So Solid Crew leader wanted by police over fatal shooting

The leader of the rap collective So Solid Crew is wanted for questioning over the murder of a 24-year-old man who was shot dead in the street.

The leader of the rap collective So Solid Crew is wanted for questioning over the murder of a 24-year-old man who was shot dead in the street.

Dwayne Vincent, known as Megaman, is being sought by the Scotland Yard squad that investigates black-on-black gangland shootings. He is wanted in connection with the murder of Colin Scarlett, who was fatally wounded in an attack in Tooting, south London, on 6 November.

Attempts to trace Mr Vincent, 23, have failed and an alert has been placed at Britain's ports and airports amid fears that he may try to go abroad. Detectives from the Trident police team believe he is probably still in the country.

The star is the organiser of the musical collective of about 30 London-based artists, known as the So Solid Crew. In July armed police were called to a confrontation between a gang of youths and the group who were making a video. The So Solid Crew frontman had to be escorted to his car while the youths threw eggs at members of the group at a music venue in east London.

So Solid Crew have been at the centre of a series of shootings and firearms incidents since they broke into the music scene about three years ago, and their lyrics have been criticised for encouraging violence.

Jason Phillips, 24, better known to fans as G-Man, was given a four-year prison term after being caught with a weapon in November last year. The judge said he probably carried the gun, a modified Brocock pistol, out of "bravado and the thrill of having it". The previous year another member, Ashley Walters, known as Asher D, was sent to a young offenders institution for 18 months after being caught in possession of a loaded semi-automatic firearm.

This year, a man was jailed for life at the Old Bailey for a murder committed outside one of the collective's gigs in Luton. None of the group was involved.

In the latest incident Mr Scarlett was found suffering from several gunshot wounds and taken to hospital where he died. Two cars were seen leaving the scene at Maskell Road.

Carl Morgan, 23, has been charged with the murder of Mr Scarlett and possession of a firearm, and is due to appear in court today.

Mr Vincent's agent, Albert Samuels, said yesterday that he knew nothing about the police investigations or his client's whereabouts. "It is completely all new to me, I don't know where he is," he said. "I have not spoken to him for about three months. I am still involved with [fellow group member] Lisa Maffia, but have not dealt with the rest of the band since the beginning of this year."

So Solid Crew, made up of rappers, singers, DJs and producers, have joined campaigns against gun crime, supporting a month-long gun amnesty and appearing at a government-backed concert. Mr Vincent spoke at a conference after the murder of two teenagers in Birmingham after a New Year party. He said at the time: "I am totally against the use of guns. For many people carrying a gun is a form of protection, sometimes they just don't have a chance. But we need to give youths options."