Four gangsters have been jailed for 73 years after putting a seven-year-old girl in intensive care during a drive-by shooting outside a church in London. The young girl suffered serious injuries, including wounds to her lung, abdomen, and groin, with a shotgun pellet still near her heart. This incident, believed to be gang-related, left a woman unable to walk independently after four months in the hospital. The shooting injured a total of four women and two children, who were attending a memorial service at St Alyosius Church in Euston.
Ringleader Tyrell La Croix, sentenced to 26 years, celebrated the gang’s show of strength following the revenge attack that targeted rival gang members present at the memorial service. Other gang members involved in the shooting included Alrico Nelson-Martin, Jordan Walters, and Jashy Perch, who were all convicted of conspiracy to wound with intent to cause serious bodily harm. Victim impact statements shared in court described the profound trauma experienced by the seven-year-old girl and her mother, who was devastated by her daughter’s suffering and innocence being taken away.
The gunmen fired a sawn-off shotgun at the crowd outside the church while mourners watched doves being released from the steps. The attack was planned to maximize impact and injury, with the criminals going to great lengths to cover their tracks. The court heard accounts of the victims’ physical and emotional suffering, highlighting the long-lasting impact of the shooting on their lives. Detective Inspector Darren Jones from the Met Police emphasized the dangerous nature of the offenders and the impact of their actions on innocent victims.
The defendants were found guilty of various charges related to the shooting, with Nelson-Martin also convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and Perch convicted of possession of an offensive weapon. Judge Mark Bryant-Heron condemned the planning and execution of the attack, attributing a high level of harm to the violent and malicious actions of the gang members. The defendants remained largely emotionless during sentencing, indicating a lack of remorse for their actions that caused harm, panic, and mayhem to innocent members of the public.
The case involved extensive investigation, including trawling through thousands of hours of CCTV footage and following leads to link the perpetrators to the crime. The discovery of a cloned number plate used in the shooting revealed a carefully planned operation to evade detection and accountability. The involvement of the defendants in the shooting was corroborated by phone data, fingerprints on the gun, and DNA evidence, linking them to the violent attack outside the church.
Among the victims, a mother shared how the incident had shattered her sense of freedom and safety, leaving her unable to walk independently and care for her children. The devastating impact of the shooting was further highlighted by the emotional accounts of those present during the attack and its aftermath. The prosecution emphasized the relentless efforts to identify and bring the dangerous offenders to justice, demonstrating a commitment to protecting communities from such violent and callous crimes. The sentencing of the gang members serves as a warning against the grave consequences of engaging in gang-related violence and putting innocent lives at risk.
