Russell was chatting to friends when he was shot and stabbed by a group of men who wrongly suspected him to belong to a rival gang

Kyle Gordon (inset left) killed Russell Jones (inset right) in South Street

A fourth man has been convicted of murdering 23-year-old Russell Jones in Ponders End six years ago, following a retrial.

Victim Russell Jones was chatting to friends on a street corner when he was shot and stabbed at random by a group of men who wrongly suspected him to be a member of a rival gang.

Kyle Gordon, aged 24, of Enfield, appeared for retrial at the Old Bailey where today (Monday 11th) he was convicted of Russell’s murder, the fourth man to be so. He was also found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm to a second victim and possession of a firearm.

Gordon had previously been tried at the same court last year but the jury failed to reach a verdict.

Sherome Williams, aged 21 of Woodlands Road, Enfield, was convicted of murder in June 2023 and sentenced to 25 years in jail, while Bilkan Bilkaner of Dartford Avenue, Ponders End, and Duke Quianoo, of Holbrook Close, Forty Hill, were found guilty in 2019 and were both handed 29-year sentences.

The court heard that in the early hours of 17th March 2018, Russell and several friends were in South Street, Ponders End, when they were approached by a group of men wearing dark clothing and masks covering their faces.

Out of nowhere, the group launched a ferocious attack on Russell and a second man, shooting Russell who fell into the road and was set upon by the group who stabbed him several times. One of his friends also suffered stab injuries.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, Russell was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives launched an immediate investigation to identity the suspects, a complex task involving an analysis of hours of CCTV footage which was then carefully corroborated with mobile phone use by the suspects.

Detective Sergeant Joanne Donoghue said: “On a freezing cold night in March 2018, Kyle Gordon and others armed themselves with a sawn-off shotgun and knives before setting out in search of opposing gang members. The group they chose were not in a gang, they were simply a group of young men chatting outside a shop.

“The wickedness and ferocity of the attack, which was captured on CCTV, shocked even the most seasoned of homicide detectives.”

She added: “Russell’s family has endured years of court proceedings with patience and dignity. I hope they find comfort in today’s conviction and in knowing that those responsible for Russell’s death have been held to account.”

Gordon will be sentenced at the same court on Thursday (14th).

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