This is the moment a hitman involved in a drug-dealing network fired a gun at a rival gang member who was speeding away from him down a residential street. Ayman Benhalima walked up to the white Audi A4 parked on the road in Norwood, South London, after believing the rival was on his territory in December 2024.
The man behind the wheel attempted to drive away but Benhalima, 22, took a Glock-styled gun from his Louis Vuitton bag before firing it four times at the vehicle. Shocking video from CCTV cameras and a Ring doorbell shows the sequence of events, broadcast today in Channel 4 News special 'Gangs, Guns and Smugglers'.
Benhalima hit the car multiple times while it was driven off and even penetrated the driver's seat, but the man survived and was able to speed away from the scene.
Police Analysis of the Shooting
Revisiting the scene for the documentary, Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Ray Sekalongo, who led the investigation, explains how the shooting happened. He says: 'We had the victim's car literally parked around this direction, this location here. These two e-bikes have come from Norwood High Street. The vehicle then reverses and collides with the bike. The car decides to drive off.'
'The suspect then decides to fire four shots in that direction; one, two, three, four. They've headed back in the direction where they initially came, taking a left.' The first video shows the Audi A4 reversing into the two e-bikes on the road in Norwood. The Audi speeds off but 22-year-old Ayman Benhalima is filmed firing four shots in its direction.
Mr Sekalongo adds: 'There was obviously concern by members of the public. They don't necessarily anticipate something as serious as that to happen on their street.'
Investigation and Arrest
After firing the weapon, Benhalima fled the area with co-defendant Giovanni Bennett, 23, but police attended the location and forensically examined the crime scene. Mr Sekalongo explained: 'Local officers attended, uniformed officers and armed response. It became clearly apparent there were casings at the scene.'
The incident just before 10pm on December 16, 2024 was investigated by the Met's Trident team, who are responsible for tackling and investigating shootings in London. Benhalima was involved in a major cannabis importation business and had been in the area to help film a drill music video in which shootings were referenced.
Police identified him because he and Bennett wore the same clothes during the attack as in the music video, which was later posted online - and helped incriminate them. CCTV footage shows the white Audi pulling out of the road in Norwood and speeding away.
Drug Operation and Sentencing
The duo were later arrested and officers found packages of drugs and cash when they searched their homes, as well as images of drug dealing on their devices. Detectives found Benhalima and Bennett were involved in enticing young girls and women with large amounts of cash to import drugs from Thailand into London.
Benhalima was jailed for 24 years for attempted murder, possession with intent to supply cannabis and possession of criminal property at Woolwich Crown Court. Benhalima, of Norwood, admitted the drugs offences at the court last July, before being convicted of attempted murder in the August. He was sentenced in November.
Bennett, of Croydon, was jailed for five-and-a-half years after pleading guilty to being concerned in the importation of cannabis and to possession of criminal property. 'Gangs, Guns and Smugglers' is available to stream now on Channel4.com.
