Gunman who sent people ducking for cover as he opened fire in city centre jailed

A city gunman who fired shots in the middle of Birmingham city centre has been jailed. Deraj Meade, 22, caused gunshot terror on John Bright Street last June as revellers piled out of pubs and clubs.

Meade, of Sheldon Heath Road, left bystanders ducking for cover as he fired two shots just after 3.20am on Saturday, June 17. West Midlands Police spoke of how his actions "put a large number of innocent people at risk."

Deraj Meade fled the scene, but was arrested on June 21 by armed officers on a quiet street after being dragged out of a BMW. He was convicted last December after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and having ammunition without a certificate.

READ MORE: Moment armed police drag gunman out of car on quiet street after city centre shooting

Deraj Meade who admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and having ammunition without a certificate, was today, April 25, sentenced to seven years and two months at Birmingham Crown Court.

Footage released following sentencing showed armed police officers swoop to arrest Meade after identifying him and tracing him down through painstaking CCTV investigative work.

The force said on the day of the incident, 22-year-old Meade had arrived in Birmingham city centre just after 10.30pm and remained in the area around John Bright Street, visiting at least one bar. He was then seen on CCTV footage visiting a club at around 12.30am where he remained until just before 3.10am. Shortly afterwards he is captured on CCTV again, twice firing a gun in the street.

Officers later discovered Meade was returning fire after he suffered a gunshot injury to his left arm, inflicted by an unknown assailant. Det Sgt Lucy Mooney from the Reactive Major Crime Team, said: "Meade's actions put a large number of innocent people at risk when he decided to fire shots in the street on a busy Saturday night.

"But quick-time investigations saw us detain him within just a matter of days and he is now behind bars.

"We are committed to protecting our communities from gun crime like this, and we take robust measures to stop those who seek to bring violence onto our streets."

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