Four jailed for conspiracy to shoot addresses

Four men have been jailed for conspiracy to shoot at addresses in Birmingham.

On 4th October 2024 Lesane Anishere went to a road in Alum Rock and discharged a firearm at a house. The shooting occurred in the middle of the day and the homeowners, including children, were inside and small children were playing in the street outside.

Weeks later, on 18th October, Faieq Ghazanfar organised via SnapChat for Anishere, Ali Riyan, Abdulaziz Jama, and Asfeya Gardi to shoot at an address in Poppy Grove, Alum Rock. He sent them a picture of the address to target and instructed them to shoot eight times and video record it. On their way to conduct the shooting, they were themselves shot at and Ali Riyan was killed. The four men have all been sentenced for their individual roles in a conspiracy.

In the separate murder case, Seraaj Ayub was convicted of the murder of Ali Riyan and is awaiting sentencing.

Ghazanfar, of Melfort Grove, Kings Heath, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. He was also sentenced for a separate matter of supplying firearms. The 21-year-old was jailed for 11 years and 10 months on Wednesday (17 June).

Anishere, of Porchester Drive, Newtown, was found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. The 19-year-old was jailed for 14 years on Tuesday.

Jama, of Hampton Road, Aston, pleaded guilty during the first day of his trial to conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. The 22-year-old was jailed for five years and eight months on Tuesday (16 June).

Gardi, of Bath Road, Walsall, pleaded guilty during the first day of his trial to conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. The 20-year-old was jailed for five years and eight months on Tuesday.

All four men were jailed at Birmingham Crown Court.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Poole, from our Major Crime Unit, said: "This was a lengthy and complicated investigation, which found that the quartet worked together in their individual roles to possess firearms with the intention to cause harm.

"However, on the night, their plan went wrong, when their fifth member was instead fatally killed.

"They were dangerous, carrying firearms and following great work from our detectives, we were able to piece together exactly what happened on that night and the events leading up to.

"The group will now be spending significant time behind bars."