Ashley Wallace, 40, has been found guilty of the murder of 18-year-old Tyrece Balcha outside a Wembley nightclub. The verdict was delivered at the Old Bailey on Friday.
Details of the shooting
Tyrece, from Hillingdon, west London, was shot in the early hours of Sunday, September 21 last year. He was found outside the Crystal Club in Wembley Park at 5.27am and rushed to hospital, where he later died.
Wallace, of Southwark, was also found guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. Officers from the Met Police built a timeline of events and identified witnesses from club attendees. CCTV footage showed that before the shooting, Tyrece had been involved in an altercation outside the club. He was then pursued outside and shot.
Arrest and evidence
Wallace left the scene in a vehicle parked nearby. On Thursday, September 25, police traced him to a car in South East London and arrested him. A revolver was found hidden inside the vehicle, and forensic officers found Wallace's DNA on the weapon. The bullet found at the murder scene was later matched to the gun.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Clarke, who led the investigation, said: “Throughout this investigation and subsequent trial, the victim's family have conducted themselves with remarkable dignity and patience. We are grateful for their continued support and cooperation, and we hope today's verdict provides them with some measure of justice. During this investigation, my team used CCTV and forensic evidence, which allowed them to build a remarkably detailed picture of the murder, leading to today’s conviction.”
Family's response
Tyrece's mother Bonnie said “justice had been served” for her son's “cold and senseless murder” and thanked officers for their compassion. She said: “Tyrece's life was cruelly taken from him 8 weeks after he had turned 18 years old. He was a loving son, brother and friend with the biggest heart, an infectious smile and a personality that drew people towards him. Anyone who knew Tyrece knew his kindness, warmth and sense of humour. Our hearts have been shattered. His sisters miss him every day, and his little brother had only just turned one year old when Tyrece died and will never truly get the chance to know him. We will make sure that his memory lives on and that he is always remembered for the wonderful person he was, not for the way his life was taken. We pray that Tyrece can now rest in peace, knowing that justice has been served.”
She added: “We would like to thank the police and prosecution team for their unwavering dedication, compassion and determination throughout this case. Their commitment to securing justice for Tyrece means more to us than words can express. We would also like to thank our family, friends, and the many people who never even knew Tyrece but offered kind messages, prayers and support. Your compassion has reminded us that there is still so much goodness in the world, even in the midst of unimaginable heartbreak. We now await sentencing and kindly ask for privacy as we continue to heal from the trauma of both losing Tyrece and reliving the circumstances of his death throughout the trial.”
Other verdicts
At the same trial, two men were found not guilty of murder. A woman was found not guilty of possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and perverting the course of justice. The jury could not reach a verdict on a fourth man.
Wallace will be sentenced on a date to be set.
