A man and a teenage boy have been jailed for the gang murder of Abdul Wahid Xasan in a drive-by shooting in Coventry. Riaz Ahmed, who was 15 at the time, and a 20-year-old accomplice, who cannot be named for legal reasons, killed Mr Xasan amid ongoing gang warfare in the city.
Mr Xasan, 20, was shot twice in the back as he walked on Harnall Lane, Hillfields, in March 2020 and died at the scene. Both defendants were sentenced to life in prison at Birmingham Crown Court, with Ahmed ordered to serve a minimum of 18 years and his accomplice 27 years.
Judge Simon Drew QC lifted an order banning Ahmed's identification, allowing him to be named for the first time. The judge said the killing occurred during gang warfare that erupted after the murder of 16-year-old Jaydon James in 2018. Mr James was stabbed in Wood End, and two men were jailed for his murder in November.
West Midlands Police said the killers were linked to the C2 gang, while Mr Xasan was associated with the rival RB7 group. Mr Xasan had been arrested just days before his death for possessing an imitation gun. The judge stated it was unclear who held the gun or drove the car, but both knew the purpose was to find and shoot a member of RB7.
Detectives believe Ahmed, who had been involved in vehicle crime since age 13, was the driver of a stolen VW Golf, while the 20-year-old gunman fired from the back seats. The pair were caught after their electronic tags placed them at the murder scene at the time of the shooting.
