Imagine a little girl, just eight years old, celebrating her birthday, only to become the target of a cold-blooded attack. This is the chilling reality for one family, whose lives were forever shattered by a gunman disguised as a Deliveroo rider. Jazz Reid, a 33-year-old suspected hitman, has been sentenced to 38 years in prison for a series of shocking crimes, including the attempted murder of a father and the wounding of his young daughter. But here's where it gets even more disturbing: Reid meticulously planned his attacks, disguising himself as a food delivery rider to carry out what the judge described as potential 'contract killings'.
On November 24, 2024, Reid unleashed a hail of 11 bullets at a car in Ladbroke Grove, northwest London, striking the eight-year-old girl twice and her 34-year-old father five times. Miraculously, both survived, but the physical and emotional scars run deep. This was just one of three targeted shootings prosecutors say were executed with chilling precision. And this is the part most people miss: the motive remains a mystery, though drug dealing or financial gain are suspected. Could these attacks be linked to a darker underworld? The judge hinted at the possibility, suggesting Reid may have been a hired gun.
The first shooting, on October 9, 2024, left Ameile Buncombe, 27, seriously injured after being shot in the thigh at his Notting Hill home. Two weeks later, Reid fired four shots at a north London address, linked to the same target as the third shooting. In the final attack, the father was shot in the back, chest, abdomen, and pelvis, while his daughter was hit in her buttocks and foot after a birthday celebration at a trampoline park. The family's trauma is unimaginable, with the mother revealing in a heart-wrenching victim impact statement that the shooting has 'shattered my family's life'. She suffers daily flashbacks and overwhelming guilt, while her partner is left paralyzed and their daughter, once bubbly and bright, now lives in fear and isolation.
But here’s the controversial part: Reid claims he was 'set up' over a £10,000 debt and that the gun was 'planted'. Is he a cunning manipulator or a victim of circumstance? The jury didn’t buy it, finding him guilty of attempted murder, wounding with intent, and firearms offenses. Yet, the question lingers: What truly drove these attacks? The court heard references to gangs, but prosecutors found no evidence linking Reid to any gang activity. So, was this a lone wolf operation or part of a larger criminal network?
Dramatic police footage captured Reid's arrest, with armed officers boxing in his car and smashing windows to apprehend him. One of the guns used was found under a concrete slab outside his Uxbridge home, while the other was recovered from a moped. The Deliveroo disguise and e-bike were discovered at an associate's flat in north Kensington. Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Richard Scott called the crimes 'truly shocking,' emphasizing Reid's intent to kill and the lifelong trauma inflicted on an innocent child.
As Reid begins his 38-year sentence, with at least two-thirds to be served, the victims are left to pick up the pieces. The mother’s haunting words—'It makes me sick there’s still a bullet inside my baby girl'—echo the profound injustice of this case. What do you think? Was Reid a hired killer, or is there more to the story? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
