A man who fired a handgun towards his girlfriend’s car in the middle of a residential street has today been jailed.
Nathan Mackay pulled the trigger of a semi-automatic Glock following a row with his then-partner in January 2020.
The bullet passed over the top of her car and through the front window of a nearby West Denton house, in Newcastle, ending up in the living room wall.
Mackay then sought the help of seven accomplices – including his mum and brother - who each played their part in helping the 36-year-old evade arrest for four days.
But detectives from the Force’s Major Investigation Team (MIT) tracked Mackay to a hotel in West Yorkshire where he was later located and detained.
Today (Tuesday) Mackay, of Ravenshill Road, West Denton, was jailed for 11 years and nine months at Newcastle Crown Court after being convicted of possessing a firearm with the intent to endanger life.
Northumbria Police Detective Inspector Steve Brown, who led the investigation, said: “Nathan Mackay fired a lethal weapon on a busy residential street in broad daylight.
“By doing so, he intentionally endangered the life of his ex-partner who was in the car, other families living on the street and the wider community. The bullet from the gun thankfully missed its target and went through the front window of a family home, which was fortunately empty at that time.
“It is sheer luck that his actions did not kill someone and he simply rolled the dice with people’s lives.
“In a bid to escape justice and responsibility for his actions, Mackay then contacted family and friends who helped him evade arrest and get out of the area. Today, justice finally caught up with him.”
Det Insp Brown added: “I would like to thank everyone who played their part in this investigation, including the victim, a number of key witnesses and our colleagues at West Yorkshire Police. This conviction would not have been possible without you.
“Incidents involving firearms are thankfully rare in this area, but when they do occur, I hope this case shows that Northumbria Police will consider using every tactic available to us in order to pursue perpetrators and put dangerous offenders before the courts.”
CCTV footage captured on the afternoon of January 4, 2020, showed Mackay get out of his ex-girlfriend’s car following a row, before re-approaching it and kicking the vehicle as it drove off.
He then proceeded to walk after the car and fire a handgun – later concealing it in his coat.
Following the incident, Mackay relied on family and friends in a bid to escape the North East and the clutches of police.
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They included his mum Shirley Mackay, brother Sebastian Mackay, and friends Yaseen Ashraf and Evangeline Tibbs, who each exchanged calls and messages with him.
Associate Ben Roberts then helped drive him around and loaned him his car, Karl Glendenning provided drugs for Mackay to sell to aid his escape, while Tyrone Vanzie booked him a hotel room in West Yorkshire to lay low.
However, his escape plan proved short-lived as officers tracked him to Bradford and arrested him outside a supermarket four days after the shooting.
Today, Mackay’s seven co-conspirators were also sentenced for charges including assisting an offender and perverting the course of justice.
- Yaseen Ashraf, 36, of The Burnside, West Denton, received a 19-month sentence suspended for 12 months after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.
- Shirley Mackay, 64, of Ravenshill Road, West Denton, received a 22-month sentence suspended for 12 months after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.
- Sebastian Mackay, 30, of Ravenshill Road, West Denton, received a nine-month sentence suspended for 12 months after being convicted of assisting an offender.
- Ben Roberts, 28, of Haggerston Road, Newcastle, received a 12-month sentence suspended for 12 months after being convicted of assisting an offender.
- Evangeline Tibbs, 25, of Downend Road, Westerhope, received a 12-month sentence suspended for 12 months after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.
- Karl Glendenning, 46, of Trevelyan Drive, Newbiggin Hall, was jailed for 14 months after being convicted of assisting an offender.
- Tyrone Vanzie, 34, of Stone Street, Bradford, received a nine-month sentence suspended for 12 months after being convicted of assisting an offender.
Officers have reminded everyone that it is a criminal offence to harbour or assist a wanted fugitive, which could lead to potential imprisonment.
If you have any information about somebody who is wanted, let officers know via the ‘Report’ page of Northumbria Police’s website.
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