Peckham shooting: Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson was 'caught in crossfire in war of gangs'

Published date24 May 2021
Publication titleMyLondon (England)
Sasha Johnson, 27, was shot in the head in Peckham shortly before 3am on Sunday May 23 and was taken to a South London hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The mother-of-three is an Oxford Brookes University graduate and a senior figure in the political party, Taking the Initiative Party TTIP.

Ms Johnson was involved in the protests that followed the murder of George Floyd last summer, including the demonstration to remove a statue of the colonialist, Cecil Rhodes at Oxford's Oriel College.

In an online statement last night, TTIP said the attack took place “following numerous death threats as a result of her activism.”

However, Imarn Ayton, who is a friend of Ms Johnson's, told the BBC this morning that she did not believe Sasha “was the intended victim" of the shooting.

Ms Ayton said Sasha has successfully undergone surgery and is now with her parents.

Ms Ayton told the BBC: “As far as we are aware, she was at a party or some sort of gathering and this incident is more related to rival gangs, as opposed to her activism -let’s just say that.

“I think it’s more to do with gangs or gang violence, or rivalry or some type of dispute between two different groups, and the incident was not intended for Sasha.

“I am being told by close friends and family this was not targeted to Sasha and it’s just unfortunate that her friends and family have to witness this and go through it."

Met Police believe there is nothing to suggest that Ms Johnson was the subject of a targeted attack or that she had received any credible threats against her before the incident.

Detectives previously said the shooting took place within close proximity of a house, where a party was occurring.

Ms Ayton added: "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.”

Ms Ayton told My London she was "mortified, disgusted and heartbroken" when she discovered it was Ms Johnson who had been shot.

"I remember there was a lot of silence. I was in shock and I'm still in shock," she added.

Ms Ayton told My London that people should avoid "speculating" a connection with Ms Johnson's activism.

Ms Ayton said: "There's lots of information in regards to this tragic incident being associated with her activism. In my humble opinion, I do not think this is the case."

The investigation is being led by detectives from the Met’s...

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