Two Men Jailed for Discharging Handgun into Willenhall Family Home

Two men from the West Midlands have been jailed for a combined total of more than 21 years at Birmingham Crown Court after discharging a handgun into a family home. Sharif Cousins, 50, of Chester Road, Sutton Coldfield, and James Gray, 28, of Barass Lane, Coventry, were sentenced on 12 May 2026 after previously being convicted by a jury of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. Cousins was sentenced to 12 years in custody with an extended three years on licence, while Gray was sentenced to nine and a half years imprisonment, with both men also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £228.

The convictions follow an incident in the early hours of 26 May 2025, when both defendants arrived in a vehicle at a property on Princethorpe Road in Willenhall. A handgun was discharged through the window of the house, which was occupied at the time by a family of five, including two children. A second shot was fired outside the premises, striking a vehicle parked at the scene, before both men left the area. No injuries were reported from either discharge.

West Midlands Police detectives identified the vehicle used by the defendants by tracking its movements using local closed-circuit television footage, establishing its presence at the scene during the time of the offence. The investigation formed part of Operation Target, a regional policing initiative directed against serious and organised crime, which utilises local intelligence, warrants, and asset seizures to disrupt criminal activity.

Following the sentencing hearing, Detective Inspector Racheal Allen, who led the police investigation, stated that the incident was a reckless attack on an occupied family home where it was a miracle no one was killed or injured. Detective Inspector Allen added that gun crime is a danger that cannot be tolerated, and noted that the sentences send a strong message that those who use weapons on the streets will be punished and spend many years behind bars for their actions.

Read more: Birmingham Man Jailed For 7+ Years After Discharging Gun In Broad Daylight Next To Tipton Primary School