Two men have been sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for a shocking shooting in Wolverhampton, where a drug dealer was blasted while sitting in his car. Ilir Hoxha, 23, pulled the trigger of a self-loading pistol, firing at Mohammed Jamil after sneaking into his parked vehicle. Accomplice Ethan Edwards, 22, waited nearby for Hoxha, who had plotted to rob the victim of his drugs stash to 'start a new line'.
The Incident
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that Jamil stopped for a drink and parked near shops on Birchwood Road just after 6.20pm on December 18, 2024. Prosecutor Earl Pinnock said Hoxha approached the driver's door and demanded entry. When Jamil refused, Hoxha moved to the passenger side, opened the unlocked door, and climbed inside. He then 'searched around the centre console area' while pointing a gun at the victim, threatening to 'kill or do him in'.
Jamil, in his 30s, tried to fight back and disarm Hoxha but was struck in the face, causing a bruise or scratch on his nose. He offered his wallet, believing Hoxha was after money, but Hoxha shot him. Jamil screamed in pain from a leg wound and beeped the horn before fleeing the car. Hoxha left soon after. Jamil quickly returned as the vehicle began rolling backwards.
Police found Jamil with wounds to his left thigh and near his genitals, with a bullet fragment lodged near his genitals and bottom. The firearm has never been recovered.
Planning and Aftermath
CCTV footage showed Hoxha and Edwards in an alleyway about an hour before the shooting. While Hoxha was in Jamil's car, Edwards tried to call him. After the shooting, Hoxha ran directly to where Edwards was waiting, and both left the area. Hoxha later sent messages asking for a passport, claiming he had shot someone three times and 'put a Pakistani man in a coma'. He also shared a news report of the shooting.
Hoxha fled to Wiltshire but returned to the West Midlands on January 9, 2025. He stayed at a Premier Inn in West Bromwich, where he contacted Edwards, who was arrested on January 13. While Edwards was in custody, Hoxha repeatedly tried to contact him. Jamil identified Hoxha as the shooter, leading to his arrest at a hotel in Cirencester on January 20.
The court heard Hoxha had previously dealt drugs in Swindon but moved as 'things were getting risky there'. He 'habitually robbed people of their drugs'. Police found 'media showing guns' on Edwards' phone and messages indicating his involvement in drug supply. When asked if he was 'active', Edwards replied: 'No bro. Madness done. Staying low for a bit.'
Victim's Conviction
Two days after the shooting, police searched Jamil's car and found 112g of heroin worth up to £3,500. No one claimed ownership, but Jamil was later jailed for class A drug offenses. Judge Simon Ward noted that Jamil was a drug dealer at the time of the shooting.
Sentencing
Both defendants admitted wounding with intent and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Hoxha had a previous suspended sentence for handling stolen goods, while Edwards had a referral order for a knife and a detention for drug possession. Judge Ward described the attack as 'planned' and intended to take over Jamil's drug business. He noted the 'high risk of death' due to the proximity of the bullet to the femoral artery. Hoxha, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 12 years and 11 months. Edwards, of Upper Villiers Street, Wolverhampton, received 11 years and two months on May 1. Hoxha refused to attend court, so a video link from HMP Brinsford was used.
