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Chris Kaba, 24, shot dead by police in Streatham, Mon 5th Sept 2022

I was on Streatham Hill the afternoon after the shooting and without giving it much thought, started to take my normal route home via Kirkstall Gardens. I assumed I’d see some memorial flowers, maybe some people. The street was still cordoned off (don’t know why I thought it wouldn’t be) with three cops and a couple of cars. A small group of young men (maybe 8 or 10) were gathered at the corner of Kirkstall Gardens where the actual garden is. They clearly all knew each other well. Being a nosy bastard I went towards the police line and one of them came to meet me. I asked how long they thought the street would be cordoned off. And other cop came over pretty swiftly ( I think this one must have had some training in community relations or something, he stepped in and the first one backed off).

Cop - We’ll have things back to normal as quickly as we can. We’re doing our job, there’s a lot to check. Things will be back to normal soon
Me - Not for them (indicating the youngsters)
Cop - They probably won’t be here for very long
Me - They have every right to be here for as long as they need to be. This is obviously going to affect them deeply. This is a big deal
Cop - Yes. We know they are affected. We are keeping everyone safe
Me - Apparently not
Cop - …..
Me - This affects the entire community, not just people directly associated with the gang. People are angry. I’m angry
Cop - We are just doing our job….
Me - biting my tongue and taking a step back If I walk down to Kirkstall Road can I get along New Park Road from there?
Cop - No, New Park Road is closed at the end of this street. You‘ll have to go the other way
Me - through gritted teeth and walking away Thanks for letting me know


The thing that made me really angry was the apparent assumption that I was annoyed at the inconvenience about the street being closed, about young Black people gathering in the street to mark the death of their friend.

As I walked back up Kirkstall Gardens I passed more young Black people walking down a couple holding hands and another young woman, I guess to join the vigil. They were carrying a candle and flowers. David Clapson none of the people I saw gathered or walking in to join them seemed to me to be anything like the gang runners I see in NPR. I hesitate to categorise people by the way they look but if forced I would say they looked like college students.
 
CH1 said:
She means we are supposed to be proud of having an unarmed police force. And yet we are drifting to a situation like America - shoot first, questions later.
Click to expand...

It’s quite possible the police were quite amenable to the “questions” route.
 
friendofdorothy said:
No! No deserves to be shot!

I dont want uk police to follow americas gun happy - shoot first, ask after - fucked up gun culture. This is not america, police are not routinely armed and no one is 'begging to be shot'.
Click to expand...

Sorry, was just joshing cos it could be read that way.

I don’t agree that no one deserves to be shot, but it’s a nice sentiment.
 
story said:
I missed the “begging to be shot” line so thanks for highlighting it friendofdorothy .

Begging to be shot
What a vile thing to say.
Click to expand...

I missed that too.

However, reading it back, this was said in the context of officers with guns drawn, and you’re trying to ram them with your car.

If I was spitballing ideas for how to “suicide by cop”, this would def make the shortlist.
 
story said:
I was on Streatham Hill the afternoon after the shooting and without giving it much thought, started to take my normal route home via Kirkstall Gardens. I assumed I’d see some memorial flowers, maybe some people. The street was still cordoned off (don’t know why I thought it wouldn’t be) with three cops and a couple of cars. A small group of young men (maybe 8 or 10) were gathered at the corner of Kirkstall Gardens where the actual garden is. They clearly all knew each other well. Being a nosy bastard I went towards the police line and one of them came to meet me. I asked how long they thought the street would be cordoned off. And other cop came over pretty swiftly ( I think this one must have had some training in community relations or something, he stepped in and the first one backed off).

Cop - We’ll have things back to normal as quickly as we can. We’re doing our job, there’s a lot to check. Things will be back to normal soon
Me - Not for them (indicating the youngsters)
Cop - They probably won’t be here for very long
Me - They have every right to be here for as long as they need to be. This is obviously going to affect them deeply. This is a big deal
Cop - Yes. We know they are affected. We are keeping everyone safe
Me - Apparently not
Cop - …..
Me - This affects the entire community, not just people directly associated with the gang. People are angry. I’m angry
Cop - We are just doing our job….
Me - biting my tongue and taking a step back If I walk down to Kirkstall Road can I get along New Park Road from there?
Cop - No, New Park Road is closed at the end of this street. You‘ll have to go the other way
Me - *through gritted teeth and walking away Thanks for letting me know


The thing that made me really angry was the apparent assumption that I was annoyed at the inconvenience about the street being closed, about young Black people gathering in the street to mark the death of their friend.

As I walked back up Kirkstall Gardens I passed more young Black people walking down a couple holding hands and another young woman, I guess to join the vigil. They were carrying a candle and flowers. David Clapson none of the people I saw gathered or walking in to join them seemed to me to be anything like the gang runners I see in NPR. I hesitate to categorise people by the way they look but if forced I would say they looked like college students.
Click to expand...
This is what happened in Coldharbour Lane three years ago over the death of a 54 year old black man who was refused medical assistance by the police. The police kept Coldharbour Lane closed and diverted all buses for two whole days, yet is was them that did it.
Who do they thing they are kidding - and is it police policy now to punish the whole street if the Police kill someone in the street? Forget being kept in in an Irish convent school for stealing a pencil - this is Putin's Russia!
www.brixtonbuzz.com

Update: Brixton’s Coldharbour Lane remains closed after Saturday’s murder. Major bus disruption in the area

A large part of Coldharbour Lane in Brixton remains closed off after the tragic murder of a 54 year old man on Saturday evening. UPDATE 7pm Mon 1st July: the road has now been reopened.
www.brixtonbuzz.com www.brixtonbuzz.com
PS The "murder" turned out to be Police negligence dressed up as a pensioner gangland killing.
 
I was at The Windmill last night and fell into conversation with some local people I don’t know. They told me that there had been a shooting on Elm Park Road the night before (so Thursday 8 Sept).

They were chilling at home and they heard the shot. The woman said “because I’m from Colombia I knew right away it was gunshot”. They went to the window immediately, and then outside. A man was lying in the street trying to grasp at the wound, which was in the back of his left shoulder. He was shouting and crying out in pain and telling his (presumaby gf) “Call an ambulance! I’m shot, call an ambulance!” She was standing over him in a crouch, in a state of panic shouting “I ain’t got no credit!” The pair telling me this said that by now others were coming out of their homes and trying to help by pressing on the wound etc, and they called the ambulance. They said they didn’t see anyone else in the street and wondered if he’d been shot from an open doorway, maybe as he was trying to leave the house. Said it happened on the stretch just by the EPT pub.

But I’m not finding any reports of this online.


ETA
I can’t imagine they’d made it up.
 
Last edited:
8ball said:
I missed that too.

However, reading it back, this was said in the context of officers with guns drawn, and you’re trying to ram them with your car.

If I was spitballing ideas for how to “suicide by cop”, this would def make the shortlist.
Click to expand...

It’s still a vile ugly hateful thing to say.


If it was attempted suicide by cop the correct phrase would be hoping to be shot.
 
This Sky report from the day of the shooting. A witness who said they didn’t know anything was happen til they heard the shot. And the reporter saying that the car Chris Kaba was driving “moved towards” the cop obstructing his progress, not “rammed”.

Obvs, this may not be accurate.

 
This article in The Mirror is worth a read.

There is no mention of his conviction and prison term. I’m starting to wonder if that was misinformation. I did read it somewhere in a second hand report but can’t now find it.

Whole article C&P here, link below

The statement read: “We are devastated; we need answers and we need accountability. We are worried that if Chris had not been black, he would have been arrested on Monday evening and not had his life cut short.”

They added that they had informed the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) of their “demand” saying: “we do not want any delay as has happened in other fatal shootings – otherwise we and the wider public can have no confidence that the police will be held to account.”

They also called on the watchdog to confirm whether or not a weapon was found and it was later confirmed that no firearm was ever found at the scene.

"We have today told the IOPC of that demand and that we do not want any delay as has happened in other fatal shootings – otherwise we and the wider public can have no confidence that the police will be held to account.

“We also want the IOPC to tell us whether or not a weapon was found in any search of the vehicle that Chris was driving. We have not received this information even though the shooting happened almost two days ago.

“Finally, we are desperately appealing for any witnesses, whether before, during or after the pursuit and the shooting, to come forward to the IOPC and/or to our solicitors at Hickman and Rose.

“We are devastated; we need answers and we need accountability. We are worried that if Chris had not been black, he would have been arrested on Monday evening and not had his life cut short.”
Speaking through tears, heartbroken mum Helen Nkama told the BBC: "My heart is broken. I am speechless. My heart is broken. Police have taken Chris from me, I don't know how to say, but I need justice to be done for Chris. This is very racist, it's no good.

"I need justice to be done for Chris."

Mr Kaba's father, Prosper Kaba said: "Really we are shocked to see that in this century from a specialist of the law like police, can shortcut someone's life, especially a young boy.

"No one can give any justification on why the police act. For us it's totally racist and criminal."

Following the police chase on Monday, Mr Kaba's Audi was hemmed in by two police cars in narrow residential street Kirkstall Gardens.

The chase followed the activation of an automatic number plate recognition camera, which indicated the vehicle was linked to a firearms incident in the previous days, the IOPC has said.

A police firearm was discharged once and Mr Kaba sustained a gunshot injury. He received first aid from officers before being taken to hospital while the force referred itself to the independent watchdog.

It was later revealed that no firearm was found at the scene of the incident.

The Metropolitan Police earlier expressed its condolences to Mr Kaba's loved ones, saying the force understood that "the family and community want answers".

In a statement issued earlier on Wednesday, Commander Alexis Boon said the incident was "extremely concerning" and vowed the force would co-operate with the police watchdog in its aftermath.

The officer said: "I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family and friends of the man who died and I recognise the devastating and lasting impact this tragic incident will have on them.

"I understand that this incident is extremely concerning and I would like to reassure the community that the Met is co-operating fully with the IOPC as they carry out a thorough and independent investigation."

The pastor at a church which Mr Kaba attended as a child said there were discussions in the community about organising a vigil for him.

Reverend Siaa-Liane Mathurin, of New Park Road Baptist Church, said: "Chris came to the church when he was little. He was from round here, he lived just over the road.

Kim Alleyne, whose daughter Karimah Waite was engaged to Mr Kaba, broke down in tears at the scene.
"The community are scared. I've had young people come to me asking 'why did they shoot him?'

"There are families who didn't send their kids to school today.

"I'm speaking to community leaders about organising a demonstration or a vigil."


Speaking at the scene on Tuesday, Kim Alleyne, 49, whose daughter Karimah Waite was engaged to Mr Kaba, said: "He was so loved. He was so funny. He was super kind. Crazy. He was always happy. He'd do anything for you.

"He was a fiancé, he was due to get married in five months' time. He's got a baby on the way that he's never going to see. It's horrible and so shocking and so sad."

Karimah was said to have been too devastated to talk. Her mother who learned about Mr Kaba's death through social media added: "The point is we shouldn’t have to justify that he was perfect. At the end of the day, he was a human that was shot.

"Look how many people have turned up here, his friends, have you ever seen so many grown men cry like this before? I’ve never woken up quicker in my life than today.

"He must have been petrified. They didn't even give him a chance to use his human rights."

Some paying tribute at the scene said Mr Kaba was a rapper known as Madix or Mad Itch 67, and is best known for their track "Lets Lurk".

They are widely regarded in the UK drill scene after being nominated for Best Newcomer at the MOBO Awards in 2016..

An unnamed friend who spoke at the scene said: “There’s a bullet hole in the windscreen, he wasn’t given a chance. He was unarmed. He was soon to be a father for the first time. This is awful, we’re all in huge shock.

Another friend said: "This is crazy, I saw [Chris] just on Sunday when we watched the Manchester United game together. Now he's not here. I know him from football. This is mad."

Jefferson Bosela, 27, who was Mr Kaba's cousin, said: "He was a good person, a good, happy guy. He didn't deserve that. No-one deserves that.

"Nobody deserves to be shot by the police, whether they are a good person or a bad person."

Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Mr Kaba's local MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Streatham, said: "We have to express our condolences to Chris Kaba's family and the community is in shock over what happened.


"The fact that we know there was no firearm in the vehicle has raised more questions. Part of the issue and speculation and mistrust is because this wasn't put out sooner.

"Other situations you would have heard sooner if the individual being followed war armed. This really doesn't help the current situation and relations with the community."

She also said the police's response would only add to the "level of mistrust in particular communities, black African and Caribbean communities".

She added: "Unfortunately because these incidents keep happening in our community and the way they play out, I don't think it is giving people a lot of hope.

"As I said the major issues is that they didn't give information right at the beginning, key information which as far as we can see wouldn't have prejudiced the investigation."

The MP added that how the information surrounding his death had been released and reported on "does stoke up tension in terms of how young black men are viewed".

A community leader in Streatham Hill has said she was not surprised to hear that Mr Kaba did not have a firearm when he was shot dead by police on Monday evening.

Rachel Swaby, a leader at a local church, said: "The information that was shared yesterday was not a surprise, that is what we thought. It just compounds the feeling of anger and resentment towards the police.

"People were here last night at the vigil. They are really hurt and really angry because they lost a friend. It feels like lessons weren't learned from the tragedy with Mark Duggan."

A protest was planned today outside the Ritzy Cinema, Brixton, London at 3pm today over the shooting. The protest has been advertised in a post circulated on social media, which reads: "Peaceful protest for Chris Kaba.

"An unarmed young black man who was a father to be was murdered in cold blood by our police force in the early hours of the morning in Kirstall Gardens on Monday, September 5. We demand answers and will hold a plea."

There have been reports that claim another protest will take place outside Brixton police station.

Regional Director Sal Naseem said the IOPC is continuing its investigation into the fatal shooting but acknowledged questions remained around Mr Kaba's death.

He said: “We recognise that there is community concern following this incident and we appreciate that questions will remain around how Mr Kaba tragically ended up being fatally shot following an attempted vehicle stop.

“We are working hard to piece together all of the circumstances surrounding this incident and we want to reassure the community that these questions will be answered in due course, however it will take some time before our investigation is able to uncover all of the facts.

“While we have already undertaken some door-to-door enquiries in the neighbourhood, there is likely to be members of the public we are yet to speak to which may have information that could assist our investigation.

“Anyone with information that may be useful in helping us to paint the picture of the events that evening is asked to contact the IOPC by phoning 0300 303 0779 or by emailing witness@policeconduct.gov.uk(link sends e-mail) - referencing “Streatham Hill”.

“Our heartfelt sympathies remain with Mr Kaba’s family and friends, and everyone affected by this tragic incident.”
Click to expand...

www.mirror.co.uk

Family call for a "homicide investigation" after dad-to-be shot dead by officer

Chris Kaba, 24, a soon-to-be dad, was shot dead by armed police officers following a chase in Streatham, London, on Monday night - his family say they are 'worried' that if he had not been black, his life would not have been cut short
www.mirror.co.uk www.mirror.co.uk
 
Telegraph story here but I’m not paying to read it.

www.telegraph.co.uk

Drill rapper shot dead by police had been jailed for firearms offence

Chris Kaba was unarmed when he was shot dead, investigators have confirmed
www.telegraph.co.uk www.telegraph.co.uk




This says he was charged with “intent to cause fear of violence”.

eastlondonnews.co.uk

Canning Town gunman charged - East London News

GUNSHOTS HEARD in Butchers Road, Canning Town, in the early hours of 30th December led to a police hunt for the gunman. Now a man has been charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. The man is Chris Kaba, 19, of Bowen Street, London SE26. He was charged on ...
eastlondonnews.co.uk eastlondonnews.co.uk
 
MyLondon piece from a couple of days ago says Chris Kaba was “linked with previous alleged firearms incident”

www.mylondon.news

Chris Kaba's car was stopped after being 'linked to previous firearms incident'

Chris Kaba was not armed but was still killed after being shot by armed police
www.mylondon.news www.mylondon.news


The IOPC has revealed that Chris Kaba, 24, who was shot and killed by police while unarmed, was stopped in his car because it had been recognised in connection to a previous alleged firearms incident. A new statement from the IOPC, who are investigating Mr Kaba's death, confirmed today that no gun was found on his person.
Click to expand...
 
www.essexnewsandinvestigations.com

BREAKING: Investigation into shooting of rapper Chris Kaba becomes a homicide probe - IOPC

THE investigation into the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in Streatham Hill on Monday September 5 has become a homicide probe. A spokesman for the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) said: "Following our review of the evidence gathered so far, the...
www.essexnewsandinvestigations.com www.essexnewsandinvestigations.com


Yesterday, it emerged that Chris had previously been jailed for possession of a firearm.


He was sentenced to four years in a young offenders institute in January 2019 after being convicted of possession of a firearm at Snaresbrook Crown Court.

He was charged in February 2018 after shots were fired in Butchers Road, Canning Town, east London, at about 3.25am on December 30 2017.
Click to expand...

He was 19 at the time of the incident. Police released images of another man (above) at the time and appealed for his whereabouts.

It had been said by mourners that the expectant father had no association to gang culture.

Friends said his previous conviction was not relevant to what happened to him this week.
Click to expand...


I think it’s significant that those who knew him state that he had no affiliation with the gang. Nor have the police said he was involved, and I would assume they would, if they could.
 
Last edited:
GarveyLives said:
Following their review of the evidence (as opposed to stories circulated by the Metropolitan Police and its agents) gathered so far, the Independent Office for Police Conduct has now launched a homicide investigation into the killing of the Late Chris Kaba:.

Chris Kaba: Murder investigation launched into death of black rapper shot by police
Click to expand...

Today's protest march in central London in support of the family of the Late Chris Kaba:

62276681-11199749-image-a-29_1662820754538.jpg


(Source: as stated in image)

62276623-11199749-Mr_Kaba_s_heartbroken_mother_Helen_Nkama_led_Saturday_s_peaceful-m-28_1662820692305.jpg


(Source: as stated in image)

62276677-11199749-image-m-33_1662820823084.jpg


(Source: as stated in image)

​
 
story said:
www.essexnewsandinvestigations.com

BREAKING: Investigation into shooting of rapper Chris Kaba becomes a homicide probe - IOPC

THE investigation into the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) in Streatham Hill on Monday September 5 has become a homicide probe. A spokesman for the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) said: "Following our review of the evidence gathered so far, the...
www.essexnewsandinvestigations.com www.essexnewsandinvestigations.com







I think it’s significant that those who knew him state that he had no affiliation with the gang. Nor have the police said he was involved, and I would assume they would, if they could.
Click to expand...
Really 🙄
I thought you were talking earlier like you knew the details. Sounds like you don't know who he was? He got out of jail 6 months ago.
 
pbsmooth said:
Really 🙄
I thought you were talking earlier like you knew the details. Sounds like you don't know who he was? He got out of jail 6 months ago.
Click to expand...


I read the initial reports on the day. They said he’d recently been released from prison, I assumed they were correct because I read them in a few different places. I also assumed that because he was said to be associated with the 67 that his conviction was associated with the several convictions that happened back in 2019 (? I think, but I’ll check).

It turns out that that was a mistake on my part.

As the story has developed I wanted to know more accurate information and went looking for it, but since the internet is now talking mainly about an unarmed man being shot in the street by a policeman, the awful grief of his parents, and the IOPC investigation, information about his conviction dropped out of the top layer of Google hits. Not wanting to rely only on my memory of things I read on the day following the incident I dug a little deeper, and came up with these reports.

It looks like he was charged with offences that happened in Canning Town but I still cant find a primary source for anything concrete about his conviction or prison time and release. If you have one it would be helpful to have it posted here.

So I read something that I now can’t reference, wanted to check my information, and went back to do that, correcting a mistake in the process.

What part of this do you find problematic ?
 
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