A man has been found guilty over a gang shooting that left a nine-year-old girl with a bullet lodged in her brain in Hackney, London.
The girl – who cannot be named for legal reasons – became a victim of rivalry between two Turkish gangs after being hit in the head by one of six bullets.
The shots were fired by a man on a passing motorbike as the girl sat with her family at a restaurant on May 29 2024.
She spent three months in hospital and will suffer with life-long physical and cognitive problems as the bullet remains stuck in her brain.
Javon Riley, 33, from Tottenham, north London, was found guilty of causing grievous harm with intent after helping the gunman flee the scene.
Riley was also found guilty of attempting to murder Mustafa Kiziltan, 35, Kenan Aydogdu, 45 and Nasser Ali, 44.
The three men were said to be affiliated with the Hackney Turks organised crime gang, who had a rivalry with the Tottenham Turks, with whom Riley had links, the court heard.
He checked the restaurant before the attack, scouted for potential targets and drove the gunman away in a stolen car, which was later burnt out.
The injured girl’s mother described the shooting as “brutal and inhumane”.
“As parents, we are shattered, emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially,” she wrote in a statement.
“Each day brings new challenges, from her slower growth on one side to the emotional and mental scars that cannot be seen.
“The world we once believed was safe for our child now feels frightening and uncertain.
“We live with this pain every day, knowing nothing will ever be the same for our family.”
The jury at the Old Bailey deliberated for six hours and three minutes to convict Riley by a majority of ten to two.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC remanded Riley into custody to be sentenced on September 12.
He told him to expect a lengthy prison sentence, saying: “You have clearly taken part in a shooting which has led to four people being injured, one of them particularly seriously.”
Riley’s connection with the Tottenham Turks gang was revealed in covert police recordings in the months after the shooting.
During the three-week trial, Riley was repeatedly asked to identify the “third party” who had recruited him for around £40,000.
He refused to name the man or help to identify the gunman, claiming he feared for his life at that of his family.
Detective Inspector Ben Dalloway, who led the investigation, said: “Javon Riley’s actions traumatically altered the trajectory of a little girl’s life. While this outcome serves as a slither of justice, the dangerous individual responsible for pulling the trigger remains on our streets.”
“Those who ordered this shooting are a highly sophisticated criminal organisation. We understand that people may be worried about talking to us because of this, but it is imperative we hear from anyone who can assist this investigation.”
“Justice must be secured for this little girl and her family.”
Scotland Yard has offered a reward of up to £15,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest of and prosecution the man who fired the weapon.
Follow STV News on WhatsApp
Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
