A gang chased a teen with machetes and a gun in Leeds. The gun jammed, and police quickly arrested four teens.
The victim ran into a store to get away and escaped through its back door. Cameras caught the gang running with machetes. Police came quickly and found the four teens hiding on Brown Hill Terrace in Harehills.
Police found a 16-year-old with a machete, who hid in someone’s garden. Kamahl Johnson, 19, and Zane Gatewood, 18, also hid, while a 17-year-old was with them in another garden. Gatewood had a machete in his pants.
Another machete was in a dog kennel there, and a loaded handgun was in a bag nearby. Footage showed the victim had handled the gun. The teens were from a gang, targeting a rival, and had walked three miles into the rivals’ area.
The victim did not help the police. Cops charged the four teens with attempted murder, as well as charges for having a gun and affray. They said they weren’t guilty of trying to murder but admitted to the gun charge and affray.
Johnson had bleach and admitted to having it. Gatewood and the 16-year-old admitted to having machetes. The court sentenced them: Johnson and Gatewood got seven years, two months; the 17-year-old got seven years, five months; and the 16-year-old got four years, nine months.
A police chief said the event was terrifying, as it happened in a place filled with families and children. The teens did not care who they hurt, being only after a rival gang member. Police found the teens and the weapons quickly.
The police built a strong case and hope the sentences reassure the public. Police take these crimes very seriously and work hard to fight gang violence, wanting to protect young people.