Huddersfield Man Jailed Over Mistaken Identity Shooting
James Shaw, 49, from Huddersfield, has been locked up for three years and eight months after a bungled 2018 shooting. Shaw admitted conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm at Leeds Crown Court on January 23, 2024.
Innocent Teen Caught in Crossfire
The chilling attack happened on September 16, 2018, at around 6:15pm on Hammond Street. Emergency services rushed to the scene after a 16-year-old boy was shot in the back by suspects who pulled up alongside him in a car.
Thankfully, the teen survived serious but non-life-threatening injuries. It soon emerged Shaw and his gang had targeted the wrong person – confusing the teen for someone else in a twisted act of revenge.
Police Crackdown on Gun Crime
Detective Chief Inspector Zaheer Abbas from the HMET investigation team stressed the trauma endured by the innocent victim: “The streets of West Yorkshire belong to law-abiding citizens, not criminals. I hope today’s sentence sends that message loud and clear.”
DCI Abbas also hailed recent successes tackling gun crime, revealing that 2023 saw the lowest firearms discharges on record for the force. In Kirklees, gun incidents plummeted from 17 in 2019 to just 2 last year.
Manhunt on for Other Shooters
While Shaw faces justice, police say others involved remain at large. The investigation continues, with officers urging anyone with information to call 101 quoting reference 13180462836.
