Brent brothers who shot 2 men outside nightclub 'could have killed bystanders'

Two brothers from Brent who shot and stabbed two men in a premeditated attack could have killed innocent bystanders, say police. Jahni Thomas, 30, was sentenced to 35 years in prison yesterday (Friday, November 8), while his brother Jahmarley Thomas, 26, had previously been sentenced to 34 years in prison in December 2023.

The brothers had stabbed their victim, 28, in the back before shooting him in the left shoulder, after waiting on Standard Road, North Acton, for their victim to leave a nightclub on November 6, 2021. The gunman had then opened the door to a vehicle which a second victim, 31, was hiding in and shot him at ‘point blank range’.

The bullet had gone through the second victim’s left hand, which he had raised to protect himself, and hit him in the chest, causing bruising. The brothers had then driven back to their home address and later moved the vehicle to nearby Springfield Gardens where it was burned out.

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Police, who were called to Standard Road at around 5.30am that morning, had found the 28-year old victim with a gunshot and stab wound and rushed him to hospital where his injuries were deemed non life-threatening following treatment. The 31-year old, who had been shot in the hand, was also found to have non life-threatening injuries.

“This so easily could have been a murder investigation. The fact that nobody was killed was pure luck,” said Detective Constable Tom Harris of the Met’s Specialist Crime Command.

“The Thomas’ actions were premeditated and planned, with no consideration for the safety of bystanders who may have unwittingly been caught up in the shootings.

“The sentences handed down to the brothers demonstrates the danger they pose and I hope that the victims find a measure of closure in knowing that they have been taken off our streets for a considerable time.”

Police had used CCTV enquiries to track the stolen vehicle used in the incident to establish the events. This had discovered that the brothers had gone to Standard Road two hours before the original attack to survey the area of their later crime.

The two brothers were both convicted at Isleworth Crown Court in December 2022 of two counts of attempted murder, one count of conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to endanger life and one count of possession of point and blades.

Jahmarley Thomas, 26, was sentenced to a total of 34 years’ imprisonment, with a further three to be served on licence on December 1, 2023. His brother, Jahni Thomas, 30, was sentenced to 35 years’ imprisonment, with a further three to be served on licence on Friday (November 8).

Got a story? Please get in touch at katherine.gray@reachplc.com

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