THREE men have been sentenced for their part in a shooting in Redditch, where one of the bullets hit a child’s car seat, around a dispute over drugs supply.
They appeared at Worcester Crown Court for sentencing following an 11-week trial last year.
Deago Martin 22, of Staffordshire Pool Close in Birmingham was found guilty of attempting to cause GBH with intent and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
In passing a sentence of 16 years for possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and a further nine years to run concurrently for the attempted GBH, the Judge classed Martin as a dangerous offender and imposed a life sentence, to serve a minimum of ten years and six months.
Keelan Brookes, 21, of Ratcliffe Avenue in Birmingham was found guilty of attempting to cause GBH with intent, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and being concerned in the supply of cannabis. He received 14 years.
Kaine Simmonds, 26, of Club View in Birmingham was found guilty of being concerned in the supply of heroin, concerned in the supply of crack cocaine, being concerned in the supply of cocaine and assisting an offender. He received seven years and eight months.
At around 1:15pm on Tuesday March 26 2024, police were called to Ombersley Close in Redditch following reports of gun shots being heard.
An investigation was launched by West Mercia Police, and it was quickly established that the two men involved were Deago Martin and Keelan Brookes.
During the trial, the court heard how Keelan Brookes was approached by Deago Martin and, following an exchange of words, both men produced a firearm. Brookes discharged his gun in the direction of Martin, to which Martin returned fire.
Three shots were exchanged over an occupied car, and bullets penetrated the rear of the vehicle and hit an unoccupied child seat. Thankfully, the two people in the car were not injured.
The investigation established the shooting stemmed from a turf dispute between two rival drug gangs who were operating in Redditch.
Deago Martin ran the Captain line which supplied drugs into Redditch from Birmingham.
Keelan Brookes was part of the Frank line, which also sourced drugs from Birmingham, and was attempting to encroach on the Captain line territory.
Tensions escalated between the two drug gangs which resulted in Martin and Brookes meeting in Ombersley Close and exchanging gun shots at each other.
Both men left the area with Martin discarding his clothing and Brookes being assisted by a network of associates who provided him transport and temporary accommodation to help him avoid being found by the police.
The court heard how Martin and Brookes showed no empathy for what they had done and following their mobiles phones being seized, footage was shown of members of the Frank Line continuing to live a lifestyle which was funded by the sale of drugs.
In December last year three other people were sentenced for their part in the shooting and drug supply:.
Det Ch Insp Ben Arrowsmith said: “It is important to remember the complete disregard Martin and Brookes showed when they discharged firearms without any thought for the potential danger of their actions and the devastation it could have caused.
“I would like to commend the team who worked tirelessly to bring those responsible to justice and their work has exposed two drug lines that supplied drugs into Redditch.
“We know that organised gangs, like the Captain and Frank lines, target and exploit vulnerable people within our communities and the sentencing today will help towards protecting those at risk.”
