A man was shot dead in front of terrified children and their parents in a public drive-by execution.
Connor Brookes was gunned down with a shotgun in Blakenall Heath, Walsall, in July last year, while he sat in a van with his friendBradley Sladyszy.
The shooting was a revenge attack for the death of Bailey Atkinson, who was knifed to death in Walsall town centre in 2023. Connor's brother, Patrick, was one of the men found guilty of his murder.
Friends maintain Connor was an innocent victim caught up in tit-for-tat attacks, describing him as an 'incredibly kind and caring person'.
The 20-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene after the shooting on July 8, which saw the gunman open fire from a stolen black Ford Focus. His friend Bradley was hit in the shoulder.
Byron Sellick, 20, Jake Sanbrook, 23, and Julian Falconer, 20, are now facing life in jail after being convicted of murder yesterday atWolverhampton Crown Court.
They were also found guilty of attempted murder and possession of a firearm.
Samuel Danks-Petty, 20, was found guilty of intent to pervert the course of justice after helping to organise and cover up the cold-blooded murder.
Connor Brookes, 20, was executed with a shotgun in Blakenall Heath, Walsall, West Midlands on July 8 while he sat in a van with his friend Bradley Sladyszy
Disturbing CCTV shows the attackers pulling in while Connor and his friend were sat in a parked van in Well Lane
Detectives believe that was also an attempted revenge attack as part of the escalating feud following Mr Atkinson's murder
Disturbing CCTV shows the attackers pulling in while Connor and his friend were sat in a parked van in Well Lane.
The stolen black car pulled up alongside them, and, seconds later, a gunman in the back of the car fired a shotgun once at them.
The car then takes off at nearly 50mph and was driven to Wyrley Lane where the double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun was dumped in a bin bag within minutes of the shooting and the car was found abandoned days later.
Less than 15 minutes before the murder, shots had also been fired from the Focus towards another car less than two miles away on Stephenson Avenue.
Detectives believe that was also an attempted revenge attack as part of the escalating feud following Mr Atkinson's murder.
Officers found gunshot residue inside the dumped car and DNA was found belonging toSanbrook and Danks-Petty.
All four defendants were remanded in custody and will be sentenced on May 30.
In a statement, Connor's family said: 'Connor was an incredibly kind and caring person, someone who was always there for us.
The car then takes off at nearly 50mph and was driven to Wyrley Lane where the double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun was dumped in a bin bag within minutes of the shooting and the car was found abandoned days later
Members of the public ran in public after the attack happened in broad daylight
Julian Falconer, 20, is facing life in jail after being convicted of murder yesterday at Wolverhampton Crown Court
Jake Sanbrook, pictured, will be sentenced after being convicted of murder following the attack last year
Byron Sellick, pictured,is facing life behind bars after being found guilty atWolverhampton Crown Court
Samuel Danks-Petty, pictured, is one of four defendants remanded in custody who will be sentenced on May 30
The car then takes off at nearly 50mph and was driven to Wyrley Lane where the double-barrelled sawn-off shotgun was dumped in a bin bag
The moment that Jake Sanbrook, 23, pictured, was arrested by police
'His loss at such a young age is devastating, for all of us who loved him.
'This has been a heart-breaking journey for our family, and it's a loss we will carry with us forever. This violence has to end before more lives are ruined.'
Detective Inspector Michelle Cordell, of West Midlands Police, said: 'Connor's murder has had a devastating impact on all who knew and loved him, especially his family.
'His friend survived the attack, but I have no doubt that the trauma he experienced that day will live with him for the rest of his life.
'The brutal and cold-hearted actions of this group in broad daylight were intentional, cruel, cowardly and unjustified.
'We may never know who fired the gun, but the jury's verdicts show that they were acting with a common purpose that day.
'Nothing can bring Connor back, but I hope that today's verdicts provide some comfort to both families as they try to heal and rebuild their lives.'
