Andrew Davidson, leading Jas Dhaliwal, recently prosecuted a man charged with firing a handgun in Birmingham’s busy city centre whilst crowds of people were present.

At around 3:30am on 17th June 2023, Deraj Meade fired two gunshots on John Bright Street in Birmingham. At that time, the area was crowded with members of the public coming and going to nearby bars and nightclubs. CCTV footage showed that Meade had arrived in the area around 10:30am, attending bars. It was later discovered that when he discharged the firearm, he was returning fire after he himself had suffered a gunshot wound to his left arm. He was identified from the CCTV footage, his blood being left at the scene and messages found on his mobile phone discussing the shooting.

Meade was also charged and convicted of possessing ammunition, from an earlier incident in May 2023. On 4th May 2024, firearms officers were deployed to a recording studio in Birmingham where there had been a report of a male in possession of a revolver. That male was Tyreece Donald, and firearms officers quickly seized a revolver from him. Meade was arrested outside of the recording studio. The police searched his home, finding 6 bullets for the revolver and a further 20 rounds for another handgun.

Deraj Meade was sentenced to 7 years and 2 months imprisonment. Tyreece Donald was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.

Link to WMP press release: https://www.west-midlands.police.uk/news/gunman-who-fired-shots-busy-birmingham-street-jailed-more-seven-years”