Gang jailed for shooting that left boy paralysed
THREE members of a lawless Birmingham gang shot a 13-year-old boy in the back while “on armed patrol” – because he crossed into their territory.
The victim, who thought he was going to die, was left paralysed after one of the pellets went through his spinal cord.
The gunman, Tafique Thomas, 17, who can now be named, of Musgrove Road, Winson Green, Zidann Edwards, 20, of Ford Street, Hockley, Diago Anderson, 20, of no fixed address, had all denied attempted murder but were found guilty following a trial in August. Thomas was also convicted of possessing a prohibited firearm.
Mr Justice Hilliard lifted an order that had previously protected the identity of Thomas, who is 10 days short of his 18th birthday, saying it was in the public interest to do so and the case involved a gang which was of “great public concern.”
Thomas was sentenced to detention for life and he must serve a minimum of 16 years and eight months.
Both Edwards and Anderson were sentenced to custody for life.
Edwards, who had also previously pleaded guilty to possessing a knife, was ordered to serve a minimum term of 17 years.
Anderson, who had also admitted possessing a knife, burglary and possessing cannabis with intent to supply, must serve a minimum of 18 years and four months.
The victim was attacked just before 7pm on November 18 last year when he and his friends were walking near to Hockley Circus and had strayed on to the territory of the Armed Response gang.
They were spotted by gang members who drove at speed before pulling up near them in a stolen Nissan. Five occupants, including the defendants, got out of the vehicle.
Michael Duck KC, prosecuting, said the gang were based on the West side of the A41 and demonstrated their affiliation by wearing certain colours and making drill music rap videos.
Three of the victim’s group ran down the Hockley underpass while the victim was shot as he desperately sought to escape up a grass bank.
Mr Duck said the victim had been shot by Thomas with a homemade shotgun, known as a slam gun, and one of the pellets had passed through his spinal cord, leaving him a paraplegic.
He said that four days after the shooting an address associated with the 17-year-old defendant was searched and police found in the back garden two components of a slam gun and a pistol.
A day after that, Edwards made a rap video expressing his regret that he had failed to kill the boy.
In passing sentence the judge said of the victim: “His life will never be the same. It does not bear thinking about.
“The courage and fortitude he has shown has been considerable.”
He said the motive for the attack may have been because one of the group the victim was with had his face partially covered or that one of them may have been mistaken for a rival gang member. The judge said they could have been targeted because they were from outside the area.
He went on: “I am satisfied that each of the three defendants were aligned to the Armed Response gang and that lay behind what had happened. It involved five men driving around Birmingham on patrol.
“They were prepared to use a firearm if the opportunity arose. The three young men crossed a notorious line between different gang territories.
“This can only be described as lawlessness of an extreme order and to a terrifying degree.
“The motivation for it was to make a statement and send a message about the rigour in which gang territory would be policed.”
Mark Gatley KC, for Anderson, said he had been unaware of the victim’s age and that he was not personally in possession of a weapon.
Claire Davies KC, for Thomas, said that he had only one previous conviction, for possessing a knife. Ahmed Hossain KC, representing Edwards, said he had abeen diagnosed with ADHD.