On a late spring evening last year, the hum of Kingsland High Street in Dalston, east London, was shattered by a violent act that would forever alter the lives of an innocent family and send shockwaves through the community. On May 29, 2024, a gunman riding a motorbike opened fire outside the Evin Restaurant, striking a nine-year-old girl in the head and injuring three men at a nearby table. The bullet remains lodged in the girl's brain, a tragic reminder of the violence that erupted from a longstanding gang rivalry.
On September 12, 2025, Javon Riley, 33, was sentenced at the Old Bailey to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 34 years for his role as the getaway driver and planner in this gangland shooting. According to BBC News, Riley was convicted of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to the young girl and the attempted murder of three men: Mustafa Kiziltan, Kenan Aydogdu, and Nasser Ali, all of whom were sitting outside the restaurant at the time of the attack. The gunman and the weapon used in the shooting remain at large, with Scotland Yard offering up to £15,000 for information leading to their identification and arrest.
Judge Mark Lucraft KC, who presided over the case, described the shooting as part of a bloody feud between two Turkish gangs—the Hackney Turks and the Tottenham Turks—with Riley linked to the latter. "You had a leading role as a planner and a spotter and this was an act in revenge for previous incidents," the judge stated, adding that the rivalry had resulted in a string of "tit for tat" murders and attempted murders both in London and overseas over the past decade.
The impact of the attack has been devastating, particularly for the young victim and her family. The girl, who was enjoying ice cream with her family inside the restaurant, was struck by the first of six bullets fired from the passing motorbike. She spent three months in hospital and now lives with a titanium plate in her skull and ongoing weakness on her left side. The bullet remains embedded in her brain, causing life-long physical and cognitive disabilities. In a statement read to the court, her mother expressed the profound pain the family now endures: "Our daughter’s joyful spirit remains but it is now wrapped in layers of frustration and silent pain. She watches her friends do what she cannot and she carries it all inside with quiet strength. This tragedy did not just change our daughter’s life, it broke something in us as a family."
The statement continued, painting a heartbreaking picture: "For us the trauma is relentless, we live with constant fear about the future, unsure how much more she will lose as she grows. We grieve for the dreams we once had for her, dreams of music, sport and a carefree childhood, all replaced by therapy sessions, hospital appointments and adaptations for survival." As reported by Metro, the girl’s mother added, "Each day brings new challenges, from her slower growth on one side to the emotional and mental scars that cannot be seen. The world we once believed was safe for our child now feels frightening and uncertain."
The three men who were shot—Kiziltan, Aydogdu, and Ali—were said to be affiliated with the Hackney Turks, the rival gang in this ongoing feud. They suffered gunshot wounds to the arm, leg, and thigh, but survived the attack. According to court testimony, Riley played a "key role" in planning and executing the operation: conducting reconnaissance of the restaurant, spotting targets, and driving the gunman away in a stolen car, which was later found burnt out.
During the three-week trial, Riley admitted his involvement in the reconnaissance and as getaway driver but claimed he believed the plan was for a "smash-and-grab" robbery, not a shooting. He later confessed that after the attack, the gunman told him: "Shots have been fired. I need to get out of here." Despite being asked repeatedly to identify the "third party" who recruited him for around £40,000, Riley refused, citing fear for his own and his family's safety. Prosecutors, however, maintained that Riley was fully aware of the violent intent behind the job and had acted as a planner and spotter in the act of revenge.
Riley’s criminal history was laid bare during the proceedings. Born in Jamaica, Riley had accumulated a string of convictions dating back to 2008, including possession of cannabis and cocaine, driving offences, and possession of offensive weapons. He also admitted to involvement in car theft, drug dealing, and robberies, though he claimed never to have been caught for those offences. Police recordings revealed Riley’s ties to the Tottenham Turks, including conversations about Izzet Eren, a man who was shot in Moldova on July 10, 2023, in what authorities believe was a revenge attack linked to the same gang rivalry.
Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who led the investigation, commented on the outcome: "Riley will face the consequences of his actions behind bars. Actions that traumatically derailed the life of a little girl. While this outcome is a reminder that justice can be served, it will never undo the suffering caused to her or her family." Detective Inspector Ben Dalloway, also involved in the case, echoed these sentiments and urged the public to come forward: "Those who ordered this shooting are a highly sophisticated criminal organisation. We understand that people may be worried about talking to us because of this, but it is imperative we hear from anyone who can assist this investigation. Justice must be secured for this little girl and her family."
Despite the conviction of Riley, the man who pulled the trigger remains at large, a fact that weighs heavily on the community and the victim’s family. "The dangerous man responsible for pulling the trigger is walking free, and it is imperative we find him," said DCI Yorke. Police and prosecutors have acknowledged the fear that surrounds speaking out against such organised crime groups, but continue to encourage anyone with information to come forward, assuring that all tips will be handled with "the utmost care and confidentiality."
The case has also reignited concerns about the ongoing cycle of violence between rival gangs in London, particularly the Turkish gangs of Hackney and Tottenham. Over the past ten years, this feud has resulted in multiple murders and attempted murders, not only in the UK but also abroad. The attack at the Evin Restaurant, however, stands out for its sheer brutality and the innocent child who became its most tragic victim.
For the girl's family, life has been irrevocably changed. Their days are now filled with therapy sessions, hospital appointments, and the constant anxiety of what the future may hold. As her mother poignantly stated, "We live with this pain every day, knowing nothing will ever be the same for our family." The trauma, both visible and invisible, lingers on, as does the hope that justice will one day be complete.
