Four convicted of murder after drug dispute leads to fatal Sheffield shooting
Abdullah Hassan was lured and shot in his thigh in 2023
Four people have been convicted of murder following the fatal shooting of Abdullah Hassan in Sheffield, which stemmed from a dispute over drug supply.
The jury at Sheffield Crown Court found Demi Dunford, Alex Taff, Andrew Horton, and Osai Williams guilty of murder after a six-week trial.
Abdullah Hassan, 26, was shot dead outside his flats on Callow Drive on April 9 2023.
He died from a single gunshot wound to the thigh despite attempts by residents, paramedics, and police to save his life.
Detectives learned through evidence including CCTV footage, mobile phone data, and ballistic reports that Dunford had been embroiled in a dispute with Abdullah over drug supply for several weeks.
Keen to assert her status, she devised a plan with Taff, Horton, and Williams to kill him.
On April 8 2023, the group convened at Callow Drive and called Abdullah to lure him outside. As he exited the fire door from his block of flats, he was shot in the thigh and the group fled the scene.
Over the following days, they tried to cover up their involvement. Dunford and Williams travelled to London and Southend-on-Sea, while Horton took steps to remove forensic evidence from his vehicle, with help from his sister, Emma Horton.
The attempted clean-up failed as detectives uncovered critical evidence from mobile phone data and forensic checks. A series of arrests led to charges of murder and other offences.
The returned the following verdicts at trial:
Demi Dunford, 29, of Derby Street, Sheffield: guilty of murder and two counts of possession of drugs with intent to supply
Alex Taff, 31, of Springfields, Rotherham: guilty of murder
Andrew Horton, 48, of HMP Doncaster: guilty of murder and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
Osai Williams, 29, of HMP Lowdham Grange: guilty of murder
Emma Horton, 38, of Blackstock Road, Sheffield: guilty of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
Dunford, Taff, Horton, and Williams are due to be sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on January 16 2026.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Knowles, of South Yorkshire Police, says:
“After a lengthy investigation, justice has been secured for Abdullah, and our thoughts remain with all who loved him."
“Gun crime and drugs are inseparably linked, with disputes over supply, territory, and profit often spiralling into violence, and in this case, murder.
“This dangerous connection does not only affect those directly involved; it creates volatile situations where innocent people can tragically be caught in the crossfire. That is why we are determined to remove these dangerous offenders from our communities.
“Together, we can ensure that offenders like Dunford, Taff, Horton, and Williams remain behind bars."