Manchester drive-by shooting trio jailed as shocking CCTV shows gun which hit passer-by’s car

A gunman and his two associates have been jailed for their part in a drive-by shooting which saw a passer-by’s car caught in the crossfire.

The incident in the Harpurhey area of the city - in broad daylight in January 2021 - saw two cars driving in tandem at speed onto Briscoe Lane, where a man can be seen leaning out of the backseat window firing a gun at the car he and two other men were chasing.

Police trawled CCTV and discovered footage that showed Sean Cowie, 32, hanging out the side of a dark grey BMW X5 pointing a gun at a black VW Golf that his associate Dean Urey, 39, was pursuing.

Police later arrested Cowie, Urey, and Paul Ryan, 43, and they pleaded guilty to various offences at Manchester Minishull Street Court.

Shooter Cowie, of Ashton Road East, Oldham, was handed five years and seven months behind bars after being convicted of conspiracy with intent to cause fear or violence offence.

Ryan received a six-and-a-half year sentence for possession of a shotgun without a license and conspiracy with intent to cause fear or violence offence.

Urey, of Greaves Road, Failsworth, was ordered to serve five years and four months for admitting conspiracy with intent to cause fear or violence offence.

What have police said?

Detective Inspector Claire Moss, Senior Investigating Officer for Op Accentor, said: “The streets of north Manchester are much safer today now that Sean Cowie, Paul Ryan and Dean Urey are behind bars and unable to embark on any further reckless and potentially life-threatening acts of violence in our communities.

“We never established what this was all about, but what we uncovered from the CCTV of this attack was shocking to say the least, and it is quite clear from the fact an innocent man’s car was struck that this easily could’ve ended with somebody being seriously - if not fatally - injured.

“In the moments preceding the shooting, we can see plenty of daytime traffic coming and going through Briscoe Lane - including a woman pushing a pram - in what was a busy area so close to a local primary school in the middle of the school day. Anyone could’ve been seriously hurt here.

“There were a number of firearms incidents in the north of the city at the start of 2021 and we understand and share the concern that the public feel when these incidents happen so close to their doorstep; however, we’ve put a lot of effort and resources into disrupting and tackling those individuals we believe are involved in gun crime and have seen a significant drop in incidents since.”