Dangerous 9Boyz gangster jailed for shooting rival teens at wake for Birmingham stabbing victim

A drug dealer who shot three people at a wake amid an ‘ongoing street war’ between two notorious Birmingham gangs has been sentenced to life with a minimum term of 24 years. Meshaq Berryman was in the back of a Nissan Qashqai when he opened fire at a crowd at St Mary’s Church Hall in Handsworth shortly after 6pm on February 24, 2023.

The now 22-year-old who is a member of the 9Boyz gang hit three teenagers with bullets, two of whom were associated with rivals Armed Response (AR). The wake had been held for 17-year-old Akeem Bailey who had been stabbed to death in a separate unrelated incident.

Following a trial Berryman, of Chain Walk, Lozells, was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder. He had also admitted possession of class A and B drugs with intent to supply after thousands of pounds worth of cannabis, cocaine and heroin were found at his address.

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Judge Melbourne Inman KC, passing sentence at Birmingham Crown Court today, Friday, January 31, said: “Sadly this is yet another case of very serious violence involving the use of firearms between street gangs in this city. Gang violence is a scourge of this city as it is elsewhere. This was a planned attack. The funeral was of a child who had been murdered as a result of a gang feud – I make it clear the victim was a wholly innocent victim and wasn’t a member of any gang.”

Prosecutor Lisa Hancox said the shooting was part of the ‘ongoing street war between 9Boyz and Armed Response gangs’. She stated the wake at Hampton Road was for Akeem Bailey whose brother was affiliated with Armed Response.

Berryman left his home and walked to Summer Croft to get into the stolen Nissan, which was on false plates. He left behind his phone and jacket with another gang member and put on a pair of gloves, which were later found to have gun residue on them.

Around 100 people were at St Mary’s Church Hall for the wake. The Nissan made an initial pass before turning round and Berryman opening fire. Judge Inman described the aftermath as ‘utter terror’ as attendees ran inside for safety while others tried to help the wounded.

A 19-year-old male, connected to Armed Response, was shot in the chest through his left arm. He suffered broken ribs, damage to his lung and had to have an operation to have the bullet removed. A second 19-year-old, said to be part of the same gang, was struck in his left foot.

A third male, aged 18, not thought to be associated with AR, was shot in the shin. He stated he still struggled to walk having spent five months on the sofa physically recovering.

The teen also spoke of the impact to his mental health and said: “I don’t like leaving the house. I’d rather stay in at home because I don’t want to die.

“Anywhere you go something bad can happen. I was at my best friend’s funeral and got shot. Anything can happen.”

A 14-year-old girl hurt her neck in the ‘stampede’ as people fled the church. Her mother said the shooting had ‘changed her life forever’, describing how she felt nervous at loud sounds and no longer felt comfortable in crowded places.

Berryman’s home was searched on March 21, 2023. Weighing scales, thousands of pounds worth of drugs as well as a knuckle duster and machete were recovered. Messages on a mobile phone also seized indicated he was involved in cutting and supplying illegal substances as well as controlling ‘runners’.

In 2021 Berryman received a two-year suspended sentence at Worcester Crown Court for drug dealing which expired 12 days before the wake shooting. Earl Pinnock, defending, today told the court his client has had an ‘extremely difficult life’, including being educated at a pupil referral unit from a young age.

He argued it ‘maximised’ his isolation and ‘spiral into a negative association with the wrong company’. Mr Pinnock went on to highlight Berryman’s ‘impoverished background’.

The barrister referred to police footage of the defendant’s home which he described as ‘squalid’, adding: “It is not the sort of environment that would foster hope, not the sort of place any of us would want our children to be brought up in. It provides more context for his ability to go on to do what he went on to do.”

Evidence shown at his trial featured Berryman appearing in drill rap videos threatening to shoot and kill others. Judge Inman concluded he had not shown any remorse because he had written a letter continuing to deny involvement in the shooting

He stated the attack was a ‘determined attempt to murder a number of people’ demonstrating the defendant had ‘no regard at all for human life’. But he also acknowledged Berryman was immature and had limited education.

Confirming that a life sentence was appropriate Judge Inman added Berryman had a ‘deep involvement in gang culture’ and represented a danger to the public.