Home / Crime and Justice / Gunman Jailed for 32 Years After Shooting Victim at Point-Blank Range
Gunman Jailed for 32 Years After Shooting Victim at Point-Blank Range
12 Nov
Summary
- Armed police swoop on gunman Leon Haughton
- Haughton shot a man in a car park at close range
- Victim survived the attack but Haughton jailed for 32 years
On April 6, 2025, Leon Haughton, 34, shot a man in his 20s at point-blank range in a car park in Dudley, West Midlands. Haughton had placed a GPS tracker on the victim's car and followed him before the attack, which occurred in the early hours of the morning.
Despite his injuries, the victim managed to make his way to the hospital and survived the terrifying assault. Police launched a major manhunt for Haughton and tracked him down on April 14 in Wolverhampton. Dramatic bodycam footage shows armed police swarming Haughton's car, where they found a loaded sawn-off shotgun and 11 rounds of ammunition.
Last month, Haughton was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to 32 years in prison. The judge stated that gun crime is a serious problem in the Black Country and Wolverhampton, and that Haughton's actions had "further helped break down social cohesion" in the community. The judge emphasized that Haughton's victim narrowly escaped death and that the sentence was intended to set an example due to the damage firearms can cause.
