Three men jailed for murder in 'brutal' drive-by shooting in Walsall
Three men will spend at least 29 years in jail after a 20-year-old man was shot dead in a revenge killing.
Connor Brookes and a friend were targeted in a drive-by shooting while sat in a parked van in Walsall in last July.
A stolen black Ford Focus pulled up beside them and six seconds later, a gunman at the back fired a shotgun once at them.
Mr Brookes, who was in the driver's seat was killed. His friend in the passenger seat was hit in the left shoulder.
Jake Sanbrook, 22, Byron Sellick, 20, and Julian Falconer, 20, have all been senteced to life, with a minimum of 29 years.
The trio were said by police to have carried out the attack after their friend Bailey Atkinson was stabbed to death in Walsall in 2023.
Mr Brookes' brother was among those convicted of their friend's murder.
Police said 15 minutes before Mr Brookes' murder on Well Lane, they had fired towards another car less than two miles away. Officer believe this was also an attempted revenge attack.
After the attack, the Focus, driven by Sanbrook, sped off at nearly 50mph. The murder weapon was dumped in a bin bag in Wyrley Lane, Staffordshire.
Connor's family said in April, when the men were found guilty: "Connor was an incredibly kind and caring person, someone who was always there for us.
"His loss at such a young age is devastating, for all of us who loved him. This has been a heart-breaking journey for our family, and it's a loss we will carry with us forever. This violence has to end before more lives are ruined.'
Det Insp Michelle Cordell, from West Midlands Police, said: "Connor's murder has had a devastating impact on all who knew and loved him, especially his family. His friend survived the attack, but I have no doubt that the trauma he experienced that day will live with him for the rest of his life.
'The brutal and cold-hearted actions of this group in broad daylight were intentional, cruel, cowardly and unjustified. We may never know who fired the gun, but the jury's verdicts show that they were acting with a common purpose that day.
"Nothing can bring Connor back, but I hope that today's verdicts provide some comfort to both families as they try to heal and rebuild their lives."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
a day ago
- South Wales Argus
Blackwood burglar stole watch of sentimental value
Intruder Rhys Colyer, aged 33, from Blackwood broke into a house in the Llanbradach area of Caerphilly, prosecutor Matthew Comer told Newport Crown Court. The homeowner was alerted about the burglary on his mobile phone via the Ring doorbell and CCTV cameras he had installed at his property. The complainant was on the last day of his holiday and had just proposed when the break-in occurred. In a victim impact statement he revealed his devastation at losing the priceless watch and St Christopher necklace. They had been passed down to him from his late father and grandfather. 'This has had a catastrophic effect on me,' he said. 'Some of the items were of sentimental value and can never be replaced.' Footage of the break-in was released on social media and Colyer was recognised by his probation officer and a detective. The defendant handed himself in at Blackwood police station. Colyer, of no fixed abode, admitted burglary on March 10 and asked for a burglary and theft of a Ford Focus car to be taken into consideration. He has 15 previous convictions for 39 offences, including nine for dwelling burglaries. Sophie Jones for Colyer said: 'His best mitigation is his guilty plea and he's ashamed of his actions. Alcohol is his demon.' Judge Celia Hughes told Colyer: 'It's clear that this has been very distressing for the victim. 'Items of great sentimental value were lost forever. 'You have a terrible record of convictions as a burglar.' She added: 'You took these items without any thought for anyone but yourself.' The defendant was jailed for 32 months and told he would serve half of his sentence in custody before being released on licence. He will also have to pay a statutory victim surcharge.
ITV News
a day ago
- ITV News
Three men jailed for murder in 'brutal' drive-by shooting in Walsall
Three men will spend at least 29 years in jail after a 20-year-old man was shot dead in a revenge killing. Connor Brookes and a friend were targeted in a drive-by shooting while sat in a parked van in Walsall in last July. A stolen black Ford Focus pulled up beside them and six seconds later, a gunman at the back fired a shotgun once at them. Mr Brookes, who was in the driver's seat was killed. His friend in the passenger seat was hit in the left shoulder. Jake Sanbrook, 22, Byron Sellick, 20, and Julian Falconer, 20, have all been senteced to life, with a minimum of 29 years. The trio were said by police to have carried out the attack after their friend Bailey Atkinson was stabbed to death in Walsall in 2023. Mr Brookes' brother was among those convicted of their friend's murder. Police said 15 minutes before Mr Brookes' murder on Well Lane, they had fired towards another car less than two miles away. Officer believe this was also an attempted revenge attack. After the attack, the Focus, driven by Sanbrook, sped off at nearly 50mph. The murder weapon was dumped in a bin bag in Wyrley Lane, Staffordshire. Connor's family said in April, when the men were found guilty: "Connor was an incredibly kind and caring person, someone who was always there for us. "His loss at such a young age is devastating, for all of us who loved him. This has been a heart-breaking journey for our family, and it's a loss we will carry with us forever. This violence has to end before more lives are ruined.' Det Insp Michelle Cordell, from West Midlands Police, said: "Connor's murder has had a devastating impact on all who knew and loved him, especially his family. His friend survived the attack, but I have no doubt that the trauma he experienced that day will live with him for the rest of his life. 'The brutal and cold-hearted actions of this group in broad daylight were intentional, cruel, cowardly and unjustified. We may never know who fired the gun, but the jury's verdicts show that they were acting with a common purpose that day. "Nothing can bring Connor back, but I hope that today's verdicts provide some comfort to both families as they try to heal and rebuild their lives."
BBC News
a day ago
- BBC News
Wolverhampton library's windows smashed by vandals, police say
A library in Wolverhampton which is nearly 100 years old has been targeted by vandals, police Midlands Police said severals windows at the Low Hill Library in Kempthorne Avenue, which opened in 1930, were smashed over the past few weeks.A force spokesperson said they have put on extra patrols in the area to try to reassure people who use the building and to try to stop further with information about the vandalism and who might be behind it, was asked to contact the force. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
