A man was shot in a nightclub, but no one reported it. The shooter is on trial.
Wednesbury: A man was shot at a nightclub. The shooter wore a bright orange jacket. Shaquille Blake admitted to firing the gun but denies trying to kill Demehl Thomas.
After the shooting on August 13, 2023, Blake fled to Dubai. He was arrested in Birmingham last year. He faces charges of attempted murder and firearm possession.
Prosecutor John O’Higgins explained that Thomas was shot in the abdomen. The bullet went through his spine. Hospital staff alerted the police, but Thomas wouldn’t cooperate.
O’Higgins noted that no one from the crowded nightclub called the police. Investigators later linked the shooting to Blake using CCTV footage.
Before the shooting, Blake and his friend went to a few places, including a sports bar and a pizza shop. They drove to the nightclub in a Ford Transit.
O’Higgins mentioned that the nightclub’s security didn’t properly check for weapons. This may have allowed Blake to bring a gun inside.
At 3:45 AM, Blake confronted Thomas in the foyer. CCTV showed Blake shooting Thomas, who then fell to the ground. Blake even stepped on him while leaving.
After the shooting, Blake and his friend traveled to Scotland, then to Ireland, and finally to Dubai. They left the UK shortly after the incident.
Blake returned to the UK and was stopped by police while driving. He initially gave false information but was soon identified.
In interviews, Blake denied shooting Thomas but later confessed. He pleaded guilty to lesser charges but not to attempted murder.
O’Higgins told the jury that the key issue is Blake’s intent. He argued that Blake’s actions were deliberate, not accidental.
Doctors advised against removing the bullet from Thomas’s spine. Thomas refused to cooperate with the police investigation.
The trial is ongoing.
