Second-hand car buyer, 21, shot dead after being lured to ‘merciless execution’ with Audi advert
A SECOND-HAND car buyer was shot dead as he tried to buy an Audi after being lured to a “merciless execution”, a court heard.
Miguel Reynolds, 21, was fatally blasted in the neck just days before his 22nd birthday in June, 2018.
The aspiring rapper had driven from Manchester to Netherton, Merseyside to buy an Audi S1, the Liverpool Echo reports.
But Miguel and a pal were lured into a trap and robbed at gunpoint by a gang who demanded £2,000.
Miguel refused and chased after Liam Watson, 32, who fired two shots at him.
One of the bullets hit Miguel in the neck and fatally wounded him in a killing prosecutors described as a “merciless execution”.
FATAL PLOT
Miguel had met Watson, Kyle Sanders and Joseph McKeever around 8pm on June 7, 2018, after arriving on Merseyside.
Text messages showed Sanders, who helped plot the robbery, had earlier texted his then-girlfriend to say Miguel was “leaving manny no”.
Sanders had arranged to sell Miguel the stolen Audi for £2,000 after setting up the deal through a middle man he met in jail.
But when Miguel and his friend arrived Watson pointed a gun at his pal and ordered them to hand over £2,000 and drive back to Manchester.
Instead, Miguel chased the thugs, who fled and split up, before Watson fired at Miguel as he pursued him, fatally wounding him in the back of the neck.
Miguel was rushed to Aintree hospital, but died at 9.14pm.
Known as “Migz” to friends, he performed under the stage name Lil Gwop Boy and had just released a music video for his track On Me on YouTube.
Lyrics from the song include references to south Manchester being “wild like the west” — and to him “chasing his dreams”.
Watson was found guilty of Miguel’s murder and convicted of conspiracies to rob, possession of a prohibited firearm, and possession of ammunition.
Sanders was found guilty of manslaughter and conspiracies to rob, possess a prohibited firearm and possess prohibited ammunition.
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Joseph McKeever and Dale Avery were cleared of murder or manslaughter, but found guilty of the three conspiracies.
Emma Kirby was found guilty of assisting an offender and three other men were acquitted of all charges.
The gang will be sentenced next month.