A LITTLE girl, 7, was callously gunned down in a horror drive-by shooting as her family mourned at a funeral.
Four evil thugs opened fire outside St Alyosius Church in Euston, north London, as part of a rival gang revenge attack on January 14 2023.
LNPMourners were gunned down at a funeral service in north London on January 14 last year[/caption]
SWNSRingleader Tyrell La Croix celebrated after the horrific attack which left a girl, 7, in intensive care[/caption]
SWNSJordan Walters was sentenced to 13 years behind bars[/caption]
SWNSJashy Perch was put behind by bars for 20 years[/caption]
The sickos shot at the grieving crowd with a sawn-off shotgun, and hit an innocent seven-year-old girl.
A bullet tore through her lung, abdomen and groin, which put her in intensive care fighting for her life.
She asked me: ‘Mummy, why is this happening to me?’ For a seven-year-old girl to say that, to feel she had done something wrong, is heartbreaking
Victim’s mother
She now lives with the slug embedded near her heart after the heinous attack.
Her mum spoke at Kingston Crown Court today, as the four despicable gang members appeared for sentencing.
In a heartbreaking statement, she said: “My daughter used to be a happy and outgoing girl who loved princesses, singing, and dancing.
“But this incident has taken her innocence away from her.
“I will never forget a comment she said to me while we were in the hospital. It still pains me.
“She asked me: ‘Mummy, why is this happening to me?’ For a seven-year-old girl to say that, to feel she had done something wrong, is heartbreaking.
“I honestly thought I was going to lose my daughter.”
An adult woman also gunned down as the horror unfolded.
She spent four months in hospital and can no longer walk by herself.
The victim told the court in an emotional statement she has now “lost [her] physical and mental freedom” as well as the ability to be a hands on mum.
Five others including a girl, 11, were also injured when the shotgun rang out.
REVENGE ATTACK
Tyrell La Croix, 23, Alrico Nelson-Martin, 20, Jordan Walters, 24, and Jashy Perch, 20 were all convicted of conspiracy to wound with intent to cause serious bodily harm during a trial at Kingston Crown Court this February.
Nelson-Martin was also convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Meanwhile Perch was convicted of an additional charge of possession of an offensive weapon.
Gang leader La Croix showed no remorse as he celebrated their ‘revenge attack’ and shooting an innocent child, the court head.
These dangerous men brought unimaginable fear and horror to the streets of London
Detective Inspector Darren Jones
The victims were at the north London church to pay their respects after the deaths of Fresia Calderon, 50, and her daughter Sara Sanchez, 20.
They had both passed away of natural causes in a short period of time.
It is believed the four offenders were looking to seek vengeance on rival gang members at the funeral.
The twisted criminals pulled up to the service in a black Toyota and let bullets rain from the rear passenger window.
CCTV footage played in the trial showed mourners screaming and running for cover after shots were fired.
The Toyota then made off at speed, swerving into the wrong lane, overtaking a bus and bolting through a red light.
‘CAREFULLY PLANNED OPERATION’
Prosecutor Zoe Johnson KC told the court how the criminals had copied a licence plate of an identical car beforehand.
“The registered owner of Toyota KC19 KTA is a man who bought the vehicle in September 2022,” the prosecutor explained.
The man had been doing his regular shop at a supermarket when the gang had cloned his registration.
“This is a common tactic for those planning to commit a crime – to copy a number plate and use it on another vehicle,” Ms Johnson KC told the court
The effect of the shooting was catastrophic. You caused injury, panic, and mayhem. It is the highest category of harm
Judge Mark Bryant-Heron KC
“That reveals that this was a carefully planned operation.”
Met Police officers scoured around 2,000 hours of CCTV to find evidence the number plate had been copied.
During their investigation, cops also received a tip off that La Croix was involved in the shooting.
Phone data then linked him with the three other defendants as they’d been in frequent contact before the chilling ambush.
A gun was also found at Nelson-Martin’s home address, while Perch’s fingerprints were traced to the weapon.
DNA which could have come from Walters was also found on the firearm.
‘CATASTROPHIC’ SHOOTING
Appearing at Kingston Crown Court today, the four defendants were sentenced behind bars.
All dressed in dark tracksuits, the thugs remained emotionless as their victims were given justice.
“Leader” La Croix was caged for 26 years, made up of 21 years in custody and five on licence.
Nelson-Martin was sentenced to 14 years in a Young Offender Institution.
Meanwhile, Walters was jailed for 13 years.
Perch was put behind by bars for 20 years, which will include 16 years in a Young Offender Institution and four years on licence.
‘TRULY HORRIFIC’
Judge Mark Bryant-Heron KC said: “You went out celebrating what you thought was a successful show of strength against a rival gang.
“The truly horrific nature of this crime is that you were all prepared to shoot and maim innocent members of the public in order to continue a violent feud between two rival gangs.
“The effect of the shooting was catastrophic. You caused injury, panic, and mayhem. It is the highest category of harm.”
Commenting on the verdict, Detective Inspector Darren Jones, from the Specialist Crime Trident Investigation team, said: “These dangerous men brought unimaginable fear and horror to the streets of London.”
He branded the gang members “cowardly” and emphasised the extent of injury they caused will impact their victims “for the rest of their lives”.
SWNSAlrico Nelson-Martin was handed 14 years in a Young Offender Institution[/caption]
PAA bullet hit a seven-year-old girl, causing damage to her lung, abdomen and groin[/caption]
GettyAn adult woman was also struck down and is now unable to walk by herself[/caption]