Gunman jailed for shop shooting over fake Rolex

A man has been jailed for 19 years after he shot a customer in a shop in a bid to steal his watch, which he thought was a Rolex.

Shaquarn Reid was standing behind the man in a queue in a shop in Birmingham when he demanded the watch, which was actually a fake Rolex, and then shot him in the chest, said police.

Reid, of Slade Road, Erdington, tried to then take the watch but failed, fleeing the scene empty handed after the attack at about 22:30 BST on 18 August, 2023.

The 23 year-old was sentenced at Teeside Combined Court after being found guilty of assault causing grievous bodily harm, following a trial at Birmingham Crown Court.

Reid was also given a five-year extended licence at the sentencing hearing on 2 April.

Officers identified Reid quickly after he had dropped a mobile phone at the scene, West Midlands Police said.

He was arrested in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, a month later, on 21 September 2023.

The victim was still continuing with his recovery after being treated in hospital for serious but not life-threatening injuries, said police.

"This was a truly shocking attack which could quite easily have cost the victim their life," said Det Con Charlie Climo, of the West Midland force's Major Crime Unit.

"It was an opportunistic and violent act by a man who felt that it was acceptable to walk around the streets with a loaded firearm in his pocket, with no regard for others' safety."

He added violent offences remained among the force's priorities and it would "always work to trace such offenders and bring them before the courts".

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