Canberra hospital shooter James William Shearer pleads guilty to shooting police officer’s gun
James William Shearer stole a police officer’s gun while under guard at Canberra Hospital and then fired shots. He’s faced court on eleven serious charges.
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A man who pulled a gun from the holster of a police officer and fired shots in Canberra Hospital has pleaded guilty to string of robbery, driving and weapons charges.
James William Shearer, 27, appeared in the ACT Supreme Court on Tuesday where he pleaded guilty to eleven charges including four counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of culpable driving, two counts of unlawfully discharging a loaded firearm and attempting to escape custody.
Shearer previously pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder, but those charges have since been withdrawn.
Shearer was under guard in the Canberra Hospital emergency department on July 18 last year after crashing a car on Yamba Dr, seriously injuring two people, when he grabbed a police officer’s gun and fired two shots while trying to escape.
He was quickly restrained and the hospital was put into lockdown.
No further details of Shearer’s offending were aired in court on Tuesday.
He will return to court for sentencing at a later date.