Timothy Simpson Arrested After Playing Duck Shooting Game at Carnival

In July 2026, 48-year-old Timothy Ronald Simpson, a member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang, attended a family festival in South Australia with his young daughter. He stepped up to a classic carnival sideshow and used an air rifle to shoot plastic ducks in hopes of winning her a prize. That simple act later landed him in serious legal trouble.

The Festival Incident

Simpson went to the Willunga Almond Blossom Festival on July 26. Footage later obtained by local media showed him loading and firing the air rifle at the duck-shooting game. Police alleged this breached a firearms prohibition order already in place against him. The order banned him from acquiring, possessing, or using any firearm-related equipment.

South Australia Police’s Crime Gangs Task Force investigated after learning about the incident. Officers arrested Simpson in Adelaide on August 21 and charged him with two offences: breaching the conditions of his firearms prohibition order and being unlawfully present at a shooting gallery.

Serious Potential Penalties

The firearms prohibition order charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison or a A$75,000 fine. The shooting gallery charge carries up to 10 years or a A$50,000 fine. Simpson appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court via video link. Already held on a parole warrant and classified as a serious firearms offender, he remained in custody.

Police issued a statement with the headline “Bikie attendance at local carnival, not all it’s quacked up to be,” highlighting the unusual circumstances of the case. The air rifle used in the carnival game still counted as firearm-related equipment under the strict order.

A Carnival Game Meets Strict Gun Laws

Carnival shooting galleries are a common family attraction across Australia. In this instance, however, Simpson’s existing legal restrictions turned an ordinary attempt to win a stuffed toy into criminal charges. The case has drawn attention for the contrast between a light-hearted sideshow activity and the heavy penalties attached to firearms prohibition orders.

Simpson’s lawyer did not seek bail at the initial court appearance. The matter continues through the courts, and the allegations have not yet been tested at trial. The story serves as a reminder of how far-reaching firearms bans can be for those already under prohibition orders in Australia.

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