Kaleb Bell, 27, was originally charged with attempted murder following the double shooting in a central Dunedin street, but later pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.
He was jailed for two years three months when he appeared before the High Court at Dunedin in February last year, but was recently granted parole with eight months remaining on his sentence.
In the coming weeks, Bell will be transported to Auckland to live with supporters, who were described by panel convener Judge Michael Crosbie as "a positive force in his life".
The Otago Corrections Facility inmate had previously been on electronically monitored bail at the address without issue.
"He complied with the house rules and did what he was told. There were no hiccups," Judge Crosbie said.
On March 10, 2023, Bell arranged to buy cannabis from the victim, but the transaction was far from straightforward.
When he arrived at the location, people in the victim’s car pulled out a sawn-off shotgun.
As they drove off, Bell was able to grab the firearm and gave chase in his mother’s BMW.
He caught up with the group at traffic lights in Thomas Burns St.
Less than a metre from the victim, he aimed the shotgun and fired.
Most of the pellets penetrated the door frame above the man’s head, leaving a hole 7cm in circumference.
One pellet hit the victim in the forehead, causing minor damage.
"Had the shot been a few inches lower, the victim would have been shot directly in the head," court documents said.
Bell travelled drove to the St Andrew St extension and performed a U-turn to face the victim’s vehicle again as it negotiated the roundabout.
The defendant rested the weapon on the BMW’s window frame and fired again, shattering a window of the other vehicle.
Bell told Probation the stand-over had cost him $20,000 and he had taken such drastic action to maintain his "street cred".
"A theme of the offending appears to be a combination of drug use, addiction and youth," the Parole Board noted.
Bell had completed a substance-abuse programme while locked up, as well as group counselling.
Judge Crosbie said the restrictive conditions of parole combined with strong family support meant he could be safely released.
"Mr Bell is under no illusions that he could be recalled for any breach and that such a recall would be instant," he said.
Among his parole conditions were:
■To abide by a 9pm-5am curfew at an Auckland address.
■To submit to electronic monitoring.
■Not to use alcohol or illicit drugs.
■To attend any programmes as directed.
■Not to contact victims.
■To attend a monitoring hearing in November.
■To notify Probation of any changes in employment.
