Four gangsters who left girl, seven, in intensive care and crying 'mummy, why ... trends now
Four gangsters who left a seven year old girl in intensive care following a drive-by shooting outside a church have been jailed for 73 years.
The girl suffered wounds to her lung, abdomen, and groin, and still has a metal pellet embedded in a muscle close to her heart which will impact her for the rest of her life.
An adult woman who was also hit in the attack, spent four months in hospital and can no longer walk by herself.
A total of four women and two children were injured after the gunmen fired a sawn-off shotgun at a crowd of people outside St Aloysius Church in Euston, north London, in what was believed to be a gang-related attack.
During sentencing, the court heard victim impact statements, including one from the mother of the girl.
A grab from CCTV footage showing people fleeing the incident in terror near Euston station
Four gangsters performed a drive-by shooting outside St Aloysius church (pictured) on Phoenix Road
A picture of the scene near Euston Station on Phoenix Road in north London
Forensic officers comb the scene where three women and a seven-year-old girl were injured near St Aloysius Church in a drive-by shooting
Police at the scene where the shooting occurred while a memorial service was taking place
She said: 'My daughter used to be a happy and outgoing girl who loved princesses, singing, and dancing.
'But this incident has taken her innocence away from her.
'I will never forget a comment she said to me while we were in the hospital. It still pains me.
'She asked me: 'Mummy, why is this happening to me?' For a seven-year-old girl to say that, to feel she had done something wrong, is heartbreaking.
'I honestly thought I was going to lose my daughter.'
Ringleader Tyrell La Croix, sentenced to 26 years, even celebrated the gang's show of strength later that evening following what was believed to be a revenge attack.
At the time of the shooting, the victims were attending a memorial service for Fresia Calderon, 50, and her daughter Sara Sanchez, 20, who died within weeks of each other through natural causes.
Detectives believe that one of the gunmen, a member of a gang in north London, had wanted to attack rival gang members who were at the service.
Mourners had turned to watch doves being released from the church steps when the criminals drove by in a black Toyota and shot at them from the rear passenger window.
La Croix, 23, Alrico Nelson-Martin, 20, Jordan Walters, 24, and Jashy Perch, 20 were all convicted of conspiracy to wound with intent to cause serious bodily harm during a trial at Kingston Crown Court in February.
Nelson-Martin was also convicted of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and Perch was also convicted of possession of an offensive weapon.
Another victim, who was present in court, held back tears as her statement was read out.
Police vehicles and a cordon were put in place following the horror incident in north London
The incident happened on Phoenix Road, metres away from Euston Station in central London
The drive-by shooting took place in north London outside the memorial of a cancer victim, 20, and her mother, 50
She said: 'Prior to the incident, I was an extremely hands on mother, taking my children to school, piano classes, swimming lessons, as well as trips on to London or Brighton.
'I had the freedom to do that. But now, I have lost my physical and mental freedom.
'I can no longer walk across the road without assistance. I no longer feel safe, often anxious that something bad will happen.
'I no longer take my children out by myself. Financially, we are strained and close to losing our home, as I have been unable to work.
'And a day that was meant to be about remembering my friends was turned upside down by the actions of these individuals.
'It was a beautiful service which ended in a
