Teenager killed 'by rival gang'

Jonathan Matondo died from a single gunshot wound to his head

Rivalry between two feuding gangs led to a teenager being shot dead in "retribution", a court has heard.

Jonathan Matondo, 16, was "targeted and ruthlessly killed" as the gangs clashed on the streets of Sheffield, the city's crown court was told.

Negus Nelson, 19 of Margate Drive, Sheffield, denies murder.

The jury was told the victim belonged to a gang known as S3 and was killed by the rival S4 gang, of which Mr Nelson was a member.

The gang names reflect the respective postcodes of Sheffield, the jury heard.

Jonathan Matondo died instantly when he was shot in the head in the Pitsmoor area of Sheffield on 17 October last year.

The prosecution allege that S4 wanted retribution for an incident which happened the day before the killing when the aunt and uncle of the defendant were shot at inside their home.

'Organised attack'

Members of S4 believed Jonathan, whose street name was Venomous, had been involved in the attack.

Prosecuting, Gary Burrell QC said: "The prosecution allege that the defendant, Negus Nelson, was part of a group of men who were hunting for Jonathan Matondo and who eventually found him in the Pitsmoor area of Sheffield.

"From a distance of about 60ft, one from this group aimed at the victim and pulled the trigger of a gun so as to shoot him down dead.

"The prosecution allege that this killing was an organised and planned attack on the deceased in which he was specifically targeted and ruthlessly killed."

The other gang members allegedly involved in the attack have not been caught, the court was told.

There had been a number of gun-related incidents running up to the fatal shooting which created a "certain amount of tension", Mr Burrell said.

He told the jury the gangs had a "local reputation for violence and retribution" and were largely made up from certain large families.

The "feud" between the two rival gangs had lasted several years, he said.

Mr Nelson also denies a charge of attempted murder.

The court was told that an attempt was made on the victim's life earlier in the day when shots were fired but missed.

The trial continues.