The group admitted to going to River Walk together to burgle a house that was being used as a cannabis factory. It was put to them they went there to steal the class B drug for their profit.
It was reported that gun fire was heard by residents of River Walk and when the burglary was abandoned by the group, bags of cannabis were left at the scene.
Johnson, Hamidy, Flaherty and Mulangala were later identified as being involved in the burglary on River Walk by Hampshire Constabulary’s Serious and Organised Crime Unit based in Southampton.
On October 27 they pleaded guilty at Southampton Crown Court and today they were sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison.
Detective Inspector Andy Symes said: “It is clear this case highlights the violence and harm associated with drug supply.
“On September 5 2019, this group of young men decided they would try and steal a large amount of cannabis, for their own gain, on a residential street, without any regard for the rest of the community and how their actions would affect others. It must have been terrifying being a resident in River Walk that night, and hearing gun shots in their neighbourhood.
“I want to thank those who reported the incident to us and assisted our investigation as to what they saw and heard that night.
"Drug supply and cultivation of any kind, not just Class A, is linked to serious violence and causes misery to communities. It is vital that people continue to report any suspicious or drug related activity to us.”
Shortly after the incident and when all parties had fled, officers found the body of Sol Hemy, aged 20, in the water at Riverside Park.
A post mortem examination found that Sol’s cause of death was by drowning.
Enquiries into his death are ongoing.