Man released after shooting in the buttocks in a gym parking lot

An aspiring rugby league player who unintentionally shot a man in the buttocks during a ‘drugs deal gone wrong’ has been jailed for jail already served.

Thomas John Rae, 27, pleaded guilty in the Brisbane District Court on Friday to unlawful wounding, possession of a shortened firearm in public, possession of a firearm with its identification marking removed and unlawful possession of ammunition.

Rae also pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine and drug use when he was arrested and later to assaulting a fellow inmate while in custody.

Crown prosecutor Zachary Kaplan told Judge Ian Dearden that Rae was originally charged with attempted murder after shooting a man in the buttocks with a rifle at 2:20 a.m. on June 10, 2021, during a confrontation in a gym parking lot in Springwood, south of Brisbane. .

“There was no intention to hit (the victim), but the bullet broke through the skin,” he said.

Kaplan said the gun was found eight days later in a room rented at Sea World and Rae’s DNA was found on the trigger.

“The next day (Rae) was arrested. Police found a self-loading Glock pistol in his pants… the identification number on the pistol had been removed,” he said.

Kaplan said the man who shot Rae had never cooperated with police or answered questions about the incident.

Defense attorney James Godbolt said Rae had been in custody for more than three years and planned to start a new life on the highway with the support of his family, involving “work and useful activities” when he was released.

“He has been used by others for their own purposes and at his expense,” he said.