MAC-10 machine pistol seized from Birmingham streets

Dec 7 2009 by Mark Cowan, Birmingham Mail

THIS is the “cold killing machine” seized by police from the streets of Birmingham.

The fully-loaded MAC-10 machine pistol – similar to the one used to kill innocent teenage party-goers Letisha Shakespeare and Charlene Ellis – was found by police following a fight in Aston.

Two gang members have now been convicted of possessing the lethal weapon and ammunition.

Tobias Grant, 27, and 20-year-old Tacumba Wheeler were warned at Birmingham Crown Court to expect lengthy spells behind bars.

Capable of firing 1,200 rounds a minute the weapon is dubbed as ‘spray and pray’ in gangland circles because it is notoriously difficult to control.

Supt Steve Anderson, from Thornhill Road police, said: “These are two dangerous individuals who are active in the gang world and the criminal use of firearms.

“This weapon was nothing more than a cold killing machine. It is frightening to think of what could have happened if it had been fired in public.

“It is good result for the public that it has been taken out of circulation and a better result that those responsible for it being there have now been convicted.

“There is no place for guns on the streets of Birmingham.”

The weapon was recovered by police who had been alerted to a street brawl in Parliament Street, Aston, in the afternoon of December 30 last year.

Wheeler was arrested at the scene with a set of car keys.