Man who sparked international manhunt after firing gun at Halifax home jailed
He's been handed an eight year sentence
A man who sparked an international manhunt after firing a gun at a house in Halifax has been jailed.
26 year old Ellis Thornton, of no fixed address, fired four shots at an address on Lister Lane in January 2023, with two hitting ground floor windows.
Nobody was hurt in the attack.
Thornton then fled the UK along with a woman from Leeds, 28 year old Rashawn Bedeau, who was jailed for two years in January for helping Thornton fund his time on the run.
Thornton went to Suriname, then Mexico before being arrested in the US.
He was extradited to the UK in Parul and was charged with possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition without a certificate.
Today he was jailed for eight years three months at Leeds Crown Court.
Detective Inspector Andrew Ellis of West Yorkshire Police said: “We are pleased with today’s outcome and hope it serves as a clear deterrent to anyone considering the illegal use of firearms.
"West Yorkshire Police treat all incidents involving the criminal use of firearms with the utmost seriousness.
"Thornton showed a complete disregard for the safety of those inside the address, and the consequences of his actions could have been far more serious.
"We remain committed to thoroughly investigating offences of this nature and will use every capability available to identify those responsible and bring them before the courts.”