Kids Struck in Gang Shootout at Bushbury Playground
Two youngsters were caught in the crossfire during a brutal gang shootout at a playground in Bushbury. Stray bullets flew from a stolen Ford Focus firing at a stolen Mini Cooper in what police believe was a violent turf war.
Innocent Children Injured
- An 11-year-old girl playing in Shelley Road park was hit in the leg.
- A 15-year-old boy riding a bike in a nearby car park was shot just below the knee.
The Ford Focus sped off, chased by the Mini Cooper, which also fired shots — blowing out the Focus’s rear windscreen. Despite the mayhem, the three men inside the Focus managed to escape.
Three Gang Members Caught and Jailed for 23 Years
After an intense investigation involving forensic bullet analysis, CCTV footage, mobile phone evidence, and witness testimonies, cops identified the suspects:
- Kian Durnin, 22, behind the wheel
- Tireq McIntosh, 23, front passenger
- Martinho De Sousa, 24, back-seat passenger
Both Durnin and McIntosh fired guns during the chase. They denied involvement during interviews; De Sousa remained silent.
Last week at Birmingham Crown Court, all three were convicted of attempted murder and aggravated vehicle theft. This afternoon, they were each sentenced to 23 years behind bars.
Police Slam “Cowardly” Attack Outside Children’s Playground
“At least six shots were fired. It’s by sheer luck these children weren’t killed or more seriously injured,” said Detective Inspector Francis Nock of the Major Crime Team.
“The victims have thankfully recovered physically, but their families are shattered. This was a reckless and cowardly attack by men firing deadly guns next to a children’s playground.”
“We believe the shooting is linked to gang tensions and potentially illegal drugs in the area.”
The Major Crime Team poured resources into the case, reviewing over 2,000 hours of CCTV and following dozens of leads.
While the weapons in this case haven’t been recovered, police have stepped up efforts to take guns off the streets, with 134 seizures so far this year — beating last year’s total of 121. There have also been 40 fewer shootings compared to 2022.
Earlier this year, Operation Target was launched to bring down the most dangerous criminals in the region. Police say recent arrests have removed 20 firearms off the streets in just this month alone.
The message is clear: gang violence near children’s spaces is utterly unacceptable, and law enforcement is cracking down hard.
