A man has been charged with four counts of attempted murder following a shooting that left a nine-year-old girl seriously injured. The incident occurred on 29 May at the Evin Turkish restaurant on Kingsland High Street in Dalston, east London, around 9:20 pm.
The girl was one of four people hurt when a gunman on a stolen motorcycle opened fire at the restaurant. Three men, aged 26, 37, and 42, who were sitting outside the restaurant, also sustained injuries. The Metropolitan Police reported at the time that the girl was “fighting for her life,” and footage from the scene showed the gunman firing five shots before fleeing as patrons scrambled for safety.
On 9 August, Javon Reily, 32, from Farnborough in Hampshire, was arrested in Chelsea Embankment and has since been charged with four counts of attempted murder. He is currently in custody and is scheduled to appear at the Old Bailey on 6 September.
A 35-year-old woman who was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and assisting an offender has been released on police bail.
The nine-year-old girl remains in hospital but is now reported to be in a stable condition. Her family has been informed of the charges and continues to receive support from specially trained officers. Last month, her parents expressed their devastation through a police statement, noting uncertainty about her future ability to speak or move, or return to her previous self. They added that she was at the restaurant simply for ice cream.
The three men injured in the shooting have since been released from the hospital.
The Metropolitan Police have issued a CCTV image of a motorcyclist they wish to trace in connection with the incident. Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, who leads policing in Hackney and Tower Hamlets, praised the community members who have come forward with information. He expressed ongoing concern for the young victim and her family, highlighting the serious impact of gun crime.
Detective Chief Inspector Joanna Yorke, who is leading the investigation, emphasized that it is still ongoing and urged anyone with information about the motorcycle rider to contact the police. The team continues to work tirelessly to uncover the full details of the incident.