Man who planned Hackney shooting that left girl with bullet in her brain sentenced to life

Javon Riley. Photograph: Met Police

The man who orchestrated a shooting that left a nine-year-old girl with life-changing injuries has today been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 34 years.

Javon Riley, 33, of Moselle Street in Tottenham, was last month found guilty of the attempted murder of three men and causing grievous bodily harm to the girl.

The court heard that Riley had played a key role in implementing a plan to kill rival gang members at Evin restaurant on Dalston’s Kingsland High Street last May.

Riley organised for a gunman, whose name he has refused to reveal, to pull up outside the restaurant and open fire.

Six shots were fired, with one of the bullets lodging into the brain of the young girl as she ate ice cream with her family. The other rounds struck three men.

All four were taken to hospital for emergency, life-saving surgery.

In his sentencing remarks, Judge Mark Lucraft KC said the girl was an innocent victim in a long-running feud between the so-called ‘Hackney Turks’ and ‘Tottenham Turks’ gangs.

He wrote: “As was set out in the trial, over the last ten years, this ongoing feud has seen a series of ‘tit for tat’ murders and attempted murders in London and overseas.

“In this case, your acts and those of the others involved mean that a nine-year-old girl and her family will have to cope with the life-changing injuries she has sustained through the mindless violence of others.”

He added that Riley had undertaken “extensive reconnaissance” and that “meticulous organisation went into what was to happen”.

Riley had scoped out the restaurant for several days, sipping pina coladas in a cafe opposite, as he calculated what was needed for the gunman to carry out the attack.

On the evening of the incident, Riley drove from north London in a stolen car and travelled past the restaurant on several occasions to ensure that the intended targets were present.

Judge Lucraft stated: “The attack involved the use of a stolen Ducati motorbike. Two other stolen cars – a Nissan Juke and a Mitsubishi Outlander – were cloned so as to avoid easy detection, and then used to undertake reconnaissance as well as transport to and from the site of the shooting.

“The Ducati motorbike was abandoned and both of the other stolen vehicles were subsequently set alight so as to destroy evidence linking them to those who had been in the vehicles.”

Riley also ensured the shooter escaped, taking him from the scene and disposing of the firearm, with both gun and gunman yet to be found.

Judge Lucraft’s remarks give more details about the “severe brain injury” suffered by the girl, the care she has received, and the impact on her life.

“On the day after the shooting, she was admitted to Great Ormond Street Hospital where she underwent a complex surgical procedure.

“On 14 June 2024, she was transferred to Birmingham Children’s Hospital so she could be closer to home.

“On 12 July 2024, she underwent further significant surgery. The bullet fragments were not removed. She was then referred for multidisciplinary neurorehabilitation.”

She continues to suffer from “significant left side paralysis, left visual field defect, cognitive impairment, including impulsivity and reduced concentration and fatigue with concentration and physical activities”.

The girl, who due to her age was referred to as ‘A’ in Judge Lucraft’s remarks, was discharged home on 30 August 2024.

In May this year, Professor Rajat Gupta, a consultant paediatric neurologist, said she had since made good improvements both physically and cognitively.

But Judge Lucraft added: “Professor Gupta’s opinion then was that she will continue to have physical difficulties, cognitive difficulties and increased fatigue throughout her life.

“He expresses the view that whilst she is still young, she will not be able to live independently as an adult and will probably require some assistance with daily living.”

He also shared a portion of the victim impact statement written by the girl’s mother.

It read: “Our daughter’s joyful spirit remains, but it is now wrapped in layers of frustration and silent pain. She watches her friends do what she cannot and she carries it all inside with quiet strength.

“This tragedy did not just change our daughter’s life — it broke something in us as a family. Every time we see her struggle, we ask ourselves why we came here and what we could have done differently. The guilt and helplessness are unbearable.

“For us, the trauma is relentless. We live with constant fear about her future, unsure how much more she will lose as she grows.

“We grieve for the dreams we once had for her — dreams of music, sport, and a carefree childhood — all replaced by therapy sessions, hospital appointments, and adaptations for survival.

“We are doing everything possible to show her that her life is still full of possibilities, to make her believe there is nothing she cannot do, and to make her smile.

“But the mental and emotional trauma we carry every day is heavy — a constant fear for her future and a constant grief for the life she lost and the life we imagined as a family.”

Specialist detectives are offering a financial reward of up to £15,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest and prosecution of the man who fired the weapon.

Following 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.”

If anyone has information relating to this incident, please contact the Met via 101, quoting 8082/29MAY24 or 01/402921/24.

People can also get in touch through independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 – all information shared here remains anonymous.