

The discharge did no damage and did not deviate the officers from their course.

It was further accepted by the court that De La Cruz had not shot specifically at the officers.

He thereafter abandoned his vehicle and trespassed into numerous properties while trying to flee across their roofs.

The court heard he was finally arrested after being surrounded by police.

A total 0.157 grams pure meth was found in his stolen vehicle.

Crown prosecutor Samantha O’Rourke said De La Cruz’s offending was aggravated for occurring while on parole and probation.

It was made worse still for following an “appalling” criminal and traffic history littered with relevant offending, according to Ms O’Rourke.

It included an armed robbery in company for which he was sentenced to three-and-a-half years’ prison in 2018.

Defence barrister Tim Ryan said his “relatively young” client’s offending was ameliorated for not causing police emotional distress, as they provided no victim impact statements.

Mr Ryan further submitted the defendant’s life imploded at 17 when he discovered the man he thought was his father was in fact not.

A cannabis and meth addiction followed.

The court heard that bar some labouring work, De La Cruz had little to show for his adult life.

During his most recent terms in custody he had received weekly treatment from a psychologist, planned on entering live-in rehabilitation and enjoyed strong support from his family, according to the defence.

With 579 days in pre-sentence custody taken into account and 50 days declared as time served, De La Cruz was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment and granted immediate parole release.

He was further disqualified from driving for two-and-a-half years with convictions recorded.

The court heard he will remain on parole with assistance from counselling programs for three years.