Man found guilty of attempted murder after shooting his best friend in Essex
Adam Valli chased his victim down the A127, before holding him at gunpoint
Last updated 13th Feb 2024
A man has been found guilty of attempting to murder his friend in Shoeburyness last May.
An investigation was launched on 14 May 2023 after Essex Police received a call shortly after 2am about a man being shot on Frobisher Way in Shoeburyness.
Officers, including armed response officers attended the scene and the victim was located with a bullet wound to his leg.
The suspect was quickly identified as Adam Valli, 22, from Beckton in East London. He had been best friends with the victim.
Enquiries revealed that the two men had been at a nightclub in London together on Saturday, 13 May and had argued over a lift home. The argument continued over phone calls and text messages for a few hours with Valli threatening to ‘blast’ the victim.
Valli then chased the victim down on the A127, cutting in front of the car the victim was in and shouted at him to get in which the victim did. Whilst both men were in the car, Valli pulled out a gun and threatened to take the victim to outside his mother’s house and shoot him.
The two men got out of the car on Frobisher Way with Valli continuing to point the gun at the victim’s head. The victim was then shot in the leg. Valli told the victim he was going to bleed to death before he drove off.
Valli was arrested on 19 May 2023 at his home address. He had attempted to change his appearance by shaving off his hair and beard.
He answered no comment to all questions in interview and, whilst in custody, a police officer was assaulted.
He was charged with attempted murder, possession with intent to supply a class B drug, possession with intent to supply Class A drugs, having a firearm with intent to commit and indictable offence, possession of a firearm, assault against a constable in the execution of their duty and criminal damage.
Following a three-week trial at Basildon Crown Court, on Monday, 12 February a jury found Valli guilty of attempted murder.
He will appear on 8 April for sentencing. He is due to stand trial for the assault on police and drugs offence charges at a later date.
Detective Inspector Yoni Adler from our Serious Crime Directorate said “It was very clear that Valli acted in a cowardly fashion following a perceived slight, arming himself with a gun before shooting the victim.
“The victim’s injury was life-threatening and he has since had to have four surgeries to repair the damage. He is extremely lucky to be alive and I hope that he is able to move forward from what happened to him.
“The tenacity and high calibre of the investigation cannot be underestimated. Our officers worked quickly to arrest Valli and thoroughly investigate. This result has taken another dangerous individual off the streets and unable to harm anyone else.”