A hired spotter and getaway driver was today jailed for life for his role in a gangland shooting outside a restaurant which left a nine-year-old girl with a bullet lodged in her brain.
The girl was hit in the head by one of six bullets fired by a man on a passing motorbike as she sat with her family at the Evin restaurant in Dalston, East London.
She was an innocent victim on May 29 last year of a bloody rivalry between Turkish gangs of North London. Three men at a nearby table were also injured.
Javon Riley, 33, from Tottenham, North London, was found guilty at the Old Bailey of causing grievous harm with intent to the girl and attempting to murder Mustafa Kiziltan, 35, Kenan Aydogdu, 45, and Nasser Ali, 44.
Sentencing Riley today to life with a minimum term of 34 years, Judge Mark Lucraft KC said the gang rivalry had seen a number of ‘tit for tat’ murders and attempted murders in London and overseas over the past ten years.
The three men who were shot were said to be affiliated with the Hackney Turks organised crime gang, who had a rivalry with the Tottenham Turks, with whom Riley had links, jurors had heard.
The gunman is at large but prosecutors said Riley had played a ‘key role’ before, during and after the shooting.
Javon Riley, 33, was jailed for at least 34 years for his role in the Hackney gangland shooting
The three targeted men run for cover as a gunman opens fire on the restaurant in May last year
Riley carried out reconnaissance of the restaurant before the attack, scouted for potential targets and drove the gunman away in a stolen car, which was later burnt out.
The nine-year-old girl spent three months in hospital and will suffer with lifelong physical and cognitive problems as the bullet remains lodged in her brain.
The three male victims received gunshot wounds to the arm, leg and thigh.
Scotland Yard has offered up to £15,000 for information leading to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the person who fired the shots.
During a three-week trial, Riley was asked to identify the ‘third party’ who had recruited him for around £40,000.
He refused, citing fear for his life and that of his family.
The defendant admitted conducting reconnaissance, spotting targets and picking up the gunman, but claimed he believed it was a ‘smash-and-grab’ robbery.
He later admitted the person who used the gun had said to him: ‘Shots have been fired. I need to get out of here.’
The court heard Jamaica-born Riley had a string of convictions dating back to 2008 including for possession of cannabis and cocaine, driving offences and having an offensive weapon and a blade in his car.
Forensic officers conducting a search outside the restaurant after the shooting in May 2024
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He also admitted involvement in car theft, drug dealing and robberies, but said he had never been caught for those offences.
Police recordings revealed Riley’s links to the Tottenham Turks, including talks about Izzet Eren, who was shot in Moldova on July 10 last year in what was believed to be a revenge attack.
Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the investigation, said: ‘Riley will face the consequences of his actions behind bars.
‘Actions that traumatically derailed the life of a little girl. While this outcome is a reminder that justice can be served, it will never undo the suffering caused to her or her family.
‘The dangerous man responsible for pulling the trigger is walking free, and it is imperative we find him. People out there know what happened and are choosing to stay quiet.
‘We understand that you may be worried about talking to us, but it is vital we hear from anyone who can assist this investigation.
‘Please reconsider your decision to stay silent and share what you know. Anything you say will be treated with the utmost care and confidentiality and you will be playing a huge part in securing justice for a young girl and her family.’
A CCTV image from the Met Police of the motorcyclist wanted in connection with the shooting
Footage shows the suspected gunman riding a stolen Ducati Monster motorbike at the time
CCTV images of the suspected gunman, who has never been traced, riding along the road
In a statement shared after Riley’s conviction, the mother of the nine-year-old girl added: ‘In a single moment, the future we had imagined for our daughter was torn away. She was once an energetic, adventurous child — everything that celebrated movement, energy, and life.
‘Now, weakness on her left side means she can only watch from the sidelines, living with a titanium plate in her skull and a bullet still in her brain.
‘As parents, we are shattered — emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially. Each day brings new challenges, from her slower growth on one side to the emotional and mental scars that cannot be seen.
‘The world we once believed was safe for our child now feels frightening and uncertain. This was not just an accident — even if our daughter was not the intended target, those responsible were still attempting to take lives,
‘It is brutal and inhumane. We live with this pain every day, knowing nothing will ever be the same for our family.’
The Met Police is asking anyone with information relating to the incident to contact the force via 101, quoting 8082/29MAY24 or 01/402921/24. People can also get in touch through independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111
