Three to stand trial over drive-by shooting at funeral in Euston that left girl, 7, fighting for life & 5 others injured
THREE people will stand trial over a drive-by shooting at a funeral which left a girl fighting for her life and five others injured.
Armed police rushed to St Aloysius Church in Euston, North London, on January 14.
Shots were fired out of a moving Toyota C-HR at a group of mourners – leaving a seven-year-old girl in a critical condition.
Five others including a girl, 11, were also injured when the shotgun rang out.
Alrico Nelson-Martin, 19, today appeared at Harrow Crown Court charged with possession of a shotgun with intent to endanger life and six counts of conspiracy to wound with intent.
Tyrell La Croix, 22, and Jordan Walters, 23, were also expected to attend after they were both charged with six counts of wounding with intent.
However, the pair refused to turn up.
Four women aged 48, 54, 41 and 21 and two girls, aged 11 and seven, were rushed to hospital following the terrifying incident.
After receiving treatment, none of their injuries were deemed life-threatening.
The horror unfolded at a memorial service for Fresia Calderon, 50, and her daughter Sara Sanchez, 20.
Fresia’s former husband Carlos Arturo Sanchez-Coronado was a convicted member of the notorious Cali drug cartel, which featured in Netflix show Narcos.
Gunmen opened fire at around 1.30pm as 350 people gathered.
Footage showed terrified mourners screaming as they ran for cover from the shotgun blasts.
Those inside the church could be heard shouting “we need to get out”.
A plea hearing will now take place on June 8.
Zoe Johnson KC, prosecuting, said the hearing will focus on four forms of evidence.
She said: “Four key strands to this case, gang activity, if I can use that term loosely.
“CCTV evidence, cell site and car data evidence, then forensic evidence.”
Reporting restrictions under Section 46 were passed to ensure all four adult victims are not named in the hope witnesses will come forward.
Ms Johnson added: “[The adult victims] are not witnesses at present, you will have noted there are no statements from them.
“To be frank, it is very unlikely that they will become witnesses.
“However, the power to make an order under Section 46 refers not only to witnesses giving testimony, but also those who might be encouraged to co-operate with the investigation if there was an order in place.
“There is communication between these four individuals and the police team, but they are fearful, which is perhaps just common sense given what happened.
“I have no evidence of that fear, perhaps for similar reasons.
“They don’t live in a similar locality as the shooting, they live elsewhere in London.
“This was an act of violence between two gangs, against the background of ongoing hostility between these gangs.
“Furthermore it was known to the defendants that individuals at the rival gang were at the service on January 14.
“Therefore these members of the public that were part of the congregation may be able to assist in the background of evidence.”
A provisional trial date for September 11 has been set and is expected to last three weeks.