Emergency services at the scene in Somers Town [Simon Lamrock]

FOUR men have been found guilty of a drive-by shooting outside a church in Somers Town.

Tyrell La Croix, 23, Alrico Nelson-Martin, 20, of Willesden Green, Jordan Walters, 24, from Brent and Jashy Perch, 20, from Watford were found guilty unanimously by a jury today (Thursday) of conspiracy to wound with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. Nelson-Martin was also charged with possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life or enable another person to do so.

Last January, there was a gunfire from a vehicle, shooting into a congregation of people who had gathered on the steps outside St Aloysius Church, Phoenix Road. Mourners had just left a memorial service and were awaiting doves to be released outside.

Four women and two children were injured. They were taken to hospital to be treated. One of the girls was left with a metal pellet embedded in a muscle close to her heart which will have an impact for the rest of her life.

One of the women was left with serious injuries which have impacted her hearing and balance. The other victims have recovered from their physical injuries.

Police officers viewed around 2,000 hours’ worth of footage to track the car as it made its escape.

Video from a bus camera showed the car’s number plate and officers made checks to identify the owner. But the car was travelling on cloned plates. The owner of the actual car and was ruled out of the investigation after providing a credible alibi.

Phone data showed Tyrell had been in contact with two other men in the weeks before the attack. Police found that planning began in November 2022 when Lacroix found the black Toyota car that would be used in the shooting.

Lacroix was part of a gang in north London and believed members of a rival gang would be at the memorial service, police said.

Over the weeks that followed, he was in contact with Jordan Walters and Alrico Nelson Martin. Martin supplied the sawn-off shotgun.

Days before the shooting, in early January, Lacroix and Walters visited the church to survey the area. Detectives analysed phone location data to prove they were together in the area.

Detective inspector Darren Jones, from the Specialist Crime Trident Investigation team, said: “These dangerous men brought unimaginable fear and horror to the streets of London. I am pleased our investigation has resulted in them being convicted.

“They cowardly shot at mourners as they gathered outside a church. The innocent women and girls who were injured will have to deal with the impact of that for the rest of their lives.”

The men will be sentenced at the same court on April 12.

Enquiries continue to identify a fourth man who was in the car at the time of the shooting.