Drive-by shooter in Coventry identified for first time
Carren Monga shot dead Abdul Xasan in Coventry last year.
A man who shot dead a rival gang member in Coventry last year has been named for the first time.
Carren Monga opened fire at Abdul Xasan from the back seats of a stolen VW Golf in March 2020 and when sentenced in January was told he’d spend a minimum of 27 years behind bars.
We were able to name 15-year-old accomplice Riaz Ahmed, who was driving the Golf, but as Monga had outstanding court matters against him the judge imposed an identify ban on the gunman.
However, the 19-year-old was sentenced last Friday (15 Oct) on two counts of conspiracy to burgle and the judge has now accepted our appeal to lift the order.
Monga shot Mr Xasan, himself just 19-years-old, as he walked in Harnall Lane, Hillfields just after 2.30pm on 13 March 2020.
Both he and Monga were linked to the C2 gang in Coventry while the victim – who’d been arrested just days before the murder for possessing an imitation gun – was connected to a rival group known as RB7.
Getaway driver Ahmed sped away from the murder scene in the Golf Type R - stolen in Rugby the previous day - and arranged for others to set it on fire in an attempt to destroy forensic evidence.
Both were electronically tagged at the time due to their suspected involvement in other offences – and police seized tagging information that showed they were in the street at the time of the murder.
Shotgun cartridges found in the burned out car were also matched by ballistics experts to spent cartridges recovered from the murder scene.
Despite strong evidence against them the pair denied murder – but following a four week trial at Birmingham Crown Court they were found guilty of conspiracy to murder.
Detective Superintendent Scott Griffiths led the investigation.
He said:
“I’m grateful to the judge for allowing us to now identify Carren Monga as the murderer. It’s important we show justice being served to Mr Xasan’s family, friends and the wider public.
“These sentences must act as a stark warning about the dangers of gang affiliation: you run the risk of serious injury or death, or the possibility of spending much of your life locked up. There has to be a better option for young people.
“We can help people who want to turn their backs on gang culture. Along with our partners including charities and support groups, we can help young people make better choices.
“But for those who insist on affiliating themselves to violent gangs there is a very strong possibility they are going to be seriously injured, killed or spend much of their life locked up in jail."