Gun crackdown brings two further charges after South Shields firearm incident

Two further men have been charged following a shooting in South Shields earlier this year.

It comes as the UK launches a crackdown on gun crime with a nationwide firearms conspiracy underway.

The South Shields incident took place shortly after 3 pm on September 16.

Police were alerted to a disturbance on Heaton Gardens and it was reported that a car pulled outside of an address and a firearm was shot.

The offenders then made off.

Nobody was injured but an investigation was immediately launched into the incident.

Six people had already been charged in connection with the shooting in October after a series of dawn raids in South Tyneside and London, during which Northumbria Police were supported by the Metropolitan Police to coordinate the strikes.

Now, two further men have been charged with conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence – taking the total number to eight.

Paul Momat, 34, of Owen Drive, West Boldon, and Tyran Baglin, 23, of no fixed abode, were due to appear before magistrates in South Tyneside on Thursday, December 2.

Speaking after October’s arrest activity, Assistant Chief Constable David Felton, of Northumbria Police, said: “Incidents of this nature are rare and our Force remains one of the safest places in the country to live and work.

“As a Force, we are committed to using every tactic at our disposal in order to tackle serious and violent criminality and ensure perpetrators are dealt with swiftly and robustly.

“This outcome has been possible due to some outstanding teamwork between Northumbria Police, Metropolitan Police, North East Regional Specialist Operations Unit (NERSOU) and our criminal justice partners. I would like to thank everyone who played their part in these proactive arrests.

“I would like to reassure our communities that a full and thorough investigation has been ongoing ever since this incident, which has culminated in a number of suspects being charged as part of this conspiracy.

“Under the banner of Operation Sentinel, we will continue to have a zero-tolerance approach towards serious and violent crime – and will do everything in our power to continue to ensure those responsible are brought to justice.

“I would also like to thank those in our communities who have already come forward to assist with this significant investigation. By working together, we can ensure Northumbria remains a safe place to live and work.”

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Northumbria police via the ‘Tell Us Something’ page of the website.