A man has been found guilty in connection with a shocking shooting that left a nine-year-old girl with life-altering injuries and three men wounded outside a bustling east London restaurant.
Javon Riley, 33, from Tottenham, stood trial at the Old Bailey, where he denied charges of attempted murder and grievous bodily harm with intent. On Monday, he was convicted by a jury following deliberations lasting just over six hours.
The horrifying incident unfolded on 29 May 2024, as families dined at Evin restaurant on Kingsland High Street in Dalston.
A gunman on a Ducati Monster motorbike opened fire in what prosecutors described as a “planned assassination” linked to a bitter feud between two rival gangs, the Tottenham Turks and the Hackney Turks, also known as the Bombacilars.
Among the chaos, six bullets were fired. One struck a nine-year-old girl in the head, becoming lodged in her brain. Three men seated at a nearby table, Mustafa Kiziltan, Kenan Aydogdu, and Nasser Ali, all sustained serious injuries to the thigh, leg, and spine.
The young girl, whose name cannot be disclosed due to her age, continues to live with a bullet in her brain. She has suffered severe physical and mental trauma since the incident.
“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,” her mother said in a powerful court statement.
She was just eating dinner with her family. Then came the bullets. A young girl’s life changed forever in seconds not the target, but still the victim of gang violence.
During the trial, the court heard that Riley played a key role in planning the shooting. In the days leading up to the attack, he was spotted loitering at a bar directly opposite the restaurant.
He appeared to be mapping out traffic patterns and plotting how the shooter could escape undetected.
On the night of the attack, Riley arrived at the scene in a stolen Nissan Juke. He circled the restaurant repeatedly, making sure the intended targets were present.
The gunman, however, has never been identified, nor has the weapon ever been recovered.
According to the Metropolitan Police, Riley’s involvement didn’t end with planning. He was instrumental in helping the shooter avoid capture in the aftermath of the crime.
Detective Inspector Ben Dalloway, who led the investigation, said: “Javon Riley’s actions traumatically altered the trajectory of a little girl’s life. While this outcome serves as a sliver of justice, the dangerous individual responsible for pulling the trigger remains on our streets.
Those who ordered this shooting are a highly sophisticated criminal organisation. We understand that people may be worried about talking to us because of this, but it is imperative we hear from anyone who can assist this investigation. Justice must be secured for this little girl and her family.”
Public Appeal and Reward
In a bid to bring the unidentified gunman to justice, detectives have issued an urgent public appeal. A reward of up to £15,000 is now being offered for any information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the shooter.
The attack has reignited concerns over London’s gang violence and its devastating impact on innocent bystanders.
Sentencing Awaits
Following the majority verdict of 10 to 2, Judge Mark Lucraft KC remanded Riley in custody until sentencing on 12 September. He made it clear that a lengthy prison term is inevitable.
“You have clearly taken part in a shooting which has led to four people being injured, one of them particularly seriously,” the judge told Riley in court.
As the investigation continues, police and the victim’s family urge anyone with knowledge of the crime to come forward not just for justice, but for the safety of others.
“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 girl’s mother said.
