Drive-by Gun Attack in Broad Daylight Shocks Harpurhey
A terrifying drive-by shooting erupted in Harpurhey in broad daylight back in January 2021. Two cars sped onto Briscoe Lane, where a man leaned out of a backseat window and fired a gun at the car ahead. One stray bullet even hit an innocent motorist’s car as he drove home from work. Thankfully, no one was physically hurt.
CCTV Footage Breaks the Case Wide Open
After a tip-off from the victim and a painstaking review of local CCTV, detectives uncovered chilling footage of Sean Cowie, 32, hanging out the side of a dark grey BMW X5 firing at a black VW Golf. His partner-in-crime, Dean Urey, 39, was seen chasing the victim’s vehicle.
Meticulous police work led to the arrests of Cowie, Urey, and Paul Ryan, 43. A search at Ryan’s Oldham home uncovered a shotgun, which, although not used in the shooting, was promptly taken off the streets. Ryan has been punished for unlawfully possessing the weapon.
Cracking Down on Gun Crime: A 92% Drop in Incidents
This harrowing case was among several firearm discharges in north Manchester during early 2021. But a strong crackdown by the City of Manchester North Division and the Serious and Organised Crime Firearms Investigation Team (SOC FIT) has seen gun crime plummet by 92%. There were just two reported incidents in the last year, down from 26 the previous.
Jail Sentences Serve Justice to Drive-by Trio
Despite no firearm being directly linked to the shooting, overwhelming evidence forced all three men to plead guilty. Today (Friday 18 March) at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, the gang received hefty jail terms totalling over 17 years:
- Sean Cowie (Ashton Road East, Oldham) – 5 years 7 months for conspiracy intended to cause fear or violence.
- Paul Ryan – 6 years 6 months for unlicensed shotgun possession and conspiracy.
- Dean Urey (Greaves Road, Failsworth) – 5 years 4 months for conspiracy to cause fear or violence.
Detective Speaks Out: Streets Safer With Three Behind Bars
“The streets of north Manchester are safer today with these men behind bars,” said Detective Inspector Claire Moss, Senior Investigating Officer.
“The CCTV showed a shocking attack during a busy school day, with pedestrians and a woman pushing a pram nearby. This reckless act could easily have ended in tragedy.”
“We don’t know what sparked this violence, but our team’s relentless efforts have dramatically reduced firearm incidents across the city.”
“Special thanks to DS Quinn, DS Shauna Hayden, and DC Florence Lowe for their dedication. Gun crime is a huge priority, and we’ll continue to pursue anyone who threatens our communities with firearms.”
