Notorious gangster who led murderous 'Gooch Gang' dies in prison

A gangster who once led a feared gang has died behind bars.

Lee Amos, who ran the 'Gooch Gang' in Manchester, passed away on Monday, April 22, while incarcerated at HMP Oakwood in Staffordshire. Known as 'Cabbo', Amos was imprisoned in 2009 following his involvement in the drive-by murder of 24-year-old Tyrone Gilbert.

Security firm G4S confirmed his death and stated that an investigation is currently ongoing. Amos was given a minimum sentence of 35 years for Gilbert's murder.

The gang's imprisonment led to a dramatic decrease in shootings in the area, with reports indicating a 92% reduction. Police considered Amos to be the gang's "best weapon" due to his "cool, calm and collected" demeanor.

Gilbert was fatally shot in the chest during the wake for Ucal Chin, another victim of the gang's violence, who was 23 when he was ambushed by Colin "Piggy" Joyce, the gang's leader, and Amos. They believed Chin was part of the rival Longsight Crew.

After a six-month trial at Liverpool Crown Court, which saw six ex-members of the Gooch Gang testify against them, both Amos and Joyce were found guilty of murder, attempted murder, and firearms possession in April 2009.

Joyce received a life sentence with a minimum term of 39 years, while Amos was sentenced to 35 years, reports the Manchester Evening News.

A spokesperson for HMP Oakwood announced: "A prisoner at HMP Oakwood, Mr Lee Amos, aged 48, passed away on Monday, 22 April 2024."

"His next of kin have been informed and a Family Liaison Officer has been appointed. As with all deaths in prison, this will be investigated by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman."

The infamous Gooch Gang.

Amos was a member of the infamous Gooch Gang, which brought terror to the streets and whose crime spree was compared to that of Al Capone's during the prohibition era in 1920s America by a leading judge.

"Manchester is not the Wild West, but many of you treated its streets as if it were," Mr Justice Langstaff remarked. "[It is] reminiscent of Al Capone and Chicago in the era of prohibition."

Among the most heinous acts committed during their reign of terror were the killings of Chin and Tyrone Gilbert. Mr Chin was just 24 when he was gunned down in June 2007.

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The court was told he was driving through Longsight when he was cornered by his assassins and shot seven times. A few weeks on, a spontaneous wake for Mr Chin took place.

Tyrone Gilbert was among the 80 people paying their respects at a house in south Manchester. But just after midnight, the gathering was targeted in another drive-by shooting.

Amos, who was 33 at the time of the trial, was also convicted for the murder of Tyrone and the attempted murder of Michael Gordon. Alongside him and Joyce were Aeeron Campbell from Withington, Narada Williams from Fallowfield, and his brother Ricardo, from Moston, all found guilty of murder.

Amos and Narada Williams were sentenced to serve a minimum of 35 years in prison, Ricardo Williams was handed a minimum term of 34 years while Campbell was imprisoned for at least 32 years.

Other members of the gang included Aaron Alexander, Hassan Shah, Kayael Wint, Ricci Moss, Tyler Joel Mullings, and Gonoo Hussain. They were sentenced for a range of firearm and drug offences, receiving jail terms ranging from five to 13 years.

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