Drive-by shooter targeted man walking in Wood End

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A drive-by shooter targeted a man walking in Wood End, Coventry, in the middle of the night.



Police were called to Milverton Road at 1.30am on Wednesday to reports that a man was being shot at from a car.

Fortunately the shooter missed his intended target - who wasn’t hurt as a result - and sped away from the scene.

Police say that the shooter and target are believed to be known to each other.

The vehicle used in the attack was dumped in nearby Foxes Walk later in the evening.

The shooting is the latest in a series of firearms incidents in Coventry over the last few months.

Anyone with information about the Wood End shooting is asked to call Coventry Police on 101.

Alternatively if you don’t want to speak to police directly call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

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Gunman who fired pistol at man in Wood End street jailed for 16 years

Following an incident in the street near his girlfriend’s home, a Coventry man armed himself with a 9mm pistol and fired it at another man from his car.

Ejemai George and co-defendant Lackston Powell had both pleaded not guilty at Warwick Crown Court to possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.

But the jury, which cleared Powell of the charge, found George guilty by a majority of 11-1, and also convicted him of possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

George, aged 22, of Lapworth Road, Wood End, was jailed for 16 years by Judge Andrew Lockhart QC.

Powell, aged 41, of Sadler Road, Radford, was jailed for 30 months after he had admitted other charges of affray and possessing an offensive weapon.

Prosecutor Tariq Shakoor said that on July 15 last year Alam Kamal and Shamina Hussain came to Coventry from London to visit a woman with whom Mr Kamal had been in a relationship – and who had also been in a relationship with Powell which had ended earlier that day.

Mr Kamal, Mr Hussain, the woman and her sister went for a meal before returning to her sister’s home in Milverton Road, Wood End.

Shortly afterwards Powell turned up, shouting her name and sounding aggressive.

The door was opened and there was “a minor physical confrontation” between him and Mr Kamal.

Powell returned with a knife but after one of the women made a 999 call he left, but then returned with George who had been at his girlfriend’s home next door.

Mr Kamal armed himself with a knife and a metal pole and, along with Mr Hussain, chased the two defendants away.

George got into a car and drove back into Milverton Road and pulled up alongside Mr Kamal as he was making his way back.

Mr Shakoor said: “Ejemai George, having pulled up, points the firearm at Alam Kamal through the driver’s door window. Alam Kamal sees it and fears for his life, and the weapon is then fired.

“He takes a dive to avoid the bullet, and gets quickly to his feet and makes a run for it, running round the corner out of sight and hiding in gardens of nearby houses.”

Mr Kamal, who believed two shots were fired as he ran for his life, then made a 999 call from his hiding place.

Meanwhile, George drove off towards Mr Hussain, who was still out in the street.

Mr Shakoor said: “Ejemai George stops again and points the firearm at Mr Hussain, who shouts out ‘no, no,’ before running off. He does not discharge the firearm on that occasion, but drives away at speed.”

Discussing sentencing guidelines before jailing the two men, Judge Lockhart commented that George could have been charged with attempted murder.

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Thug who shot at man in Coventry street loses appeal against 16-year sentence



A gun-toting thug who shot at a man in a Coventry street can have no quarrel with his “tough” 16-year sentence, an appeal court has ruled.

Ejemai George brandished an automatic nine-millimetre pistol at two men in Milverton Road, Wood End in July 2014.

He fired off two rounds after a violent “late-night altercation”, London’s Appeal Court heard.

George, aged 22, of Tyes Court, Northampton, was jailed at Warwick Crown Court after he was convicted of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and cause fear of violence.

He challenged the 16 year sentence on Friday, claiming it was far too harsh in light of his youth and previous good character.

But Mrs Justice Thirlwall threw out his complaints, ruling that his sentence was “severe but not excessive”.

The shots were fired in the early hours in July 2014, said the judge, after George got “needlessly involved” in a row with other men as he drove his girlfriend home.

George was angry that a violent row was taking place outside his girlfriend’s home, the court heard, but was chased away when he protested.

He was caught up in the fracas although he had “nothing to do with the incident”, the court heard.

George drove away from the scene - only to return soon a short while later armed with a self-loading pistol.

He drove past the group with the gun outside the window, cocking the pistol as he pointed it at one of the men.

The man dived to the ground as two shots were fired by George. He then drove on and pointed the weapon at another man, “hurling abuse at him”.

He seemed about to open fire, said Mrs Justice Thirlwall, but sped off after women in the street screamed at him to stop.

“Nobody was injured,” the judge added.

George’s lawyers argued he was too young for such a long sentence and that there was no proof that he shot “live” bullets.

“We don’t think there’s any argument on these two points,” said the appeal judge, who was sitting with Lord Justice Elias and Judge James Burbidge QC.

George’s crime was “clearly pre-meditated” and his punishment was fully deserved, she ruled, dismissing the appeal.