Life Behind Bars for Gunman in Shocking Birmingham Wake Shooting
A drive-by shooting at a memorial wake in Birmingham has shocked the community and ended with a life sentence for the attacker. The gunman targeted mourners remembering a teenage knife crime victim, leaving four injured—including a 14-year-old girl.
Memorial Wake Turns Deadly
On February 24, 2023, friends and family gathered at St Mary’s Church Hall in Lozells to honour 17-year-old Akeem Bailey, who was killed in a knife attack months earlier. What should have been a peaceful wake erupted in chaos when four shots were fired from a stolen Nissan Qashqai at around 6pm.
Injuries After Gunfire and Panic
- A 19-year-old man was shot in the chest
- Another 19-year-old suffered a gunshot wound to the left foot
- An 18-year-old male was hit in the right knee
- A 14-year-old girl was injured after being trampled in the scramble to escape
Gunman Caught and Convicted
Meshaq Berryman was identified as the shooter, firing from the rear passenger seat of the stolen car. Police found the abandoned vehicle in Nechells, two miles from the scene, the next day.
Crackdown in Court
After a tense three-week trial at Birmingham Crown Court, Berryman was convicted of three counts of attempted murder and possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and cannabis. On January 31, 2025, he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 24 years behind bars.
Police Warn of Community Risks
“This incident could so easily have been a triple murder investigation,” said Detective Inspector Francis Nock of the Major Crime Team. The shooting has rocked community safety efforts and thrown a harsh spotlight on gun crime in the West Midlands.
Though police stats show a drop in West Midlands shootings from 126 to 92 last year, this violent attack serves as a stark reminder that the fight against gun violence is far from over.
