West Bromwich man was getaway driver after man shot during New Year's Day scrap in Birmingham
A West Bromwich man was the getaway driver after a Birmingham city centre shooting where the victim was shot in his shoulder.
Exauce Mazebo, aged 23, of New Heart Road, Golds Green, West Bromwich, and Christ Lidiu were both convicted of attempted murder after another man was chased and shot in Constitution Hill at just after 5am on New Year's Day in 2024.
West Midlands Police said when officers were alerted to the shooting prompt inquiries established that the victim, aged in his 20s, had been chased by the shooter who then fled in a Seat Leon being driven by someone else.
The injured man, who had even run into a passing car in his attempts to escape, suffered a gunshot wound to his shoulder.
Detectives were able to trace the Seat and further investigations led them to establish it had recently been purchased by Lidiu, aged 25, of Bridgelands Way, Perry Barr.
Through phone records and CCTV they identified Lidiu as the shooter and his accomplice Exauce Mazebo as the getaway driver.
Lidiu was arrested in Solihull on January 17 2024 and officers armed with a warrant arrested Mazebo at an address in Erdington the following day.
It was established that both defendants were present in the area of Constitution Hill earlier in the night where they were involved in a fight.
Both then travelled to Lidiu’s home where they collected a gun and returned to the scene, where Lidiu chased the victim and fired at him before Mazebo drove them away.
Following their arrests officers recovered clothing which matched CCTV of what the offenders were wearing during the early hours of January 1.
Mazebo had even tried to hide his mobile phone in a freezer and messages revealed plans to move away following the shooting.
Both men denied any involvement in the shooting, but on Monday (9 June) both were convicted after a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.
Lidiu, and Mazebo were remanded into custody ahead of sentencing on September 19.
Det Insp Francis Nock, from the force's major crime unit, said: "We won't tolerate guns on our streets and we'll continue to hunt down and arrest those who involve themselves in serious crime. On another occasion this could have been a murder investigation.
"Through diligent inquiries we were able to quickly identify Lidiu and Mazebo as being involved and present a strong case of evidence which secured their convictions. They now face substantial time behind bars."
The force set up Operation Target to tackle serious crime including firearms offences.
