Two men have been jailed for a combined 55 years for a point-blank shooting outside a Bexleyheath nightclub, after the victim survived what police described as a miracle.
Marvin Bulle, 33, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 35 years' imprisonment at Woolwich Crown Court on October 9, after being found guilty in August of attempted murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. Carlos Parks, 35, of Sidcup Road, Eltham, was sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment after being found guilty in August of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
Shooting after minor altercation
The victim, a 30-year-old man, was left critically injured on January 4 outside a nightclub on Bexleyheath Broadway. Police described the incident as following a "minor altercation." The victim had been at the club with a group and was attacked as they left the venue.
During the fight, one of the attackers was knocked unconscious. A short time later, a gun was fired twice at the victim, with one bullet striking him below the eye. He spent eight days on a critical care ward, almost losing sight in his right eye and suffering a bullet lodged in his spine.
Getaway driver crashed near scene
The court heard how after the fight, Parks and Bulle returned to their car and were overheard on CCTV using a slang term for a firearm. Footage showed Bulle retrieving an item from the passenger seat of the car before making a motion consistent with him cocking a gun. As he made his way back to the fight, Parks followed slowly in the car.
The shooting was recorded on the dash camera fitted in a London Ambulance Service response car, which had been flagged down to help the man who had earlier been knocked out in the fight. Bulle was caught on that footage shooting the victim at point blank range.
After the shooting, Bulle ran to Parks' car and the pair made off at speed. They fled on foot a short time later after crashing into a lamppost, just 100 metres from the shooting scene. Parks was arrested 14 hours after the shooting, while Bulle was arrested ten days later in Mistley after fleeing to Suffolk and then rural Essex.
Firearm recovered months later
The gun used in the attack, a converted starter pistol, was recovered months later during an unrelated investigation. Forensics were able to link it to the shooting.
DI Raymond Sekalongo described the victim's survival as "nothing short of a miracle." He said: "This assault could so easily have resulted in the victim’s death. It is nothing short of a miracle that he survived.
"Both these attackers are dangerous men, who thought nothing of taking a firearm out onto the streets of London. I am pleased they are now locked up for a significant period of time.
"This case shows the consequences of gun crime – and the Met’s commitment to bringing those who perpetrate serious violence in the capital to justice.
"We were able to recover the firearm that was used in this incident, taking a lethal weapon off the streets and potentially saving scores of lives in the process."
The victim is living with life-changing injuries.
