A driver involved in a gangland attack that injured a nine-year-old girl and three men outside a restaurant has been sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 34 years. Javon Riley, convicted at the Old Bailey, faced charges of attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm to the young girl, who sustained a life-altering injury from a stray bullet.
The incident, captured on a helmet camera by an off-duty police officer, showed the gunman firing shots on a busy street in Dalston, London. Riley, waiting as the getaway driver in a stolen car, facilitated the gunman’s escape after the shooting.
Despite claiming innocence and suggesting a different motive, Riley was found guilty of causing severe harm to the young girl and attempting to murder three men affiliated with organized crime groups in the area. The court revealed Riley’s ties to a rival gang involved in a long-standing feud with the victims’ group.
The gunman, still at large, was reported to have been aided significantly by Riley before and after the attack. The CCTV footage depicted the gunman’s calculated actions leading to the injury of the young girl and the other victims.
Following the verdict, the victim’s mother expressed the devastating impact of the incident, highlighting the permanent disabilities her daughter now faces. The ongoing investigation offers a reward for information on the whereabouts of the gunman, believed to reside in South London.
In sentencing Riley, Judge Mark Lucraft KC emphasized the dangerous gang rivalry that has resulted in a series of violent incidents over the years. The police urge the community to come forward with any pertinent information to bring the perpetrator to justice and prevent further harm.
