Moment armed police swarm Vauxhall Astra to arrest thug who blasted man at level clean vary with shotgun – as he’s jailed for 32 years for tried homicide

Dramatic bodycam footage shows the moment armed police swoop on a gunman who blasted a man with a shotgun at point blank range. 

Leon Haughton, 34, had placed a GPS tracker on his victim’s car and followed him before shooting him in the early hours of the morning on April 6. 

Haughton shot the man in a car park in Dudley, West Midlands, before fleeing the scene at around 1am.  

Despite his injuries, the victim, in his 20s, managed to make his way to hospital and survived the terrifying attack. 

Police launched a major manhunt for the gunman and finally tracked him down when officers spotted his car in Wolverhampton on April 14. 

Bodycam footage shows the moment armed police swarmed the Vauxhall Astra Haughton was driving. 

Haughton is seen calmly climbing out of the car before standing with his hands above his head while armed police train their weapons on him. 

Officers found a loaded sawn-off shotgun in the boot of the car along with 11 rounds of ammunition. 

Police bodycam footage shows the dramatic moment that armed cops swarm on gunman Leon Haughton 

Pictured: The sawn-off shotgun that Haughton used to shoot a man at point blank range on April 6 this year 

Leon Haughton, 34 (pictured here in his mugshot) has been jailed for 32 years for attempted murder 

It emerged that the shotgun had also been used in a burglary in 2023. 

Following a trial last month, Haughton was found guilty of attempted murder and was jailed for 32 years. 

Sentencing him at Wolverhampton Crown Court on November 5, Judge John Edwards told him: ‘There is a serious problem in the Black Country and Wolverhampton with gun crime. 

‘It is rising faster than elsewhere in the country at this time. 

‘Every time a gun is used in crime it further helps break down social cohesion. 

‘It instils a fear of loss of life in communities. It affects everyone, from local residents to local schools. 

‘It was down to a mere millimetre [that] your victim did not die. 

‘You went out and followed him and shot him without emotion in what was an execution. 

Police launched a major manhunt for the gunman and finally tracked him down when officers spotted his car in Wolverhampton on April 14 

Pictured: The GPS tracker placed under the victim’s car by Haughton which he used to follow him 

‘You then carried this loaded weapon around with you before you were arrested. 

‘I have to make an example of you because of the damage firearms can do in our communities. I am sentencing you to 32 years imprisonment.’ 

The court heard Haughton had been following his victim and put GPS trackers under his car using cable ties. 

Haughton claimed the shooting was ‘out of character’ for him after working as an electrician for years. 

Haughton, who appeared from jail on a link, read a letter apologising for his behaviour. 

He said: ‘I was not well at the time and was unable to work. My actions were despicable, I should have known better. 

‘I would like to apologise to my victim and the public for the fear my behaviour created.

‘I do understand I will receive a long prison sentence and will try and help inmates by being a mentor.’ 

Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Francis Nock, from West Midlands Police’s Major Crime Team, said: ‘This was a targeted, pre-planned attack by Haughton and it’s only down to sheer luck the victim wasn’t killed. 

‘We analysed a large amount of CCTV footage as well as mobile data and were able to unearth just how much research Haughton had done into his victim. 

‘We were able to trace his movements leading up to the day of the attack and his movements after.’