Sasha Johnson: £20,000 reward offered for information on shooting of rights campaigner
Ms Johnson was shot at a silent disco in the garden of a house in Peckham, south London, last year
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A charity is offering a reward for information about who shot a black equal rights campaigner a year ago.
Crimestoppers will pay up to £20,000 to anyone who shares information anonymously leading to the conviction of those responsible for Sasha Johnson’s shooting.
Ms Johnson 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, at about 3am on May 23 last year.
The mother-of-two survived her “catastrophic” head injuries but she now struggles to say more than a few words and requires constant medical care.
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 Johnson is often now in terrible pain and has limited mobility, according to Crimestoppers, which says her family are living with “daily heartbreak”.
She 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.
A criminal case against four men accused of Ms Johnson’s shooting collapsed in February.
At the time, prosecutor Mark Heywood QC told the Old Bailey 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.”
She stressed that Crimestoppers is independent of police, saying it never asks for or records personal details, does not trace calls and that its website uses encryption so it cannot see computer IP addresses.
She added: “Before this violent attack, Sasha was a powerful voice who challenged injustice. By using your voice, you can help find justice for Sasha.”
Homicide detectives from the Met Police’s Specialist Crime Command led the investigation into Ms Johnson’s attack because it was so serious.
Det Chief Insp Nigel Penney, who leads 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.
“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.
“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.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.