Samuel Andrew Jackson sentenced in Brisbane’s Supreme Court

A teenager who shot a gun into the door of a Brisbane unit – an act that could have killed his ex – punched a police car and spat at an officer when he was arrested.

Samuel Andrew Jackson. Picture: Glenn Campbell

A teenager who fired into the door of a unit in upscale Brisbane following a break up was so reckless he could have killed his ex-partner, a court has heard.

Samuel Andrew Jackson, then 19, had broken up with his girlfriend the day before he went to her apartment in Newstead in August 2023.

Crown prosecutor Michael Connolly said Jackson travelled to the unit to pick up a friend who let him in the building before the victim closed the door on the two men.

Samuel Andrew Jackson leaves Brisbane Supreme Court. Picture: Glenn Campbell

After a conversation with the victim Jackson fired a 3D printed handgun into the door which the bullet penetrated before lodging into a wall in the unit.

About an hour later police caught up with Jackson who jumped on the squad car and punched the window before fleeing until he was caught by officers who he spat at.

Police found a large carving knife on the grass nearby and a search of his home turned up 26 grams of pure cocaine and 69 grams of pure methamphetamine, along with drug paraphernalia, ammunition and $15,000 in his bedroom and car, Brisbane Supreme Court heard.

Jackson pleaded guilty on Wednesday to enter premises with intent to commit indictable offence, dangerous conduct with weapon and possess weapon to commit indictable – all domestic violent offences – along with two counts of possessing drugs, possess property suspected of being proceeds of a drug crime, property used in the commission of a drug offence, possessing ammunition, possessing a knife public place and contravening an order to provide his phone passcode to police.

Barrister Daniel Boddice, instructed by Ashkan Tai Lawyers, said his client had a significantly prejudicial upbringing that had resulted in various mental health disorders but had now obtained steady work.

“Even though the criminality is serious … leniency is afforded to youthful defendants particularly the ones who come before court with the background of Mr Jackson,” he said.

Justice Peter Callaghan said Jackson’s offending – a “cocktail of domestic violence, a gun and drugs” was “particularly disturbing”.

“Firing a gun through a door, as you did when you knew someone was standing on the other side … could so easily have been a murder,” he said.

“ The fact that the shot was fired by a 3D printed category H weapon adds a truly sinister dimension to your offending.”

However he noted the good inroads towards rehabilitation that had been made and Jackson’s adherence to strict conditions while on bail along with the early pleas of guilty.

Jackson was sentenced to five years jail suspended with time served which was 585 days in custody.