A reward of up to £ 20,000 is being offered for information on who shot dead a prominent black rights activist as a charity tries to break the “wall of silence” that has disappointed investigators over the past year.
Crimestoppers will pay the money to anyone who anonymously shared information leading to the conviction of those responsible for the shooting of Sasha Johnson.
“Sasha is loved by family and friends and is an active defender of human rights,” said Alexa Lucas, regional manager of Crimestoppers in London.
“What happened to her is absolutely horrifying. Her life will never be the same again. We know that many of the people who were there at night were her friends and supporters. And yet there remains a wall of silence.
Johnson survived his “catastrophic” head injuries, but is now struggling to say more than a few words. Photo: Sofia Police / PA
“Before this brutal attack, Sasha was a powerful voice challenging injustice. Using your voice, you can help find justice for Sasha.
Johnson was shot in the head at close range while in a quiet disco in the garden of a house in Peckham, South London, around 3 am on May 23 last year.
The mother of two, who is the founder of the Taking The Initiative party and a prominent figure in the Black Lives Matter movement, has suffered “catastrophic” head injuries, but is now struggling to say more than a few words and requires constant medical care. She often suffers from severe pain and has limited mobility, according to Crimestoppers, who says her family lives with a “broken heart every day.”
A criminal case against four men accused of shooting Johnson failed in February.
Lucas stressed that Crimestoppers is independent of the police, saying he never wants or records personal data or tracks calls, and that his website uses encryption so he can’t see the computer’s IP addresses.
DCI’s Nigel Penny, who is leading the Scotland Yard investigation, described Johnson as “a young, healthy woman with children who are clearly committed to her.”
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He said: “Despite the most thorough police investigation, those who caused these serious injuries remain free and unpunished, and this is simply not right. I ask people to put an end to this injustice and tell Crimestoppers what you know. The charity will keep you completely anonymous.
“Many people were at this party, including many of Sasha’s friends, but almost all were reluctant to go out. I understand that people may be scared, but people need to seek 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.
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