Gunman Jailed After Firing Three Shots at Shopper in Terrifying Corner Shop Brawl

A violent confrontation inside a north London convenience store nearly turned deadly after a masked gunman pulled out a pistol and fired three shots at a shopper during a chaotic struggle. Mustafa Bolat, 29, has now been sentenced to six years and three months in prison for possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. The terrifying incident took place at a corner shop in Wood Green on March 1, 2026, and was captured on CCTV.

The footage showed Bolat becoming involved in a confrontation with shopper Ali Unlu before producing a 9mm pistol. As the situation escalated, Unlu fought back, and the two men grappled violently inside the shop. At one point, Unlu appeared to strike Bolat with a bottle as they struggled near displays of fruit and other goods. During the confrontation, Bolat fired three shots. All of them missed, including one reportedly fired so close to Unlu that the bullet passed just inches from his head.

Despite the danger, Unlu continued fighting and attempted to overpower the armed man. The pair crashed into shop displays and a refrigerated cabinet as the struggle moved across the floor. The footage offered a disturbing picture of how quickly an argument could become a potentially fatal incident, with customers and staff facing the danger of gunfire in an ordinary neighborhood store.

Bolat claimed he had only intended to frighten Unlu and said he did not realize the weapon was a functioning firearm. He admitted possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence but denied the more serious allegations. A jury acquitted him of attempted murder and two firearm-related charges involving an alleged intention to endanger life. During sentencing, Judge Simon Mayo rejected Bolat’s explanation, saying he was sure the defendant knew the gun was real and had deliberately used it to intimidate his victim. The judge said it was largely a matter of chance that nobody had been killed or seriously injured.

The court also heard about Bolat’s previous conviction for a knife attack in 2017, when another driver suffered injuries after Bolat approached a vehicle carrying a kitchen knife. Prosecutors referred to that history while outlining the seriousness of the latest incident. Bolat was ultimately sentenced to six years and three months in prison for the firearm offence he admitted.

The case has highlighted the terrifying consequences of bringing a loaded weapon into a public dispute. Although Unlu survived the confrontation without being struck by a bullet, the court made clear that the outcome could easily have been far worse. What began as a confrontation inside a small neighborhood shop ended with a prison sentence and a stark reminder of how close an everyday public space came to becoming the scene of a fatal shooting.

Source: The Sun