Men convicted after woman injured during Dudley shooting
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A group of men have been convicted after a woman was injured during a shooting in Dudley.
On 3 July last year, shots were fired from a grey Audi at an address on Priory Road just after 12.15am. A woman in her 20s was struck by a bullet which went through the front door.
She was taken to hospital with life-changing injuries.
As part of our investigation, officers reviewed hours of CCTV footage to track the movements of the Audi and any other vehicles used in the planning of the shooting.
Checks revealed the Audi was stolen from an address in Wednesbury in the early hours of 2 July.
It was then parked on a car park on Weavers Rise, Dudley.
At around 11.45pm on 2 July, the Audi was then driven from the car park to Priory Road where it drove past the address three times, before five shots were fired.
Following our enquiries, on 14 July we arrested Kile Straker, aged 35 and Ethan Colbourne, aged 23, after firearms officers stopped a vehicle in Oldbury associated with the shooting.
We then arrested Kieron Atkins, aged 27 in West Bromwich a few days later.
As part of our investigation into the theft of the Audi, three men, Stephen Simms, aged 24, Iranveer Gill, aged 28 and Kye Everitt, aged 25 were also arrested.
Following a four-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Straker of Armstrong Drive, Wolverhampton, Colbourne of Moat Road, Tipton and Atkins of Rydding Lane, West Bromwich were convicted of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Gill, of Bridgnorth Road, Shipley, was also convicted of theft of a motor vehicle.
Straker and Colbourne along with Simms of Alexandra Road pleaded guilty to theft of motor vehicle before the start of the trial.
They are due to be sentenced on 26 March.
Everitt of Daley Road, Wolverhampton pleaded guilty to theft of a motor vehicle at an earlier hearing and received a 12-month prison sentence.
Det Sgt Lucy Mooney, from our Major Crime Unit, said: “This investigation involved hours of reviewing CCTV footage to build up a picture of the people and cars involved.
“We discovered that previous owner of the stolen Audi was Straker. He kept the second key for the car and when he needed it, he arranged for it to be stolen.
“The group then used the car as part of the planned shooting. Five bullets were fired at the victim’s home – and one of those struck the woman in the pelvis. She now has life-changing injuries.
“This was a terrifying incident and hope the men spend many years behind bars.”
We work 24/7 to identify criminals involved in serious and organised crime and bring them to justice, under Operation Target.
Find out more here 👉 Operation Target | West Midlands Police