Gun attack in Solihull leads to conviction after hotel raid finds drugs and taser
A man found guilty of wounding following a shooting during an attempted robbery in Solihull has been linked to further offences after police discovered a substantial quantity of cocaine and a taser at a hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon.
At Birmingham Crown Court on 8 May, the defendant, J’jay Lawlor, who was 19 at the time of the incident and is now 21, was convicted of wounding and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. He had earlier admitted several related offences, including attempted robbery and possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply.
The attack took place at about 11pm on 25 January last year on Oak Croft in Solihull. The victim, a 23-year-old man identified in other reporting as biker Liam Roberts, suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and required surgery to remove the bullet. Police said the injury was serious, but the victim survived.
"Get the f*** of the bike now, you think this is a joke?"
According to the prosecution, Lawlor approached the victim with his face covered and fired without warning. Detectives from West Midlands Police’s Major Crime Unit carried out a CCTV trawl that identified three suspects, all of whom were arrested and charged within days of the attack.
A week after the shooting, officers traced Lawlor to the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the scene they recovered approximately £2,000 worth of cocaine and a taser, items that formed part of the evidence presented at trial. The court heard that Lawlor’s home address is on Stratford Road in Solihull, a location unconnected to Stratford-upon-Avon aside from the similarity in names.
Co-defendants and court findings
Two other men charged alongside Lawlor were also found guilty. Their convictions complete the picture of an investigation that moved swiftly from scene to court.
- J’jay Lawlor – convicted of wounding and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life; had pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, possession of an offensive weapon, and possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply.
- James Sherriff, 47, of Masons Way, Solihull – convicted (details of charges set out at trial).
- Carl Gamble, 29, no fixed address – convicted (details of charges set out at trial).
| Defendant | Age at time | Address | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| J’jay Lawlor | 19 | Stratford Road, Solihull | Convicted of wounding; firearm possession with intent |
| James Sherriff | 47 | Masons Way, Solihull | Convicted |
| Carl Gamble | 29 | No fixed address | Convicted |
The court was told that Lawlor’s defence contested elements of the prosecution case. They argued the shooting was not personal and would have occurred regardless of who was on the bike that night. The defence also said Lawlor had been exposed to violent imagery—specifically a video of his stepfather being assaulted in prison—and that he had developed a dependence on cocaine, which they said affected his behaviour at the time of the incident.
Victim impact material read to the court outlined the lasting consequences of the attack, including significant harm to the victim’s family life. The statement said the family felt compelled to move residence following the shooting.
The incident and subsequent convictions will be of concern to Solihull residents given the violent nature of the offence and the involvement of drugs and weapons. West Midlands Police’s Major Crime Unit led the probe that secured arrests within days and led to evidence gathered at the Stratford hotel a week later, demonstrating co-ordinated investigative work across force areas.
The convictions remove dangerous individuals from the streets, but they also underline persistent challenges for the area: the criminal use of firearms, drug supply, and the ripple effects on victims and their communities. Local authorities and policing teams will be watching for any linked activity and considering what further steps can be taken to prevent similar episodes.
Sentencing dates and any subsequent appeals were not detailed in the material presented to court that day.
