Dark past of young woman shot in the back while helping someone move house comes to light as she fights for life in hospital and cops hunt for mystery man who fled the scene

The woman shot in the back while helping someone move home served time in jail for a string of criminal offences and had just faced court days before the incident.

Linley Anne Anyos, 33, was sitting in a blue Volkswagen Jetta outside a home on Trees Road in Tallebudgera, on the Gold Coast, when she was shot about 12pm on Wednesday.

Police believe the gunshot was fired from the backseat of the car, possibly by a man known to Ms Anyos. 

The search for the suspected gunman and weapon was ongoing as of Thursday night.

Detectives have not ruled out the possibility the shooting was an accident.

Ms Anyos remains at the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

It can now be revealed that Ms Anyos was previously caught up in another incident with a firearm.

She was arrested in August 2020, after a loaded gun was allegedly discovered in her car following a road rage incident in Carbrook in Brisbane’s south.

She was initially charged with a string of offences including endangering the safety of a person in a vehicle with intent, possessing a Schedule 1 dangerous drug in a quantity exceeding Schedule 3, possessing a Category D/H/R loaded short firearm in public, and breach of bail.

Prior to the incident, she was charged with supplying cocaine, the Courier Mail reported at the time.

A victim statement claimed they were ‘bumped (by a vehicle) with no headlights on’, a gun was discharged and Ms Anyos had exited a vehicle while holding a bat.

However, both the involvement of a bat and discharge of a gun were later refuted.

It was also later proven Ms Anyos was not behind the wheel of the car.

Ms Anyos was again arrested in January 2023 after she allegedly threw a syringe filled with gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) into a bush while fleeing police.

Her lawyer, Lisa Searing, told the court that after a difficult childhood, Ms Anyos had fallen in with the wrong crowd but was determined to turn her life around with an apprenticeship starting later that year.

‘Her grandparents adore her, her family adores her, but she’s had some issues,’ Ms Searing said, News Corp reported.

‘That’s led to her using drugs and mixing with mainly the wrong men, who have unfortunately had quite a negative impact on probably the last five years of her life.

‘She is normally someone who is held in high regard.’ 

Ms Anyos was sentenced to three months’ jail after she pleaded guilty to one count each of possessing dangerous drugs and and failing to appear.

She was also listed to front Southport Magistrates Court on Monday (January 6) on unknown charges.

On Thursday, she remained on life support in the ICU with her family keeping a bedside vigil, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Police and forensic officers remained at the crime scene on Thursday.

No arrests or charges have been laid and the firearm used is yet to be located by police. 

It’s understood Ms Anyos was among a group of people helping someone move out of the home at the time. 

‘My understanding is the car’s been parked in the same location for a couple of hours,’ Detective Inspector Mark Mooney told reporters on Wednesday.

‘We’ve engaged the homicide squad because the victim’s injuries are critical and we don’t know at this point in time whether she will survive or not.’ 

Prior to the shooting, dozens of people had attended the home to pick up free furniture advertised on Facebook Marketplace.

At least 10 people assisted police with their inquiries on Wednesday. 

‘Everyone’s been very compliant this point in time,’ Detective Inspector Mooney said.

‘There are eight to 10 people that have gone back to one of our stations to provide statements.

‘We’re also chasing people that were here prior to that, people that may have seen something or heard something or spoke to certain individuals while they were here, or had video or CCTV cameras.’

It’s understood another person was inside the Volkswagen Jetta at the time of the shooting.

‘Our forensic examination of the vehicle is still to be conducted,’ Inspector Mooney said. 

‘It would appear that the victim has been sitting in the passenger seat of the vehicle and has been shot through the seat.

‘My understanding is the car’s been parked in the same location for a couple of hours.

‘She arrived on scene with a couple of our witnesses who were assisting (people) move out.’

Police urged any witnesses who left the scene prior to officers’ arrival to come forward. 

‘We’d like to speak to anyone that was present to give us any information that we don’t yet have,’ Inspector Mooney said. 

‘It’s going to be a complex investigation.’

He stressed there was no ongoing threat to the public.

‘I don’t think there’s any need to alarm the community with this. At this point in time the exact occurrence of what’s happened (is) unknown to us. We obviously recommend that our community stay vigilant,’ Inspector Mooney said. 

Anyone with information, CTTV/dashcam footage or who visited the property in recent days is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers.