Chris Kaba shot man in nightclub days before his death

Chris Kaba, the individual who was fatally shot by a police officer in South London, has been identified as the shooter in a nightclub incident that occurred just days before his death.

Mr. Kaba was struck in the head by gunfire during a police traffic stop in Streatham on September 5, 2022.

It has been confirmed that he fired at a man, hitting him in both legs, at the Oval Space nightclub located in Hackney, east London, on August 30, 2022.

He was a rapper who went by the names Madix or Mad Itch and was associated with the 67 crew, a well-known UK drill group and notorious gang.

The jury in the murder trial of firearms officer Martyn Blake, 40, was not informed of Mr. Kaba's criminal background, which was disclosed during a court hearing prior to the trial that took place last month.

On Monday, a jury at the Old Bailey acquitted Mr. Blake of murder. In response, Mr. Kaba's family expressed their deep sorrow, stating that the verdict was a "heartbreaking indication that our lives hold little worth in the eyes of the system."

The judge has removed the restrictions on reporting various aspects of Mr. Kaba's background that were in effect during the trial.

The police were unsure about who was behind the wheel of the Audi when Mr. Kaba lost his life. However, they were aware that the car had been involved as a escape vehicle in a separate shooting incident in Brixton, located in south London, the previous evening.

A device for automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) had been installed on the vehicle, which notified law enforcement about its presence.

Mr. Blake refuted the claim that he intended to murder the 24-year-old, who wasn't armed. He testified during the trial that he feared one of his coworkers might be in danger of being hit by Mr. Kaba’s vehicle while attempting to flee from the police checkpoint.

Three additional individuals have also been found guilty for their roles in the shooting at the Hackney nightclub and are currently incarcerated.

In the course of the trial, the judge identified Mr. Kaba as the person who fired the shots. According to the judge, Mr. Kaba shot a man once in the leg while they were on the dance floor of the nightclub, and again outside when the man attempted to flee.

Mr. Kaba passed away before any charges were filed against him regarding the shooting, but he was subsequently included in the list of charges for the trial.

In April, the three individuals who were accused received prison sentences of 10 years, nine years, and five and a half years, respectively.

While the firearms officer Mr. Blake was on trial, media coverage was restricted from revealing information about Mr. Kaba's past criminal activities, which included prior convictions that date back to when he was a teenager.

This encompasses charges for causing a public disturbance.

Mr. Kaba, a construction laborer anticipating the arrival of his child, was being tracked by the police on the day he was shot.

After being surrounded by police vehicles, he kept shifting his car back and forth in an attempt to break free. Mr. Blake explained that witnessing this behavior made him fear for the life of one of his coworkers, prompting him to fire shots to halt the vehicle, as the jury was informed.

Mr. Kaba passed away due to a single gunshot to the forehead.

On Monday, Mr. Kaba's family expressed their heartbreak over the ruling, stating that Mr. Blake's acquittal represented not only a setback for them but for everyone impacted by police violence.

Approximately 150 individuals gathered for a vigil outside the Old Bailey on Monday night, with some displaying signs featuring messages like "this isn't justice" and "police are offenders."

Sheeda Queen, who is Mr. Kaba's cousin and part of the Justice for Chris campaign team, spoke about the profound hurt of feeling wronged, which only adds to the overwhelming sadness.

Another activist, Kayza Rose, stated that the result highlights the unsettling truth that law enforcement can take lives without facing any repercussions.

She emphasized, "People cannot feel secure as long as law enforcement can take lives without accountability."

"This ruling isn't the conclusion. Instead, it reinforces our determination."