Jesse Lloyd-Smith was found by his mother fatally injured yards from their home in Peckham, south-east London
A teenage gunman has been jailed for life for the shooting of a young man in an alleyway near the Damilola Taylor Youth Centre.
Jesse Lloyd-Smith was found by his mother fatally injured yards from their home in Peckham, south-east London, on July 10 2024. Gabriel Charles, 19, had travelled to the scene in an Ford S-Max car which was found burnt out days after the murder. Charles had fled the country after the shooting and denied being present at the scene of the killing.
Today, he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 28 years behind bars. Sentencing him at the Old Bailey, Judge Patrick Field KC said: “Jesse’s killing was not a spontaneous act. It was an execution, a planned and premeditated murder.
“That planning involved obtaining a stolen vehicle, false number plates to disguise its identity, obtaining a firearm and ammunition and carrying out surveillance to identify Jesse’s whereabouts. I am satisfied you, Gabriel Charles, carried out this surveillance.”
The judge said he could not be sure if Charles was the gunman or a getaway driver but said it “may not matter” as both intended to kill the victim.
A jury at the Old Bailey previously found Charles, from Southwark, south London, guilty of murder. Co-defendant Kywan JN Pierre, 19, from Selhurst, south London, was cleared of murder but convicted of plotting to pervert the course of justice. Five others were found guilty of helping dispose of evidence as the killer sought to evade justice.
The jury had been told how the silver-coloured Ford S-Max had driven slowly towards the alleyway at around 4.50pm last July 10. Prosecutor James Dawes KC had said that the S-Max passed the Damilola Taylor Youth Centre, named after the 10-year-old who was stabbed to death in November 2000, turned the corner and stopped.
The gunman got out of the S-Max and ran towards the victim, firing at least five shots as he went, jurors had heard.
Mr Dawes had said: “Some of the shots hit Jesse knocking him to the ground. The gunman ran back to the car which drove away.” The victim’s mother, Ty Lloyd-Smith, was in her flat only yards away and heard the noise of shots. Mr Dawes said: “She saw the shooter but what she could not see was her son because he was in the alleyway. She feared the worst and she shouted out Jesse’s name.”
She ran downstairs to find her 19-year-old son lying on the ground, shot in the head, jurors heard. His friend, Jamie Burgess, was frantically trying to help him and told police a person called “S” was involved. The victim was taken to hospital for emergency surgery but he died the next day.
A search of the scene, with dogs, led to the recovery of four spent cartridges and two unfired bullets all from a 9mm automatic pistol. The shooting was partly captured on CCTV footage although it was from some distance away, Mr Dawes said.
Five other defendants were sentenced for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. JN Pierre was locked up for three years; and Ben Nguyen, 20, of no fixed address, was detained for five years having also been convicted of assisting an offender.
A 17-year-old youth, who cannot be identified, and Abdoul Guene, 19, from Peckham, were both detained for two years.
Enver Francis, 22, from Southwark, was jailed for four years having “taken charge” of the plot to pervert the course of justice.
Following the conviction Jesse’s mother, Ty Lloyd-Smith, said: “To those responsible for the brutal daylight shooting of my beloved son, I wish to express the overwhelming emotional turmoil our family and friends continue to face. The loss of a vibrant young man, filled with potential and dreams, serves as a heart-breaking reminder of the fragility of life.
“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the homicide team for their relentless patience, commitment, and dedication in bringing these perpetrators to justice. Their tireless efforts have provided us with a glimmer of hope amidst our pain. Additionally, we are profoundly thankful for the compassion and care given by the London Air Ambulance team during our son’s critical time of need. Their quick actions and heartfelt support made a difference in his final moments.
“We urge the community to come together and advocate for a safer environment for our children. Together, we can make a difference. Fighting for justice is not just for our loved ones but for every child in our community who deserves to live without fear. We ask for support in creating initiatives that foster safety, understanding, and compassion.”
Judge Field said the consequences of the murder had been “profound” and paid tribute to the remarkable “fortitude and quiet dignity” displayed by the victim’s family in court.
He added: “This was in marked contrast to the quite frankly appalling behaviour witnessed in the dock during the trial which was nothing short of ignorant, unfeeling and disrespectful. That Jesse’s family had to be subjected to this behaviour is shameful.”