Three men in England have been convicted in connection with the shooting death of Dale “Brett” Stogden, a father who had recently recovered from cancer. Authorities believe that Stogden was not the intended target of the attack.
Shooting Incident in Wakefield
Police were called to a bus stop in Wakefield, a small city in northern England, at around 9:43 p.m. on August 12, 2025, following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers found 50-year-old Stogden, who had suffered a single gunshot wound. He was rushed to a local hospital but tragically died later that night.
Investigation Reveals Wrong Target
Further investigation by West Yorkshire Police (WYP) revealed that the shooting was carried out by 28-year-old Leyton Davies, who fired from the passenger seat of a stolen Toyota RAV4. Adam Ahmed, 21, and Marc Carter, 20, were also in the vehicle at the time of the incident. Police uncovered messages between the three men earlier that day, suggesting they were searching for two other individuals who had been with Stogden at the bus stop when the shooting occurred.
Convictions and Sentencing
On March 12, 2026, following a two-week trial, Davies was convicted of murder, while Ahmed and Carter were convicted of manslaughter. Detective Chief Inspector James Entwistle, the Senior Investigating Officer on the case, emphasized that although Stogden was not the intended target, it was no defense for the crime.
“Him not being the target certainly does not take away from the grief that Brett’s family and friends have suffered,” Entwistle said in a statement.
Family’s Heartbreak and Tribute to Stogden
Stogden’s daughters, Piper and Alyssa, both of whom were in their late teens at the time of their father’s death, revealed that their dad had recently been given the all-clear from lung cancer in February 2025, only to lose his life months later due to the tragic shooting.
“Dad had the biggest heart of gold, and no matter what he was going through, he always had a smile on his face,” they shared in a statement following his death. “We will always remember Dad as the kindest and the funniest person in the world.”
The girls added that they would deeply miss their father’s voice, smile, and hugs, describing him as a “gentle giant.”
A Family’s Devastation
Family friend Diana Green expressed the profound impact of the loss, stating that Piper and Alyssa were “heartbroken” by their father’s death. She noted that the girls had been at an age where they were starting to form a deeper relationship with their father, and now their lives would be forever changed.
