Bullet lodged in man’s spine after ‘unprovoked’ shooting at Spring Hill 7-Eleven

A serial offender has been sentenced to more time behind bars after the ‘point blank’ shooting of an intellectually disabled man in inner-Brisbane.

The scene of the overnight shooting at 7-Eleven Spring Hill. PICTURE: Brad Fleet

A man was left with a bullet permanently lodged in his spine after he was shot “point blank” in the back of a car at a Brisbane 7-Eleven.

Lucan Jade Grace, 36, was sentenced at Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday over the unprovoked attack on “vulnerable” victim Anthony Ford.

Grace was found guilty at a trial in February of the attempted murder of Mr Ford at the Spring Hill 7-Eleven car park in the early hours of November 15, 2021.

Justice Catherine Muir told the court at Grace’s sentencing that Grace and another man Shaun Kenneth Kirby had driven to the Treasury Casino that night in a stolen car.

“It was organised that the complainant meet you at the 7-Eleven carpark around 2am apparently so that Mr Ford could repay Mr Kirby some money,” she said.

Justice Muir said Grace had been the driver of the stolen car and “apparently unbeknown to Mr Kirby” had been armed with a firearm.

When Mr Ford entered the back seat of the car, Grace turned and shot him “point blank to the most vulnerable part of his body – namely his torso,” she said.

Justice Muir said Grace “sped off” without checking on Mr Ford’s condition after he fled the back of the car.

The court heard Grace later arranged for the car to be set on fire – causing approximately $19,000 worth of damage.

Shaun Kenneth Kirby was acquitted of wounding after his earlier charge of attempted murder was downgraded.

Grace had spent 1280 days in presentence custody since his arrest, of which only 1006 could be declared for the attempted murder sentence.

He was found guilty at trial of attempted murder, arson of a motor vehicle, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle used to commit an indictable offence.

Mr Kirby had originally been charged with the same offences, but was found not guilty and acquitted of all three.

Justice Muir said Mr Ford – who had an intellectual disability – was left with a bullet lodged in his spine, and would have died without lifesaving surgery.

“This is concerning and alarming criminal offending,” she said.

“ … This was an unprovoked attack with a weapon on a vulnerable person.”

Justice Muir said there was no victim impact statement and that Mr Ford had clearly been “scared” to give evidence at the trial, as a warrant had to be issued for him to come to court.

“That is not surprising perhaps given your conduct,” she said.

Lucan Jade Grace’s partner leaves Brisbane Supreme Court with barrister Tony Kimmins after Grace was sentenced for attempted murder. Picture: Patrick Woods.

She said Grace had a “truly shocking” criminal history and had spent the majority of his adult life in custody.

Defence barrister Tony Kimmins said if his client wasn’t already institutionalised, he would be after serving his sentence for the attempted murder.

“The longest period that he’s had in the community is 12 months,” Mr Kimmins said.

Justice Muir acknowledged Grace’s upbringing had been “traumatic, deprived”.

“ … But balanced against that, you have had considerable opportunities for rehabilitation and you have continued down the path of destruction and criminal offending.”

Grace now had the support of his partner, who attended court for his sentence, she said.

He was sentenced to 12 years jail for the attempted murder, with 1006 days in presentence custody declared time-served.

Originally published as Bullet lodged in man’s spine after ‘unprovoked’ shooting at Spring Hill 7-Eleven