Machete gang discharged a firearm while pursuing a boy through the streets

26 February 2025 , 19:20

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Machete gang discharged a firearm while pursuing a boy through the streets

A 17-year-old boy was chased through the streets of Leeds by a rival gang armed with guns, machetes and bleach.

Footage of the terrifying encounter was shown in court as four defendants went on trial for the gang targeting.

Kamahl Johnson, 19, and Zane Gatewood, 18, as well as a 16-year-old boy and a 17-year-old boy, targeted the rival gang member late afternoon on July 7, 2024.

Residents who witnessed the chase called 999 when they saw the weapons carried by some of the gang members.

At one point, the suspects tried to fire the gun at their target, but it jammed and the bullet became lodged in the handgun’s barrel.

The teenage boy ran through a convenience store, weaving his way through the shop aisles before slipping out the back door.

The boys were caught wielding a massive machete (Picture: West Yorkshire Police)

Officers who arrived on the scene found the gang members hiding in gardens, later recovering the gun, four rounds of ammunition and two machetes.

West Yorkshire Police said the four suspects were known to be members of a gang – and had made the three-mile journey to target an opposing gang member.

All four suspects refused to speak to police when interviewed and were later charged with attempted murder, affray, and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

They pleaded not guilty to attempted murder but admitted possession of a firearm and affray.

Johnson (right) and Gatewood(left)were both sentenced to seven years (Pictures: West Yorkshire Police)

Johnson pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon, with Gatwood and the 16-year-old boy admitting possession of a machete.

Johnson and Gatewood were both sentenced to seven years and two months in prison at Leeds Crown Court this week.

The 17-year-old received seven years and five months, while the youngest, just 16, was locked up for four years and nine months.

Detective Chief Inspector Michael Herbert, who led the investigation, said: ‘The CCTV footage shows this terrifying incident unfolding on a Sunday afternoon in a residential area where it was witnessed by a large number of people including young children.

‘These four had armed themselves with a viable firearm and machetes and gone hunting for a rival gang member and clearly didn’t care about the consequences or the fear their actions brought to the local community.’

David Wilson