A man, thirty-three (33) years of age, has been found guilty of his role in a gangland shooting that left a nine-year-old girl with a bullet lodged in her brain.
Javon Riley, helped the motorbike-riding gunman flee from the scene after he shot six times at the Evin Restaurant in Dalston, east London, on 29 May in 2024.
Prosecutors said the gang named Tottenham Turks had ordered the planned assassination of members of the rival gang, Hackney Turks, who were sitting outside at a table.
Sadly, the first bullet missed, hitting the child – who was inside enjoying ice cream with her family – straight into the head.
It was a “miracle” she survived and were just “millimetres” away from launching a murder investigation, Police said.
The girl, yet to be identified, was in the hospital for three (3) months, where she had her skull rebuilt with titanium, and has made a good recovery.
Unfortunately, she still carries the bullet lodged in her brain and is expected to suffer physical and cognitive difficulties for the remainder of her life.
“In a single moment, the future we had imagined for our daughter was torn away. She was once an energetic, adventurous child – everything that celebrated movement, energy, and life”, the girl’s mother said, via a statement.
She continued: “Now, weakness on her left side means she can only watch from the sidelines, living with a titanium plate in her skull and a bullet still in her brain.
“As parents, we are shattered – emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially. 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. This was not just an accident – even if our daughter was not the intended target, those responsible were still attempting to take lives, it is brutal and inhumane. We live with this pain every day, knowing nothing will ever be the same for our family.”
Photo: Javon Riley | Met Police
