Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting of Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson, who remains in critical condition, CNN reported.
On Wednesday (May 26), Metropolitan Police Detective Inspector Richard Leonard released a statement announcing that five men were in police custody following Johnson’s shooting. A 17-year-old, he said, was taken in on suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon and possession with the intent to supply class A drugs. Three men were arrested on affray and possession with intent to supply class B drugs. Police also arrested another man on suspicion of affray and failing to stop for police.
Johnson was attacked and shot in the head while at a birthday party in Southwark. The Guardian reported that four men wearing dark clothing made their way into the event, and a scuffle subsequently ensued. Fire rang out, and the activist was hit with one single bullet to the head. The suspects fled, and Johnson was taken to a south London hospital where she is still fighting for her life in the intensive care unit.
The shooting reportedly came “following numerous death threats as a result of her activism,” per Johnson’s Britain’s Taking the Initiative Party. Police, however, claim there’s no evidence suggesting the activist was targeted, noting their beliefs that it is too early to determine whether she actually “had received any credible threats against her.”
A probe into Johnson’s horrific shooting is being conducted by Met’s Specialist Crime Command (Trident). Investigators have interviewed those who attended the party. They are collecting recorded footage of the event and are requesting the public’s help to learn more details about the case.
“Our investigation continues to make progress, but we need the assistance of the community to find out who was responsible for this horrific attack that has left Sasha fighting for her life,” Detective Chief Inspector Richard Leonard said in a statement.