Man cleared of attempted murder but found guilty of firearms offence after Speedwell shooting
William Scammell, of no fixed address, was arrested following the incident in April
A 25-year-old man has been cleared of attempted murder but found guilty of a firearms offence after a shooting in the Speedwell area of Bristol.
William Scammell, of no fixed address, had been on trial at Bristol Crown Court since last week.
Today (14th October), the jury found Scammell guilty of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life but not guilty of attempted murder.
He had previously pleaded guilty to possession of a shortened shotgun.
Scammell will be sentenced on 19th January next year (2026)
What the trial heard
The court heard that on 1st April this year, Scammell was seen riding a motorised e-bike in and around Speedwell, behind and then alongside a Volkswagen Polo.
The jury agreed Scammell had been carrying a loaded shotgun.
When giving evidence, Scammell admitted he intended to fire the shotgun into the car.
The victim, 24-year-old Ryan Cridland, suffered a gunshot wound to the left side of his chest.
The driver of the Polo took him to a family address, where paramedics met them.
He was taken to hospital in a serious condition and was discharged following surgery.
After the shooting, Scammell was seen on CCTV driving away towards Netham Park, where he discarded the gun.
He was later seen throwing away clothing and shotgun cartridges in nearby St Anne's Woods.
He was arrested in the early hours of the following day.
Police response
Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Jess Aston said: “I welcome the jury’s verdict in relation to the offence of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life. This was a serious and concerning incident, and today’s outcome reflects the gravity of the offending.
“Incidents involving firearms are understandably alarming for those who live and work in our communities. People have a right to feel safe, and whenever a firearm is involved, there is the potential for significant harm. That is why offences of this nature are treated with the utmost seriousness and why we dedicate considerable resources to investigating them.
“I want to reassure the public that this was an isolated incident involving individuals known to one another. Throughout our investigation, we found no evidence to suggest there was any wider risk to the community. While incidents such as this can cause concern, cases involving firearms remain rare.
“I would like to thank the members of the public who assisted our enquiries, as well as the officers and staff involved in what was a complex investigation. Their professionalism, commitment and support were instrumental in helping us present a strong case before the court.
“My thoughts remain with those affected by this incident. While today’s verdict cannot change what happened, I hope it provides some reassurance that offences involving firearms will be thoroughly investigated and that that responsible will be held accountable.
“We remain committed to protecting our communities from serious violence and to doing everything we can to prevent incidents like this from happening in the future.”