Car stolen from West Yorkshire used in shooting of 12-year-old boy

It happened on January 12 of this year, when a 12-year-old by was stood with his friends outside a sandwich shop in Northern Avenue in Arbourthorne.

The group had intended to go to the cinema but at about 3.45pm, the young victim was shot by people driving past in a white car Ford Focus.

The car, which was later found set on fire, had been stolen West Yorkshire in November 2019.

A gang member was found guilty of shooting the boy at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, September 21.

Stephen Dunford, 26, of Fellbrigg Road, was charged with attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

He was also found guilty of an additional count of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life in connection to a firearms discharge on January 10 on Northcote Avenue.

Another man, Brandon Bailey, 26, of Manor Park Way, was also found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life. He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of criminal property on 27 August.

A third man, Devon Gregory, 23, of Heeley Green, who was charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life, was found not guilty and acquitted of all charges.

Detective Chief Inspector Jade Brice, investigating, said: “This was an atrocious act, which resulted in the shooting of a young, innocent boy.

“The victim that day was not Dunford’s intended target, but the incident has had a profound impact on him and his family.

“CCTV footage from that afternoon shows a white car drive past the group and witnesses described shots being fired. The boys immediately ran away from the car, clearly terrified.

“One of the boys, 12 years of age at the time, was shot in the leg. He bravely managed to run home where his father, understandably traumatised, called emergency services to the scene.

“A second boy had a miraculous escape as one of the bullets struck the hood of his jacket, narrowly missing his neck and head.

‘’Later that night, officers were called to a vehicle fire on Clough Road. It was a white Ford Focus, the same car used in the shooting.

"Checks revealed the vehicle had been stolen from West Yorkshire in November 2019.”

DCI Brice added: “Dunford was arrested two days later and charged with attempted murder and associated firearms offences, despite claiming he had been at his grandparents’ for Sunday dinner on the afternoon of the shooting.

“Perhaps the most compelling evidence against Dunford was a confession, made whilst he was on remand.

“During a phone call from prison, Dunford recited a rap that he had written himself, containing lyrics about his involvement in the shooting, in which a ‘youth was hit by a stray’, a reference to a bullet.

“The phone call was recorded and after being shared on social media, was seized by officers investigating the incident.”

DCI Brice added: “Dunford is likely to now spend a significant period of time in prison and I know this will be a great relief to the Sheffield community and particularly the people of Arbourthorne.

“We could quite easily be talking about the death of a 12-year-old, thankfully that is not the case.

“Dunford’s actions sent shockwaves through a community who should not have to tolerate this type of behaviour on their streets.

“Bailey was found guilty of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life, after a firearm with his DNA on it, was recovered during the wider investigation.”

Dunford and Bailey will be sentenced on Friday, October 2.