A teenager was shot in Smethwick just over 15 minutes after rival groups clashed in a street disorder, with four men now admitting their involvement in the incident.
The 19-year-old victim suffered leg injuries after shots were fired on Bearwood Road at just after 1.30am on March 11. The weapon was discharged five times before the gunman fled in a Seat Leon, leaving the victim with injuries that were not life-threatening.
Disorder Preceded Shooting
The shooting took place shortly after disorder flared between two groups on nearby Shireland Road. Another group, armed with weapons, approached the Seat being driven by Haytham Almosuli, which contained passengers Jahmali Kirk and Darell Ayuketah.
The vehicle then drove off to collect an associate, Akobi Folarni, before heading to Bearwood Road. In the minutes between the disorder and the shooting, the two groups had been in contact via social media. Both Kirk and Ayuketah were on the phone with their victim minutes before he was shot.
Police Investigation and Arrests
Detectives established that all four were in the vehicle around the time the weapon was fired, though none of the occupants ever disclosed who actually pulled the trigger. Almosuli initially fled to Amsterdam following the shooting but was arrested less than a week later on his return to the UK. Officers identified, arrested, and charged the other accomplices over the following weeks.
All four men appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on Monday, October 5, where they admitted their involvement. Almosuli, 21, of Capthorn Road, Smethwick, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and causing grievous bodily harm, as well as fraud and theft matters.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing
Folarin, 24, of Stanhope Road, Smethwick; Ayuketah, 19, of Grainger Close, Tipton; and Kirk, 23, of Shireland Road, Smethwick, all admitted possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and causing grievous bodily harm. They have been remanded into custody ahead of sentencing next month.
DC Koshyar Shorish, from the Major Crime Unit at West Midlands Police, said: "This highlights the very real dangers of being armed with a gun, and on another day this could have been a fatal shooting. It appears the earlier disorder was the catalyst for the discharge, with the group driving off to arm themselves with a firearm and return to the area."
"Through CCTV and phone enquiries, we were able to pinpoint these four being in the car from which the gunman exited and fired. The gun was fired five times so there was intent to cause harm and potentially kill. All four were aware of what was going on, so had a role to play even if they didn't pull the trigger. They have quite rightly accepted responsibility and now face spending significant time behind bars," he added.
