Kai Smith, 19, of Villiers Close, has been handed a six-year term in a Young Offenders’ Institute for the role he played in the attempted murder of a man in Castledale Croft in 2021.
Smith, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, pleaded guilty to a number of firearms offences at Grimsby Crown Court yesterday morning (Monday 28 March). He reappeared for sentencing today (Tuesday 29 March).
Two other men, Connor Hadi and Bradley Jenkins, were found guilty of attempted murder last year and are currently serving substantial sentences behind bars, equating to 54 years in total.
On the evening of 6 January 2021, police were called to reports that shots had been fired at a number of people who had been stood on Castledale Croft, a residential street in the heart of the Manor. The target was a 23-year-old man, but his mother was the first victim, with bullets hitting her shoulder, face and head. She was left in need of hospital treatment.
Events leading up to the incident began with an argument between Hadi and Jenkins and the 23-year-old man on Hastillar Road South. A short time later, at around 7.46pm, shots were fired into the group of people on Castledale Croft.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Superintendent Paul Murphy, explained Smith’s involvement. He said: “Hadi and Jenkins drove to Castledale Croft in a stolen black Nissan Qashqai, which had false number plates.
“Shots were fired recklessly at the group of people, which included the 23-year-old man they’d argued with earlier on. A number of members of the public were in the area as the shooting took place.
“Smith was present with the pair while this occurred. The three then fled the scene, abandoning their vehicle and running towards Prince of Wales Road.
“An unarmed police officer attending an unrelated incident heard the shots, saw the vehicle being abandoned and called for resources to be deployed.”
Hadi, Jenkins and Smith were pursued in another vehicle by their rivals, who confronted them shortly afterwards.
At this point more shots were fired and the 23-year-old man was injured.
DCI Murphy added: “Smith’s sentence brings the total terms for this shooting to 60 years, which is a great result for the Armed Crime Team here at South Yorkshire Police. This means that three dangerous individuals are off the streets for a substantial amount of time.
“All too often gang violence and rivalry spills in to the streets of our county and we are working tirelessly to put a stop to it. We are doing all we can to work with our communities and rid the city of organised criminals.”
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