Sasha Johnson shooting: Metropolitan police hunting four men

Police say they are hunting four men who burst into a party before shots rang out leaving the Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson critically injured with a gunshot wound to the head.

Johnson, who came to prominence last year as protests for racial justice sprang up across Britain, was not specifically targeted, nor was the shooting linked to her activism, police believe.

It is thought the mother of three was probably an unintended victim.

Johnson, 27, was struck by a single bullet at around 3am on Sunday at a party in Peckham, south-east London, and no other injuries have been reported.

Police on Tuesday said they were unaware of any death threats Johnson may have received before the shooting. The four men fled the scene before police arrived.

On Tuesday Commander Alison Heydari, of the Metropolitan police, said:“This was a shocking incident that has left a young woman with very serious injuries.

“Our thoughts are with the family of Sasha Johnson who are being supported by specially trained officers.

“From our inquiries so far, we have established that Sasha had been at a party at a house on Consort Road in Peckham early on Sunday.

“Around 3am a group of four black males dressed in dark-coloured clothing entered the garden of the property and discharged a firearm. They left the scene before officers arrived.”

After the shooting BLM said Johnson had been the target of death threats.

Heydari said: “We are aware of Sasha’s involvement in the Black Lives Matter movement in the UK and I understand the concern this will cause to some communities – however, I wish to stress that at this time there is nothing to suggest Sasha was the victim of a targeted attack.

“We are also not aware of any reports of threats made against her prior to this incident.”

Heydari vowed to catch those behind the shooting. “I want to take this opportunity to reassure you that we are doing everything possible to identify those responsible and to bring them to justice.”

Forensic experts have been combing the Consort Road area looking for evidence.

Police have also been securing CCTV from the area, as well as any footage from devices that may have recorded people in and around the home where the gathering was taking place. Detectives have also been interviewing those present at the party.

Johnson, a graduate of Ruskin College, in Oxford, was a leading figure in last summer’s anti-racism protests and is a leading member of the Taking the Initiative party, which has been described as “Britain’s first black-led political party”.

The party said in a statement on Sunday that the incident followed “numerous death threats”.