On 14 January 2023, at approximately 13:30,[1] a drive-by shooting was committed with a shotgun outside St Aloysius Roman Catholic Church in Euston, London, England, where a memorial service for two women had just ended.[2]
| Euston shooting | |
|---|---|
  Location of the shooting within London | |
| Location | Euston Road, London, England, United Kingdom |
| Date | 14 January 2023 |
Attack type | Drive-by shooting, mass shooting |
| Weapon | Shotgun |
| Deaths | 0 |
| Injured | 6 |
Six people were injured: four women (one of whom suffered potentially life-changing injuries)[3] and two children, a twelve-year-old and a seven-year-old girl, the latter of whom was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition.[4] She was later reported to be in a stable condition.[5] Police appealed for information about a black car, believed to be a Toyota C-HR, that the shots were fired from.[5][6]
The memorial service was for Fresia Calderon and her daughter Sara Sanchez who had died separately from natural causes in November 2022.[7] Fresia's ex-husband, Carlos Arturo Sanchez-Coronado, was arrested in Colombia and extradited to the United Kingdom for money laundering for a London drugs gang linked to the Cali Cartel, and was jailed in 2009, serving his sentence and then moving to Santiago, where he died in 2022. This led to speculation that the attack was linked to the cartel, although Scotland Yard refused to discuss motive.[8][9]
In the early hours of 16 January 2023, London's Metropolitan Police announced that a 22-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He had been detained a few hours earlier, after police stopped a car in the Borough of Barnet. He was later bailed until mid-February.[10][11]
On 15 February 2024, four men were convicted of "conspiracy to wound with intent to cause harm" and one was also convicted of illegal possession of a shotgun.[12] Sentencing is scheduled to take place on 12 April 2024.[needs update]
Reactions edit
Leader of the Opposition Sir Keir Starmer, in whose constituency the attack occurred, called for tighter restrictions on who can own pump-action shotguns.[13]
References edit
- ^ Mendick, Robert (16 January 2023). "Euston shooting: Drive-by attack at funeral may have links to Colombian drug cartel". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Osborne, Samuel (15 January 2023). "Euston shooting: Suspects fired shotgun at funeral mourners from moving car". Sky News. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Euston shooting: Man, 22, arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after 'drive-by' outside church". Sky News. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Euston shooting: Girl, 7, and five others injured near church". BBC News. 14 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ a b Jagger, Samantha; Hurrell, Wendy (15 January 2023). "Euston shooting: Car appeal after six injured at London church". BBC News. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ "Drive-by gunmen leave girl in 'life-threatening' condition". East London Advertiser. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
- ^ Middleton, Joe (16 January 2023). "Drive-by memorial shooting 'could be linked to Colombian drug cartel'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ Mendick, Robert (16 January 2023). "Euston shooting: Drive-by attack at funeral may have links to Colombian drug cartel". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Snell, James (16 January 2023). "Has cartel violence come to the UK?". New Statesman. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ "Man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with Euston shooting". Metropolitan Police Service. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
- ^ "Man bailed over drive-by shooting at church". BBC News. 18 January 2023. Retrieved 21 January 2023.
- ^ Media, P. A. (15 February 2024). "Four men convicted over drive-by shooting outside church in London". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
- ^ Walker, Peter (16 January 2023). "Starmer calls for shotgun ownership rethink following Euston shooting". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 January 2023.