Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson was shot in the head by silent disco gatecrashers as they gunned down a security guard who confronted them, a court heard.
Mother-of-two Ms Johnson, 27, dubbed the ‘Black Panther of Oxford’, was shot at a 30th birthday party in Peckham, south London. She remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Prince Dixon, 25, of Gravesend, Kent, and Troy Reid, 19, of Southwark, south London, appeared in custody at Bromley Magistrates’ Court charged with conspiracy to murder today.
On the night of the attack, security guards challenged four people who had gained entry to the party in the early hours of May 23, the court heard.
A gun was fired during the confrontation – leaving one guard shot in the leg and Ms Johnson shot in the head, prosecutor Nahiedh Khan said.
During their court appearance today – which saw Dixon and Reid remanded in custody – Ms Khan dubbed the case ‘a very serious matter’.
Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson (pictured) was shot in the head by silent disco gatecrashers who tried to gun down a doorman, a court heard
Metropolitan Police officers are pictured at the scene of the house in Peckham where the shooting happened
She said: ‘The incident occurred on Sunday May 23 at 2.57am in the morning.
‘Police were called to a house party following reports of a shooting.
‘A man was shot in the leg and a female was suffering from a gunshot to the head.
‘They were having a 30th birthday in the back garden of a house in a large marquee.
‘There were large security fences that had funneled partygoers to a security team who had a wand to check for weapons.’
Ms Khan added: ‘The party involved a silent disco and all partygoers were wearing headphones. There were around 30 guests.
‘Four people gained entry to the party, but were challenged by the security.’
She said the attack on the party, who had attempted to gain entry, led to a security guard being shot in the leg and a bullet hitting Ms Johnson in the head.
No indication of plea was given. Reid and Dixon, wearing grey prison-issued clothing, only spoke to confirm their names, date of birth and address and to say they understood the proceedings.
Magistrate chair Phiroze Neemuchwala said: ‘You will be remanded in custody until the next hearing.
‘You will be produced on June 25 at the Central Criminal Court.’
On 26 May, four men were arrested in connection with the incident and released on bail until a date in late June.
Two 18-year-olds, Cameron Deriggs and Devonte Brown, have been previously remanded in custody and will appear at the Old Bailey on 25 June and 9 July respectively.
Detectives continue to appeal for anyone with information to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard, who is leading the investigation, said: ‘The investigation has made significant progress over the last three weeks as evidenced by these latest charges.
‘I’d like to thank the Crown Prosecution Service for their fantastic support in helping us to get to this stage.
‘The investigation team have worked tirelessly but we are still struggling with a distinct lack of witnesses.
‘I know that there were at least 30 people there on the night Sasha was shot. Someone must have seen or know something that could help us get justice for Sasha and her family.
‘Sasha dedicated her life to a cause she cared passionately about and it is disappointing that people do not feel motivated to help.
Police sealed off the property in Peckham, London, and put up metal shutters to block access to the front garden in May
Mother-of-two Ms Johnson (pictured), 27, dubbed the ‘Black Panther of Oxford’, was shot in the head at a 30th birthday party in Peckham, south London. She remains in a critical condition in hospital
‘Please come forward. If you know something but are concerned about contacting the police, there are ways that the information can be passed to us confidentially.’
Ms Johnson’s mother Ellet Dalling said the family had been left ‘devastated’ by the shooting and her daughter’s children keep ‘asking where their mummy is’.
In a statement, Ms Dalling said: ‘Sasha is passionate about standing up for others, please come forward and stand up for Sasha.’
Ms Johnson, who works in community activism and community support, has been a leading figure in the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK and is a member of the Taking the Initiative Party.
Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson joins anti-racists, community activists and school children at a protest against police violence as they march from Park View School to Tottenham Police Station, December 11, 2020
Post source: Daily mail