Disguised in a burka, hitman points his gun at Hells Angel's head in YVR food court

Knowah Ferguson thought he stood to make a "quick and easy" $200,000.

All he had to do was shoot Damion Ryan a full-patch member of the Hells Angels gang twice his size inthe food court atVancouver International Airport at lunchtime on a Friday afternoon, according to evidenceat Ferguson's attempted murder trial.

Ferguson an 18-year-old from Ontariowith no previous criminal record nearly succeeded, but his gunjammed when it was against the back of Ryan's head on April 10, 2015.

Scroll down to watch the surveillance tape

Both men ran awayand Ferguson was later sent to prison for attempted murder.

Security footage obtained by CBC News on Thursday shows the failed hit as it played out in real time from a disguised Ferguson arriving at the airport on a Canada Linetrain to both men escapingon the same train, riding in separate cars metres apart.

The videos were played in court during Ferguson'strial in B.C. Supreme Court.

Failed hit

Fergusonhad just turned 18 when he took a busfrom Hamilton, Ont., to Vancouver to do criminal work, court heard.

He planned to shoot Ryan in the food court as the target sat next to a member of theUnited Nations criminal gang, who had arranged the hit on Ryan. He has not been identified.

Video footage shown to the CBCbut not cleared for publication shows Ferguson arrived at the airport by Canada Lineat 1:08 p.m.

He worea black burka, which was too short for him, leaving hisblack, high-topsneakers visible at the bottom.

The gun which, court heard, Ferguson hadtested beforehandin preparation washidden in a blackpurse hanging fromhis right arm.

Surveillance video shows failed assassination of a Hells Angel member

6 years ago

Duration 0:51

Knowah Ferguson attempted to kill Damion Ryan at the Vancouver International Airport on April 10, 2015.

Seemingly calm and seldom looking around, Ferguson can be seen walkingto the food court near the international check-in counterand sittingdown to wait.

After 15 minutes, Ryan arrivesand takesa seat across from the UN member half a dozen tables away from Ferguson andsurrounded by dozens of bystanders eating lunch.

Ferguson appears to spotRyan, makesatrip to the bathroom and returnsto a table closer to his target.

Another seven minutes pass and the three men sit, the hitman and target with their backs to each other.

At 1:54 p.m., Ferguson scansthe room,stands, peeksinside thepurse one more time and tucksthe gun up his sleeve.

Hewalkspast five tables beforestoppingdirectly behind Ryan.

Fergusonliftsthe gun to the back of the target's head and the UN member leans away butnothing fires.

Ryancan be seen swinging his right arm up behind his head to swat the gun away.

In less than a second, the Hells Angel is up and sprinting out of the food court.Ferguson followsclose behind, and the UN member walksoff in another direction.

None of the bystanders appear to realize what's happened.

Escape by Canada Line

Another angle of security footage viewed by the CBC shows Ryan running toward the international check-in desks to escape. Ferguson veersleft, charging down a flight ofstairs before slowing down and walking out of the airport to the parkade.

Ferguson disappearsfrom view into astairwell, emerging in agrey baseball cap, black hoodie and the same black sneakers. The black purse isstuffed in a blue plastic shopping bag.

Ferguson escaped the airport on a Canada Line trainat 1:59 p.m., less than five minutes after the botched hit.

Ryan can be seen getting on a different car of the same train, 21 seconds after Ferguson boards near the front.

It's unclear if either man knew the other was on the train.

Arrest and conviction

Ferguson and two associates were arrested on firearms offences after astolen truck they'd been using was spotted by its owner in Vancouver, two months after the attempted hit at the airport.

On Sept. 7, Ferguson, now 21,was sentenced tosevenyears for attempted murder and four years for conspiracy.

He received credit for time served, leaving him with a little more than six years of his sentence remaining.

Court heard Damion Ryan did not co-operate with the investigation.

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