Man jailed for 33 years over fatal shooting of teenager in Birmingham

A man has been jailed for 33 years for the murder of a teenager who was shot while riding an e-bike in Birmingham.

Seraaj Ayub, 25, of Alexander Road, Birmingham, was sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday, October 16, after being found guilty of murdering 19-year-old Ali Riyan in November last year.

Ali was shot in Alderson Road, Washwood Heath, at around 10.15pm on October 19, 2024, and died in hospital two days later.

An investigation by West Midlands Police found that Ayub had been travelling in a black Mercedes which followed Ali and a friend as they rode an e-bike.

The pair stopped in Alderson Road when the Mercedes pulled up alongside them and a gunshot was fired from a rear passenger window.

They attempted to escape, but the car continued to follow them before a second shot was fired, striking Ali.

A member of the public discovered the injured teenager and alerted police and ambulance crews before performing CPR.

Paramedics attended and Ali was taken to hospital with serious injuries, but he died on October 21.

Detectives launched a murder investigation and reviewed hours of CCTV footage as they worked to establish what had happened.

Ayub fled the country on the evening of Ali's death but returned to the UK on January 28, 2025, travelling by ferry from Dublin.

He was arrested on arrival and subsequently charged with murder after refusing to comment during police interviews.

Ayub was found guilty in November 2025 and sentenced to 33 years in prison on October 16.

Senior investigating officer Jenny Birch, from West Midlands Police's homicide team, said: "I hope this verdict brings some peace to his family.

"Our team worked tirelessly on this case, and I am pleased we have been able to secure justice for Ali and his family."