Chris Kaba was 'core member' of one of London's most dangerous gangs who 'gunned down' rival days before death

22 October 2024, 10:59 | Updated: 22 October 2024, 12:36

Chris Kaba was a "core member" of one of London's most dangerous gangs and was accused of being involved in two shootings in less than a week before he was killed by a police marksman, it can now be reported.

A restriction against the publication of some details about his background has been lifted after the armed officer, Martyn Blake, was yesterday cleared of murder by a jury.

Kaba's criminal record dates back to when he was 13-years-old, for offences including stabbing with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, a gang assault involving a knife, as well as two separate knife offences.

He was jailed for four years in 2017 following a conviction for possessing an imitation firearm and received a five-month prison sentence for failing to stop and possession of a knife - which he later discarded - in August 2020.

Earlier this year, three other members of the 67 gang from Brixton Hill were jailed for a nightclub shooting which took place just six days before Kaba, 24, was shot dead following a police pursuit.

Shemiah Bell, Marcus Pottinger and Connel Bamgboye were convicted in February this year after a man suffered gunshot wounds to both legs outside the Oval Space club in Hackney on 30 August 2022.

Brandon Malutshi was shot twice in the leg with a revolver after a gunman opened fire on the dancefloor of The Oval Space, in Hackney, east London.

CPS footage shows moment Chris Kaba shoots rival in nightclub

Shots were also fired on the road outside the venue as the victim attempted to escape.

During that trial, the court heard the alleged gunman, who couldn’t be identified at the time, had died before facing justice.

The dead gunman was Chris Kaba.

Kaba would have ultimately stood trial for the attempted murder of Malutshi, who was affiliated with the Wandsworth's 1-7 gang, along with six other men.

On 5 September, marksman Martyn Blake fired a fatal shot through the windscreen of an Audi being driven by Chris Kaba which had been linked to the shooting in Hackney as well as another shooting in Brixton the night before.

Read more: Met police marksman who shot Chris Kaba cleared of murder

Read more: Protests outside Old Bailey following murder acquittal of Met marksman who shot dead Chris Kaba

Kaba, whose street name was "Itch", was shot in the head by Mr Blake, 40, as he tried to evade police in Streatham, south London.

An automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) marker had been placed on the car, which alerted the police to its identity.

However, officers did not know Mr Kaba was at the wheel.

The vehicle had previously been linked to a shooting in Bromley, southeast London, on 22 May 2022.

The incident saw two individuals targeted with a shotgun, the Old Bailey heard in legal argument - evidence that was not heard by the jury as part of the Met officer's murder trial.

Police bodycam shows moment Chris Kaba is shot

On that night of the August 30 nightclub shooting, Kaba travelled to Hackney in the Audi with Mr Bamgboye.

Having pursued the victim down the street outside the nightclub, he is then said to have fired several shots with a handgun.

It's claimed Kaba was driven away by another man - who was acquitted of assisting him - in a range rover.

Another suspect is then said to have picked up the Audi and parked it outside his home address, where Mr Kaba later collected it.

It can now be revealed that Mr Bamgboye was convicted with Mr Kaba in 2015 for his part in a fight.

Mr Bamgboye was also involved in the conviction of a gang altercation in which Kaba was shot in 2017.

The Crown Prosecution Service released footage featuring police bodycam video from multiple angles following the verdict.

In the footage, police can be seen swarming around Mr Kaba’s car. Two officers can be heard shouting “show me your hands”.

There is another shout of “show me your hands” while the car moves forwards and backwards.

Sergeant Blake’s trial heard he wasn’t aware of who the driver was or its link to the nightclub shooting when he took the shot.

It can now be revealed that Kaba had previously been arrested for a string of offences and would have stood trial alongside fellow gang members involved in the August 30 shooting had he still been alive.

Kaba was arrested in 2020, serving five months jail for failing to stop and possession of a knife.

Police marksman made ‘huge sacrifice’ in wake of fatal shooting of Chris Kaba

Following the police marksman's acquittal, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said the officer involved had made a "huge sacrifice" in the wake of events.

It follows comments from Suella Braverman speaking with Nick Ferrari at Breakfast in which she praised the 'courageous' Met marksman, claiming that he 'should never have been charged' with murder.

It comes as protests took place outside the Old Bailey on Monday evening following the acquittal of the Met marksman.

Dozens of protesters gathered outside the court with Chris Kaba's family after the marksman who fatally shot him was cleared of murder.

Firearms officer, Martyn Blake, was acquitted by a jury at the Old Bailey after around three and a half hours of deliberation on Monday.