Four Men Sentenced to Over 100 Years for Wolverhampton Shooting
Four individuals have been handed prison sentences totaling more than a century after being found guilty of attempting to murder a man in Wolverhampton. The 45-year-old victim survived the attack in the Horseley Fields area and managed to attend hospital for treatment before being discharged.
Details of the Violent Incident
The incident occurred on the evening of September 18, 2024, around 11 pm. Earlier that night, the victim's grey Mercedes, parked outside a pub on Harp Street, had its tyres slashed, according to West Midlands Police. As he later left the pub, he was followed and chased by a group of men before being shot in the back on Minerva Street.
A black Mercedes was used to follow the chasing group and then drove them away from the scene. Investigators determined that two men traveled from Birmingham to Wolverhampton in this vehicle, meeting two other men at an industrial estate in the Bilston area.
Investigation and Convictions
Forensic phone analysis linked all four defendants—Richard Beckles, Cleon Johnson, Constantine Campbell, and Khyle Gayle—through numerous calls made between them. They were convicted at Wolverhampton Crown Court of attempted murder and possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Beckles, 44, of Wavertree Close, Telford; Johnson, 39, of Sparrows Forge Drive, Walsall; and Gayle, 31, of Faulkners Farm Drive, Birmingham, were each sentenced to 30 years in prison on February 12. Campbell, 52, of Puddlers Drive, Tipton, received a 27-year sentence. A fifth man, Michael Soledolu, was found not guilty of the charges.
Police Response and Community Impact
Lead investigator Det Insp Francis Nock from the Major Crime Unit commented on the case, stating, "Although their intended target survived this attack, shots being fired at someone in the street is a terrifying prospect for most people, and we will not tolerate this in our cities or towns."
He added, "The offenders tried to cover their tracks by using various vehicles and pick-up points, but we were able to piece together their movements, link their activity, and ultimately put together a case which has seen them convicted of attempted murder and rightly jailed for a very significant amount of time."
This case is part of Operation Target, an ongoing initiative by West Midlands Police to combat serious and organized crime through local intelligence, warrant executions, and targeted actions against offenders.
Authorities urge anyone with information related to such incidents to contact officers via Live Chat on the police website or by calling 101. Alternatively, individuals can reach out to Crimestoppers anonymously at 0800 55111.
