CCTV captures moment innocent father-of-two is gunned down by e-bike rider in case of ‘mistaken identity’
This is the moment a gunman on an e-bike shot an innocent father of two in the head in a case of mistaken identity.
Jake Brown, 23, opened fire five times at the silver Skoda on Page Hall Road in Sheffield, shooting Kevin Pokuta, 19, in the head on December 12 last year.
Brown is seen passing the car with Mr Pokuta inside before reversing, pulling out a gun and shooting at the vehicle as it rapidly reversed.
But he shot the wrong man after mistakenly thinking the car belonged to cannabis dealers he had tried to rob earlier that day.
The victim’s younger brother, Dominik, 17, was also in the car during the shooting but escaped unharmed.
In an emotional victim impact statement, the teenager said: “Kevin was a good soul who had his whole life ahead of him.
“He was a shy family man, but he was so funny and could make us all laugh.”
On Monday, Brown was sentenced to life in prison, with a minimum term of 36 years, for murder.
The footage shows Jake Brown, 23, opening fire on the silver Skoda five times and shooting Kevin Pokuta, 19, in the head in the early hours of December 12 last year
Brown, pictured, who did not take the stand to defend himself at his trial, was jailed for life on Monday for Kevin’s murder and told to serve a minimum term of 36 years.
After a botched robbery, Brown mistook the car for a drug peddler’s car and drove past the car before firing five shots into the car.
Three other men – Lester Ramsey, 25, Leon Waite, 26 and Adam Mulligan, 33 – were also found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery. They were also sentenced to a total of twelve years in prison.
Sentencing Bron, Judge Lavender said: ‘It is a tragedy that, no doubt fueled by your desire for revenge, you mistook him for the wrong person. No punishment I can dish out will ever make up for the loss of Kevin.”
It was heard how the murder happened following a botched robbery on December 11, 2023, after the group met another group of men at a cannabis factory at a house in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, – in a convoy of black cars, e-bikes and Mulligans white van.
The group went there with a plan to rob the drugs, but failed when the drug farmers defended it.
The Public Prosecution Service stated that the drug dealers had a gray VW Passat with them and drove towards one of the men, knocking him off the bike.
Shortly afterwards, Brown shot the car in retaliation, the court was told.
Prosecutor John Harrison KC told the jury during the trial: ‘It is clear that most of the group wanted revenge after the confrontation, so they looked for the VW Passat they intended to use to shoot the occupants.’
Three other men above were also found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and were also jailed for a total of 12 years
It was heard how the murder happened after a botched robbery on December 11, 2023
The 19-year-old who died while caught in crosshairs was shot in the back of the head, prompting his heartbroken younger brother to rush to get them both to safety
After failing to steal the drugs, the group disbanded within 30 minutes, Brown grabbing another gun and taking to the streets seeking revenge.
It was around this time, around 12.20pm, that he spotted a similar silver-grey car and, believing it was the one transporting the drug peddler, he drove alongside the vehicle before firing five shots into the car before driving away.
The 19-year-old who died while caught in the crosshairs was shot in the back of the head, prompting his heartbroken younger brother to rush to get them both to safety.
He was rushed to Northern General Hospital by paramedics but his injury was deemed medically inoperable.
He was taken off life support on December 13, 2023 and died shortly afterwards.
In a victim impact statement written by Dominik on their behalf and read out by Mr Harrison, Kevin’s family said they were ‘devastated’ by the 19-year-old’s death.
They said, ‘No one can understand that Kevin is dead. When he was taken to the hospital, we all thought he would be fine, that the doctors could save him.
‘Kevin was the father of two young children who he will never see grow up… his son celebrated his third birthday by blowing out candles next to his grave. No child should have to do that.
‘Kevin was a good soul who had his whole life ahead of him. He was a shy family man, but was so funny and could make us all laugh.
“Kevin will be loved and missed forever.”
The 19-year-old was rushed to Northern General Hospital by paramedics but his injury was deemed medically inoperable
At his trial in November, a jury unanimously found Brown guilty of murder.
He was also found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, attempted GBH and conspiracy to commit robbery.
In sentencing, Judge Lavender said: ‘Kevin Pokuta had nothing to do with the cannabis farm. You didn’t know him and had nothing against him.’
A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery.
He was praised by the judge for his involvement in youth care, education and finding volunteer work since the murder.
He was given a two-year youth rehabilitation order and ordered to carry out 60 hours of unpaid work.