Five arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of BLM activist Sasha Johnson in Peckham
Two men and three teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of the attempted murder of activist Sasha Johnson, police say.
The five arrests have been made in connection with the shooting of the Black Lives Matter activist in Peckham over the weekend.
Ms Johnson, a mother-of-two, was left in a critical condition in hospital after she was shot in the head as she attended a party on Consort Road on Sunday.
At around 3.50pm yesterday officers from the Violence Suppression Unit based in Southwark and Lambeth stopped a 17-year-old boy.
Following a search, he was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and possession with intent to supply class A drugs.
Further investigations led officers to an address in Peckham where three further males were arrested.
Three people aged 18, 19 and 28 were all arrested on suspicion of affray and possession with intent to supply class B drugs.
A fifth man, aged 25, was arrested later that evening following a police pursuit of a car in Peckham.
He was arrested on suspicion of affray and failing to stop for police.
All five have since been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and remain in custody.
Searches are ongoing at two residential addresses in Peckham and in relation to the car that was stopped.
Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard from the Met’s Specialist Crime who leads the investigation said: “While the investigation remains in its early stages, these arrests show that progress is being made.
“However, I would continue to appeal to those who may hold information about the events that led to Sasha receiving her horrific injuries, or about those responsible, to do the right thing and come forward and speak to police.”
Superintendent Kris Wright, from the Central South Command Unit, responsible for policing in Southwark and Lambeth said: “These arrests are the result of instinctive local police work, combined with fast-time intelligence gathering, and shows the effectiveness of the various police teams in the Met working together.
“Local officers, supported by specialist teams, will continue to be in and around the Peckham area in the coming days and I continue to urge anyone with concerns to engage with them.”
Officers were called shortly before 3am on Sunday following reports of gunshots in Consort Road, Peckham.
They attended with London Ambulance Service paramedics where they found a 27-year-old woman who had been shot.
She was later named as Sasha Johnson.
A man, believed to be aged in his 20s, also suffered a l knife injury during the incident.
He attended hospital and was discharged following treatment.
Ms Johnson, who works in community activism and community support and got a first in social care from Ruskin College in Oxford, has been a leading figure in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement in the UK and is a member of the Taking the Initiative Party’s leadership committee.
Imarn Ayton, who met Ms Johnson during the BLM protests last year, told BBC News that surgery in hospital “went well” and that she was now with her parents in hospital.
“As far as we are aware, she was at a party,” she said.
“There was a rival gang that may have heard about someone being in that party that they didn’t feel quite comfortable with or trusted and so they resorted to driving past and shooting into the garden, and one of those shots obviously hit Sasha Johnson.
“But I don’t believe she was the intended victim.”
On Monday afternoon a vigil was held in Ruskin Park, close to King’s College Hospital, where Ms Johnson is being treated.
During the event well-wishers played African drums and prayed for the 27-year-old to pull through.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or tweet @MetCC and quote CAD1172/23MAY.
Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.