Moment Birmingham mourners run for their lives as gunshots blasted into crowd at wake

This is the horrifying moment mourners were forced to flee for their lives as gunshots were blasted at a wake in Birmingham. Four people were hurt as gunman Meshaq Berryman tried to murder people paying their respects to a teenage stab victim.

Dramatic footage above, now released by police, first shows the congregation gathered outside St Mary's Church Hall, Lozells for the wake of Akeem Bailey, who himself was fatally stabbed. Four gunshots then ring out in Hamstead Road as Berryman blasts a gun from the backseat of a stolen Nissan Qashqai pulled up outside.

As the car speeds off, members of the group are seen panicking, desperately trying to hide from the gunshots and save their own lives. Police say it was lucky no one was killed in the terrifying drive-by shooting - which could have "easily been a triple murder probe."

Read more: First photo of Birmingham wake shooter as police say it 'could have been triple murder probe'

Three teenagers were shot and a schoolgirl aged 14 suffered significant injuries as she was 'trampled' by the fleeing crowd. One 19-year-old was shot in the chest, while another victim of the same age was blasted in the left foot. A man aged 18 was hit in the right knee.

Offenders left 'nothing behind' and had taken steps to cover their tracks, police say, with the stolen Qashqai later found abandoned two miles away in Little Francis Grove, Nechells.

Following the shooting, bullet casings were found on the street nearby, a huge amount of CCTV was reviewed and forensic enquiries linked suspects to the vehicle, Detective Inspector Francis Nock said. Footage released by the force also captures Berryman's arrest, with him sitting in the back of a police van in a blue and red dressing gown.

The officer says: "Alright mate, Mr Berryman, you're under arrest for the attempted murder of [the victims] on Friday, February 24 on Hamstead Road." Berryman, who was found guilty of three counts of attempted murder, believed rival gang members would be at the wake - despite Mr Bailey hailing no links to gangs.

He had earlier admitted possession with intent to supply crack cocaine and cannabis, after more than 40 wraps of drugs, along with digital scales were found at his home. Det Insp Francis Nock, from the force's Major Crime Team, said: "If ever you can expect a moment in time where you should be able to feel safe, and mourn your loved one peacefully, it should be at a funeral and the following wake.

"You can see on the CCTV the congregation is gathered as the vehicle drives past and the gunshots are fired. You can just see the sheer panic in the group as they run, searching for any place to run to hide and save their own life.

"Not only did we have the three young men who were shot, we also had the young girl who was trampled in the crowd who also received significant injuries. I have absolutely no doubt it will affect the people present at that wake for years to come, and in some cases, the rest of their lives."

Berryman will be sentenced on December 6. A second man charged with three attempted murder charges was cleared after a trial this month.

Have you been affected by this? You can contact us by emailing stephanie.balloo@reachplc.com