Man who planned shooting which left girl with life-changing injuries sentenced to life

The man who orchestrated a shooting which left a nine-year-old girl with life-changing injuries has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 34 years in prison.

The judge delivered the sentence to 33-year-old Javon Riley (13.12.1993) of Moselle Street, Tottenham on Friday, 12 September at the Old Bailey. He was found guilty of the attempted murder of three men, as well as causing grievous bodily harm to the nine-year-old on Monday, 18 August at the same court.

In a trial which lasted three weeks over the summer, the court heard that Riley played a key role in orchestrating and implementing a plan intended to end the lives of rival members of an organised crime network in Kingsland Road, Dalston on Wednesday, 29 May 2024. He organised for a gunman to pull-up outside a bustling restaurant on a stolen Ducati Monster and open fire.

The gunman shot six times with one of those bullets lodging into the brain of a the young girl as she ate ice cream with her family – the other rounds struck three men.

All four were taken to hospital for emergency, life-saving surgery.

In the months that followed, detectives discovered that Riley scoped the area over several days. He sat in a bar opposite the restaurant – sipping pina coladas as he studied the flow of traffic – calculating what was needed for the gunman to successfully carry out the shooting. On the evening of the incident, Riley drove from north London in a stolen car and travelled past the restaurant on several occasions to ensure that the intended targets were present.

After the shooting, Riley ensured the shooter escaped, taking him from the scene and disposing of the firearm. Both the gun and gunman are yet to be found.

Specialist detectives are now offering a financial reward of up to £15,000 for information that leads to the identification, arrest of and prosecution the man who fired the weapon.

Following the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the investigation, said: “Riley will face the consequences of his actions behind bars. Actions that traumatically derailed the life of a little girl. While this outcome is a reminder that justice can be served, it will never undo the suffering caused to her or her family.

“The dangerous man responsible for pulling the trigger is walking free, and it is imperative we find him. People out there know what happened and are choosing to stay quiet. We understand that you may be worried about talking to us, but it is vital we hear from anyone who can assist this investigation.

“Please reconsider your decision to stay silent and share what you know. Anything you say will be treated with the utmost care and confidentiality and you will be playing a huge part in securing justice for a young girl and her family.”

In a statement shared upon Riley’s conviction, the mother of the nine-year-old girl added: "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. As parents, we are shattered — emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially. Each day brings new challenges, from her slower growth on one side to the emotional and mental scars that cannot be seen.

"The world we once believed was safe for our child now feels frightening and uncertain. 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."

If anyone has information relating to this incident, please contact the Met via 101, quoting 8082/29MAY24 or 01/402921/24.

People can also get in touch through independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 – all information shared here remains anonymous.