A MAN executed in a "reckless" drive-by shooting in Sheffield was not the gunman's intended target, police revealed today.
Officers believe James Kamara, aged 22, was simply in the "wrong place at the wrong time" when he was gunned down on Brunswick Street, Broomhall, in a feud between two rival city gangs.
Detectives investigating the shooting have established James was a member of a gang – but do not believe the gunman specifically targeted him.
It is thought a disturbance between two groups of young men in the Devonshire Green area of Sheffield 90 minutes before the shooting triggered the attack.
Some of those involved in the earlier clash, where glasses were thrown, were standing on Brunswick Street when James and three others were shot.
James, from Pitsmoor, died at the scene and a 21-year-old Sheffield man was seriously injured after being blasted in his chest and arm.
Cousins Jamaine Anderson, 23, and Tyrone Ricketts, 20, escaped with minor gunshot wounds.
Read tributes to James Kamara and add your own message in our book of condolenceDetective Superintendent Pete McGuinness, overseeing the murder probe, said the gunman was reckless and had simply aimed at the group of which James was a part.
A semi-automatic weapon was used in the attack and at least 10 shots were fired.
"I put the murder of James Kamara down to a fall-out between two groups of individuals, which stemmed from a disturbance on Devonshire Green where one side came off worse and wanted revenge," said Det Supt McGuinness.
"I don't think the deceased was the intended target – not everyone involved in the earlier incident was standing on Brunswick Street when the weapon was fired. Some were in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"The group was targeted, that I am certain of, but I don't think it was the deceased they wanted dead.
"He was shot because this was a completely reckless attack – a gun was pointed at the group and a magazine was emptied as a car drove by. They didn't care who was hurt.
"This boils down to somebody leaving the confrontation at Devonshire Green feeling their pride had been hurt and wanting revenge. Those involved obviously had access to serious weaponry and weren't bothered about where they used it – this was in broad daylight."
Police yesterday made four arrests over the shooting.
A 26-year-old Sheffield man was arrested in Liverpool and three other men – one aged 18 and two aged 21 – were arrested at addresses on Oxford Street in Upperthorpe, Standish Close in Shirecliffe and Bowfield Road, Wincobank.
They were quizzed on suspicion of murder and attempted murder before being held overnight.
They were due to be questioned further today.
Another man arrested a few hours after the shooting has been released without charge.
Detectives still want to hear from anyone who saw the Vauxhall Vectra used in the drive-by shooting – both before and after the attack.
It was found burned out behind a pub on Whitehouse Lane, Walkley, and detectives believe the driver rode off from the burning car on a moped.
James's family have issued a short statement in which they say they are "still suffering from the tragic loss".
"We are in regular contact with the police and have been told about the arrests that have been made. We hope the police can help us find justice for James as quickly as possible, to help our family move on from this devastating event."
- Anyone with information should call detectives on 0114 296 3497 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
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