Seven men who “retaliated to violence with more violence” have been jailed for a total of over 102 years following multiple shootings in Peckham in May 2023.
Tyreke Smikle, 26, Kai Davis Francis, 25, Duan Correa, 21, Shaquille Marsh, 26, Tyreece Quartey, 25, Malachi David Francis, 21 and Timothy Newton, 18, appeared at the Central Criminal Court on Friday, 18 October.
The investigation is part of the Met’s strategy to tackle firearms and make the capital safer.
Met detectives investigated the group in May 2023 after an escalation of violence in the Peckham area.
Officers pieced together the group’s movements, speaking to multiple witnesses and analysing hours’ worth of phone data and CCTV.
Enquiries revealed how, in the early hours of Sunday, 7 May, an acquaintance of Smikle and Newton was stabbed in Peckham. The pair had visited the victim in hospital before going to collect a bag containing weapons. The two men then met with the rest of the group to form a ‘revenge plan’ for those who had assaulted their friend earlier that day.
CCTV showed the group wearing balaclavas and all splitting up between three vehicles, including a stolen moped. Smikle was carrying a loaded shotgun and ammunition, while the others had machetes and knives.
The group’s two vehicles pursued a vehicle before Tyreke Smikle fired a shotgun through the driver’s window. The group then pulled alongside another vehicle on a nearby street and fired a second time at a second victim. They continued to chase the car, which crashed and flipped over as it tried to drive away. As the third victim ran off, Tyreke Smikle chased him into a nearby garden and shot him in the leg at almost point-blank range.
Witnesses also later saw the group in the possession of a large machete.
Thankfully, no one involved received life-threatening injuries.
Detective Constable Luke Martinez, who led the investigation, said, “This group retaliated to violence with more violence, bringing a firearm and other weapons to the streets of London which could have seriously injured or killed someone.
“These shootings took place during daylight hours, with one occurring just metres away from a mother and her child. Today’s sentencing has taken dangerous individuals off the streets – I hope it serves as a stark warning to those seeking to threaten the safety of Londoners by brandishing such dangerous weapons.”
When arresting Tyreke Smikle, officers the shotgun and a quantity of Class A drugs, as well as a stab-proof vest, a knife and burner phones.
Tyreke Smikle was convicted of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm, two counts of wounding with intent, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, possession of a firearms and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
The remaining defendants were convicted of conspiracy to commit Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH).
In addition to the conspiracy to commit Grievous Bodily Harm conviction, Kai Davis-Francis and Timothy Newton were convicted of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs.
Tyreke Smikle, 26 (20.03.1998) of Rupack Street, was sentenced to life imprisonment to serve a minimum term of 17 years and seven months. Kai Davis-Francis, 25 (18.09.1999) of Arngask Road, was sentenced to 17 years and six months in prison. Timothy Newton, 18 (30.10.2005), of Brackley Avenue, was sentenced to nine years and six months in prison.
Duan Correa, 21, of Nunhead Lane, was sentenced to 16 years in prison. Shaquille Marsh, 26 (19.01.1998) of Rainham South Road, was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison. Tyreece Quartey, 25, of Woodmill Street, was sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Malachi David Francis, 21, of Ivydale Road, was sentenced to 14 years and six months in prison.
Smikle was also granted an indefinite Criminal Behaviour Order, while the others were given Criminal Behaviour Orders with fixed terms.
