Men Plead Guilty to City Centre Shooting
Two men are awaiting a prison sentence after admitting their involvement in a shooting where a man was attacked while sitting in his car in Wolverhampton. Ethan Edwards and Ilir Hoxha, both 22, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Details of the Violent Attack
The incident occurred on 18 December last year at approximately 6:30pm. Armed police officers were dispatched to Westbourne Road following a report of a collision. Upon arrival, they discovered the driver of one vehicle, a man in his 30s, had sustained a gunshot wound to the upper leg. He was promptly taken to hospital for treatment.
An investigation by the Major Crime Unit revealed the events leading to the shooting. Prior to the collision, two men had arrived in a nearby alleyway. One of them entered the victim's car while it was parked outside a local shop. A shot was fired inside the vehicle before the assailant fled the scene.
The wounded victim managed to drive a short distance before colliding with another car, which prompted the emergency call to the police.
Investigation and Court Appearances
Detectives used CCTV footage and forensic analysis of mobile phone data to identify the perpetrators as Edwards and Hoxha. Following further enquiries, Edwards was arrested on 13 January and Hoxha was apprehended on 21 January.
Ethan Edwards, of Upper Villiers Street, Wolverhampton, entered his guilty plea at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Tuesday, 25 November. Ilir Hoxha, of no fixed address, had previously admitted to the same charges in October. Both men have been remanded in custody and are scheduled for sentencing on 30 January.
Det Insp Francis Nock from the Major Crime Unit stated: "These two men are now behind bars, and rightly so. Gun violence like this is wholly unacceptable and with the weapon being fired at their victim at such close range and in a confined space, the intent was clearly to do him real harm. Thankfully he has been able to make a recovery and both offenders have admitted being involved in the shooting which could so easily have proved even more serious."
