18-year-old Canberra man charged with shooting up car

Brendon Henry Rankin was arrested and charged on Friday with possessing a prohibited firearm after he and a second man were allegedly found in a vehicle in Bonython with a single-shot, bolt-action .22 calibre rifle.

Mr Rankin was also charged with using a .22 calibre rifle to intentionally damage a maroon Mazda, and discharging a rifle, after incidents in Richardson on October 21.

A prosecutor opposed bail on Saturday on the grounds that the defendant was a flight risk and would interfere with witnesses.

She told the ACT Magistrates Court the defendant had contacted the owner of the Mazda and allegedly threatened him for making a statement. The owner had now left the ACT.

The defendant had also previously provided two incorrect residential addresses to police and breached bail twice this year, she told the court.

The prosecutor said the police case linking the defendant to the Richardson shootings was "largely circumstantial" but strong.

A duty defence lawyer said the defendant was now able to reside with his father and had intended to live at the two addresses he had earlier provided, belonging to friends, before the friends' families expressed disapproval.

"There is no record of him destroying evidence or interfering with witnesses," the defence lawyer said.

Magistrate Bernadette Boss said there appeared to be an "escalating pattern of offending" and the defendant had either given addresses he had not lived at or failed to update correct addresses. Combined with the alleged threat to the vehicle owner, Ms Boss said there was a likelihood the defendant would not appear in court if released and would interfere with evidence, particularly the vehicle owner.

The matter was adjourned until Monday, November 23.

The other man allegedly found in the car on Friday, Nathan Stretton, 20, was charged with possessing a prohibited firearm and did not apply for bail, with his matter also listed for November 23.

Neither man entered pleas.