Leeds man charged with firearms offences after US custody, Halifax 2026

Key Points

• Ellis Thornton, 26, of Gledhow Wood Avenue in Leeds, has been charged with firearms‑related offences linked to a 2023 incident in Halifax.
• He was arrested in the United States and later extradited back to the UK to face charges, according to West Yorkshire Police.
• The case stems from a firearms incident on Lister Lane, Halifax, in January 2023, during which a window was reportedly shattered in a shooting.
• Rashawn Bedeau, 28, from Arley Street in Leeds, was sentenced to two years in prison at Leeds Crown Court on 16 January 2026 for aiding Thornton as a wanted suspect.
• Prosecutors and police have described Thornton’s escape route as involving travel to Barbados, then Suriname and Mexico, funded by Bedeau.
• Detective Sergeant Andrew Ellis, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, said Bedeau knowingly assisted Thornton’s flight and supported his lifestyle for several months.
• Bedeau’s case was reported by West Yorkshire Police’s media office and by national outlets such as the BBC, Sky News, and Yahoo News UK.

Leeds (The Leeds Times) April 15, 2026 – A 26‑year‑old man from Leeds has been charged with firearms offences after being returned from US custody over a 2023 shooting incident in Halifax, West Yorkshire Police have confirmed. Ellis Thornton, of Gledhow Wood Avenue, Leeds, is set to appear in court over the charges, which relate to a firearms incident on Lister Lane, Halifax, in January 2023.

Who is Ellis Thornton and what is he accused of?

Ellis Thornton, 26, is understood to have been wanted by West Yorkshire Police in connection with a firearms incident on Lister Lane, Halifax, in January 2023. Reports indicate that a window was shattered during the shooting, though no fatality was reported in the immediate aftermath.

According to West Yorkshire Police, Thornton left the UK while he was being sought in connection with that incident. He was later tracked to the United States, where he was arrested and subsequently returned to the UK to face charges.

How did Thornton end up in US custody?

Details of the investigation were outlined by Detective Sergeant Andrew Ellis, of the Homicide and Major Enquiry Team, speaking to reporters after the sentencing of Rashawn Bedeau.

DS Ellis stated that Rashawn Bedeau, 28, had accompanied Thornton out of the UK in January 2023 and then continued to financially support him as he moved between countries.

As reported by the BBC, Bedeau travelled with Thornton to Barbados before he went on to Suriname and later to Mexico. The police said she provided financial support to Thornton for several months while knowing he was a wanted suspect in a serious crime in West Yorkshire.

What role did the Leeds woman play?

Rashawn Bedeau, of Arley Street, Leeds, was sentenced to two years in prison on 16 January 2026 at Leeds Crown Court after being convicted of aiding an offender. The conviction related to her role in helping Thornton flee and funding his life abroad while he remained wanted over the firearms incident.

As reported by a BBC spokesperson, Bedeau continued to support Thornton financially for six months after he left the UK,

“knowing he was wanted by Yorkshire Police in connection with the firearms incident on Lister Lane, Halifax.”

Detective Sergeant Andrew Ellis told reporters that Bedeau

“assisted Ellis Thornton in fleeing the country and continued to support his lifestyle for several months, fully aware that he was a wanted suspect for a serious crime in West Yorkshire.”

He added that the sentencing was intended to send a clear message to anyone considering obstructing a police investigation in a similar way.

What do the charges against Thornton mean?

Police and court sources have not yet published a full list of the specific charges Thornton faces, but they have confirmed that they relate to the firearms incident of January 2023.

The case is being treated as a serious criminal matter under West Yorkshire Police’s Homicide and Major Enquiry Team framework.

Under the Firearms Act 1968 and related legislation, unauthorised possession, use, or discharge of a firearm can attract substantial custodial sentences, especially where a shooting directly endangers the public or involves gang‑related activity.

What is the current status of the case?

West Yorkshire Police have stated that Thornton is back in UK custody and will face proceedings linked to the Halifax firearms incident.

The force’s media office has indicated that the case will go through the usual stages of charge, court hearings, and potential trial, in line with standard criminal‑justice procedures.

Meanwhile, Bedeau’s sentencing has already been concluded. The court’s two‑year term means that she will serve time in custody before being considered for release under licence, subject to standard parole‑board assessments.

Why is this case attracting wider attention?

The case has drawn attention because it involves a cross‑border flight and international movement of a suspect, as well as the role of a close associate in financing that flight.

Commentators have noted that such patterns are not uncommon in serious firearms and gang‑related cases, where suspects attempt to evade justice by relocating overseas.

Police and legal observers have pointed to the importance of extradition arrangements and international cooperation in returning suspects like Thornton to stand trial.

The BBC has highlighted that the use of mutual‑legal‑assistance tools between the UK and the US has played a key role in recent cross‑border cases.

Background of the particular development

Firearms‑related crime in West Yorkshire has been a persistent concern for local authorities and police, with multiple incidents in Halifax, Leeds, and surrounding areas over the past decade. The Lister Lane shooting in January 2023 is among a series of cases that have prompted extra gang‑intelligence work and targeted operations in parts of the region.

The UK’s legal framework for firearms control is strict, treating gun ownership as a privilege rather than a right and imposing heavy penalties on unlicensed possession or use. The Firearms Act 1968 and later amendments mean that anyone found guilty of certain firearms offences can face long prison terms, along with automatic prohibitions on future firearm possession.

The Thornton case also reflects broader trends in modern policing, where suspects often attempt to evade justice by travelling abroad, sometimes using partners or family members as facilitators. The conviction of Rashawn Bedeau for aiding an offender underscores how the law treats those who knowingly assist a wanted suspect, even if they do not directly commit the primary crime.

Predictions: How this development could affect the particular audience

For residents of Leeds and West Yorkshire, the return and charging of Ellis Thornton may serve as a reminder that even if suspects initially leave the country, police and judicial systems can still pursue them through international channels. Local communities affected by gang‑related or firearms‑linked crime may view this case as evidence that authorities are continuing to prioritise such investigations, even when suspects attempt to escape jurisdiction.