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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Sara Odeen-Isbister

Dramatic footage shows brave unarmed police chasing down teen gunman near school

Police body-cam footage caught the dramatic moment unarmed officers ran after a teenager carrying a loaded gun near a school.

They chased Johniel Barret down a road in Birmingham - made famous by the TV documentary Benefits Street - before wrestling him to the ground.

Earlier he'd been spotted by police in a black VW Polo close to City Hospital in the Winson Green area of the city, on February 1 last year, a court heard.

The officers, who were in a unmarked car, activated their blue lights after running checks on police systems and the driver pulled over to stop.

Body cam footage shows an officer pointing a taser gun at armed Johniel Barret (West Midlands Police / SWNS)

But Barrett - who was 19 at the time - bolted from the car before officers gave chase on foot and tackled him to the ground on James Turner Street.

They spotted the handle of an antique revolver poking from his waistband and when asked "is it loaded" Barrett replied "yes".

It was later found to be a Webley Mark VI revolver loaded with a 44 Smith and Wesson cartridge.

Johniel Barrett was jailed for five years for possessing a firearm and ammunition (West Midlands Police / SWNS)
Body-cam footage of an officer pointing a taser gun at armed Barrett (West Midlands Police / SWNS)

Barrett, now 20, of Ladywood, Birmingham, went on to admit possessing a firearm and ammunition.

He was jailed for five years at Birmingham Crown Court last Monday (December 19).

West Midlands Police released footage of the moment Barrett was apprehended by the brave officers following the case.

Barrett runs from police officers after his car is pulled over (West Midlands Police / SWNS)

One cop can be heard shouting "police with a taser" as he confronts the gunman in the street and pins him to the ground.

After carefully removing the revolver, he asks: "Have you got anything else on you kid? You got a knife or anything?"

Barrett shakes his head before the officer then asks "Is it [the gun] loaded?" and Barrett says: "Yes, it might be."

The loaded antique revolver seized from Barrett (West Midlands Police / SWNS)

The officer then radios colleagues to tell them: "We're currently outside a school with a loaded revolver".

Detective Constable Steve Harris said afterwards: "The officers showed great courage.

"They saw Barrett holding something near his waistband which they suspected was a firearm but gave chase nonetheless in order to protect the public.

Barrett after being tackled to the ground by officers (West Midlands Police / SWNS)

"Barrett was running towards a school and the officers were determined to get to him before he posed a risk to anyone else.

"They were equipped with tasers and challenged Barrett, ordering him to the floor, when they found their suspicions were accurate about the gun.

"It's another lethal weapon off the streets and a young man now paying a high price for his involvement with illegal firearms."

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