Gunfighters jailed for life after innocent man killed

Rickel Adams, 27, will spend at least 35 years in prison while Shakah Anderson, 31, will serve a minimum of 32 years.

Innocent Rico Gordon was shot in the head after being caught in the crossfire during the shoot-out between Adams and Anderson.

Three other people suffered bullet wounds when violence spilled on to the streets of Bristol after the St Paul’s Carnival last year.

The court heard that Mr Gordon died following a row between two rival groups from north west 
London in the Black Swan pub, in Stapleton Road in Easton, on July 3.

Adams, of Janson Close, Neasden, north west London, and Anderson, of no fixed address, were convicted by a jury at Bristol Crown Court yesterday of the murder of the 21-year-old following a five-week trial.

They were also convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.

In addition, Adams was found guilty of two charges of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to passers-by Isabell Brant and Hezekiah Davies – who were shot after being caught up in the gunfight.

Jailing the pair, Mrs Justice Sharp said: “Gun crime has no place on the streets of Bristol and it has no place anywhere in a civilised society.

“At least 21 shots were fired by three gunmen; four people shot and one of them dead and two seriously injured.

“It is pure luck that more death and injury did not happen.”

Mrs Justice Sharp said the offences were “significantly premeditated” and both men had easy access to firearms that night.

She said it was unclear what sparked the confrontation in the Black Swan but it developed into a “very ugly incident” of verbal abuse and threats of guns being used.

“The shocking nature of what happened next leaves me in no doubt that Anderson and Adams intended to kill,” the judge said.

“No one who saw the CCTV of what happened on the streets of Bristol that night can be in any doubt.”

Prosecutors alleged that Adams, Anderson and a third gunman – a close associate of Anderson who has never been identified – were responsible for the shootings that left Mr Gordon, from Notting Hill, London, dead.

He was caught in the crossfire and was hit by a ricochet bullet.

Also injured were Ms Brant, who suffered a gunshot wound to her knee, and Mr Davies, who was shot in the left leg and lower 
spine.