Watch dramatic moment attempted shotgun murder suspect is put on floor by armed Essex Police officers

THIS is the dramatic moment one of three men who took part in an attempted murder with shotguns was arrested by armed police officers.

It has been released by Essex Police after the trio were jailed for a total of 44 years thanks to an investigation by specialist officers into a shooting incident in Crays Hill.

Thanks to the meticulous work of our Serious and Organised Crime Unit (SOCU) Johnny Smith, 20, Donny Archer, 27, and Nelson Buckland, 21, were convicted on Thursday 12 March following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.

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Smith, of Oak Road, Crays Hill, Buckland, of Risebridge Chase, Romford, and Archer, of Kelvedon Road, Tiptree were all convicted of attempted GBH with intent, possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and burglary offences.

Smith was also convicted of driving while disqualified and driving without insurance.

It followed an incident in Gardners Lane North area in the early hours of 18 April last year.

Through their investigation our officers were able to establish that the trio had fired at a vehicle at around 12.30am.

They’d laid in wait as part of a feud between two groups and during the attack a van being driven in the area was struck multiple times by gunshot rounds, damaging the vehicle and only narrowly missing the driver.

Our officers were able to put all three men in the area when the incident took place and trace their movements pre and post offence.

It was subsequently shown that Archer and Smith were also responsible for burglary in Steeple Bumpstead on the 16 March where four shotguns were stolen. It is believed these guns were used in the attack a month later.

Officers also established they had stolen an Audi S3 during a burglary in Brentwood on the 2 April, and this was used by them during the shooting and served as a getaway car. To avoid police post offence all three fled Essex soon afterwards, changing their appearances and using fake names to book hotels to evade arrest.

Officers established that Archer had made internet searches related to the incident in the days after it happened. Voice messages sent from Smith’s phone stated he was expecting to be arrested over the incident and that he also expected to be going to prison ‘for a long time’. Review of prison phone calls also identified the suspects involvement in the offence and their plans to evade conviction.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on Thursday 7 May, Smith was sentenced to 13 and-a-half years, Archer was jailed for 18 years, and Buckland received a sentence of 12 and-a-half years.

Temporary Detective Inspector Steve Robson, who led the investigation, said: “It was incredibly fortunate that no-one was injured as part of this incident.

“The actions of these three men put the public’s safety at risk and could easily have ended in tragedy.

“Due to the dedication, perseverance, and expertise of my team they were unable to avoid justice and they’re now facing the foreseeable future behind bars.

“Through our painstaking investigative work we were able to show that all three were in the area, using a stolen car that linked them to the incident.

“This took months of work to identify them, with only limited evidence at the crime scene, in order to plot their movements and provide the jury with the evidence they needed to convict.

“The message from this case is clear – if you put someone’s safety at risk in Essex, you will be dealt with.”

All images: Essex Police.