Sasha Johnson: £20,000 reward on offer over shooting of Black Lives Matter activist at party | UK News

Crimestoppers is offering a £20,000 reward for information about who shot a black equal rights campaigner last year.

The charity Crimestoppers will pay the sum to anyone who shares information anonymously leading to the conviction of those responsible for shooting Sasha Johnson.

The 28-year-old remains in intensive care after suffering life-changing injuries when she was hit by a bullet while at a 30th birthday party in Peckham, south London, in May last year.

She was shot in the head at close range while at a silent disco in the garden of a house on Consort Road in Peckham, south London, in the early hours of 23 May 2021.

While the mother-of-two survived her “catastrophic” head injuries, she now struggles to say more than a few words and requires constant medical care.

Crimestoppers say Ms Johnson’s family live with “daily heartbreak” as she endures terrible pain and has limited mobility.

Ms Johnson was a founding member of the Taking The Initiative Party and a prominent figure in the Black Lives Matter movement in the summer of 2021.

In February, a trial of four men accused of Ms Johnson’s shooting collapsed.

Prosecutor Mark Heywood QC told the Old Bailey at the time that a prosecution could not go ahead for reasons that could not be set out fully in open court.

Crimestoppers’ London regional manager, Alexa Loukas, said: “Sasha is loved by her family and friends and is an active champion for people’s human rights.

“What’s happened to her is absolutely horrific. Her life will never be the same again.

“We know that many people who were there on the night are her friends and supporters. And yet, there remains a wall of silence.”

Ms Loukas stressed that Crimestoppers is independent of the police and that it never asks for or records personal details.

The charity does not trace calls and its website uses encryption so it cannot view computer IP addresses, she added.

‘Powerful voice who challenged justice’

“Before this violent attack, Sasha was a powerful voice who challenged injustice. By using your voice, you can help find justice for Sasha,” she said.

Due to the seriousness of the attack, homicide detectives from the Met Police’s Specialist Crime Command led the investigation into the shooting.

Detective Chief Inspector Nigel Penney, leading the investigation, said: “Look at the family photos of Sasha, you are looking at a young, healthy woman with children who are clearly devoted to her.

“Now look at those photos of Sasha in hospital and you see a woman who needs constant medical care and is so often in pain.”

He added that despite the most extensive police investigation, those who inflicted these grievous injuries “remain free and unpunished and that is just not right”.

“I am asking people to end this injustice and tell Crimestoppers what you know. The charity will keep you totally anonymous,” Det Penney said.

“Many people were at that party, including many friends of Sasha, but nearly everyone has been reluctant to come forward.

“I understand people may be scared, but people should search their conscience and do what is right for Sasha, her family and her sons.”

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously via 0800 555 111 or through its website crimestoppers-uk.org.