Birmingham Schoolgirl Shot in Head During Gang Attack in London Restaurant
A nine-year-old Birmingham schoolgirl was shot in the head as she ate ice cream in a London restaurant, becoming an innocent victim of brutal gangland wars unfolding on UK streets. Her family has expressed that her life was destroyed in a "fraction of a second" when a bullet lodged in her brain during a drive-by shooting in Dalston, London, in May 2024.
Innocent Victim of Planned Gang Hit
According to ITV News London, the girl was in a bustling restaurant when a gunman on a motorbike fired six bullets during a gang dispute. The intended targets were three men, but the stray bullet struck the young girl, who was visiting London with her family. The bullet remains embedded in her brain, and she now has a titanium plate in her skull, leaving her with severe, life-altering injuries.
Her family told the broadcaster they feel they have "lost" their "energetic and capable" child, who now "doesn't know how to live." The father stated, "It has just shattered our life and we can never join it back the way it was before. It was just a gang war for them. I don't know what benefit they are getting out of all of this but it is destroying people's lives in a fraction of second."
Justice Served for Orchestrator, Gunman Still at Large
Javon Riley, 33, of Tottenham, north London, was jailed for life with a minimum term of 34 years in September 2025 for orchestrating the attack. He was convicted at the Old Bailey of the attempted murder of the three men and causing grievous bodily harm to the girl. The Metropolitan Police revealed that Riley organized for a gunman to pull up outside the restaurant on a stolen Ducati Monster and open fire.
However, the actual gunman has never been found. The family emphasized the importance of justice, saying, "If the cops can bring him and give us justice, that's good so it won't happen to any other people. But personally, we lost our child and she's not coming back... everyone [forgets] our old child was energetic, capable to do anything..." They added that while justice is important, their primary concern is their daughter's future, questioning, "What will happen to her future? What will happen to her if anything happened to us? She doesn't know how to live because of her brain."
Gang Rivalry and Detailed Planning
ITV reported that the injured men were affiliated with the Hackney Turks gang, which had a rivalry with the Tottenham Turks, to whom Riley was linked. Detectives discovered that Riley meticulously planned the attack over several days, scoping the area from a bar opposite the restaurant while drinking pina coladas and studying traffic flow to calculate the best approach for the gunman.
On the evening of the shooting, Riley drove past the restaurant multiple times in a stolen car to confirm the targets were present. After the attack, he assisted the gunman in escaping and disposed of the weapon. A £15,000 reward was offered for information leading to the shooter's identification, arrest, and prosecution.
Police Appeal for Information
Following Riley's sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the investigation, stated, "Riley will face the consequences of his actions behind bars. Actions that traumatically derailed the life of a little girl. While this outcome is a reminder that justice can be served, it will never undo the suffering caused to her or her family."
She urged the public to come forward, saying, "The dangerous man responsible for pulling the trigger is walking free, and it is imperative we find him. People out there know what happened and are choosing to stay quiet. We understand that you may be worried about talking to us, but it is vital we hear from anyone who can assist this investigation. Please reconsider your decision to stay silent and share what you know. Anything you say will be treated with the utmost care and confidentiality and you will be playing a huge part in securing justice for a young girl and her family."
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Metropolitan Police on 101, quoting reference 8082/29MAY24 or 01/402921/24, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
