London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Tuesday, Sep 22, 2026

Sasha Johnson shooting: Witnesses' silence 'crazy', says victim's sister

Sasha Johnson shooting: Witnesses' silence 'crazy', says victim's sister

The "silence" of those who saw black equal rights campaigner Sasha Johnson shot is "crazy", her sister says.

Ms Johnson, 28, was shot in the head during a silent disco in the garden of a house in Peckham, south London, in May last year, and remains in hospital.

A case against four men charged over the shooting was dropped last week.

The activist's mother, Ellet Dalling, urged fresh witnesses to come forward and said: "[The] people that did this to Sasha need to come off the street."

Metropolitan Police detectives say they've been met with a "wall of silence" in their appeal for witnesses.

Four men in balaclavas shot at guests in the back garden of the house in Consort Road, with one round striking Ms Johnson in the head at "very close range", the court heard.

She has permanent and "catastrophic" injuries.

Sasha Johnson's family say doctors have told them it's a "miracle" she is alive


A trial had been due to start in March but at a hearing last week, the prosecution said it could not go ahead for reasons that could not be set out fully in open court.

The case was based on circumstantial evidence and there was no direct evidence identifying any of the defendants as the attackers, prosecutors added.

Ms Johnson's sister, Shakira Williams, told journalists at New Scotland Yard on Monday that despite the case collapsing, the family is determined to get justice.

"We were hurt, but we had to pull ourselves together because breaking now is not it... this is a bump in the road," she said.

In a statement addressed to her sister, Ms Williams said the family feel "we all got shot in the head" when Ms Johnson was hurt on 23 May 2021.

"I can't put it into words, but the journey has been devastating," she said.

She said Ms Johnson's sons, aged seven and 11, have been "so brave and strong".

It's the first time Ms Johnson's mother and sister have spoken to the media.

Sasha Johnson (right) has two young sons


Det Ch Insp Nigel Penney, who is leading the continuing investigation into the shooting, said many witnesses have refused to come forward.

"Our biggest challenge is the wall of silence we have faced when appealing for witnesses," he said.

"There were plenty of people there, yet many have not been willing to speak to us.

"I know it is daunting, but our officers are here to do all we can to support anyone who is willing to come forward."

Ms Dalling said: "We need justice for Sasha. So please, I'm asking everyone at the party to come out and speak out for Sasha."

Ms Williams added: "The silence is crazy."

Ms Johnson is a prominent anti-racism campaigner and a founding member of the Taking the Initiative Party.

She was heavily involved in the Black Lives Matter movement in 2020 and although not a member of Black Lives Matter UK, the organisation has described her as a "fearless" and "dedicated" campaigner.

Ms Johnson is a prominent anti-racism campaigner


Sasha's sister and mother: "It's not over... we will get justice"


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Andy Burnham Reaffirms UK Net-Zero Target With £30 Million Community Energy Fund
Scottish Labour Leader Backs Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea Projects
UK Consumer Confidence Falls to Three-Year Low
UK Diesel Prices Approach £2 a Litre as Global Supply Shortages Intensify
Chiltern Railways Returns to Public Ownership as UK Rail Nationalisation Advances
British Museum Faces Questions Over Peter Thiel’s Private Bayeux Tapestry Viewing
Earl Spencer Memoir Excerpts Renew Public Debate Over Diana’s Death
Liberal Democrats Gather in Brighton for Autumn Conference
Mothercare Shares Plunge as Middle East Store Closures Threaten Long-Term Solvency
Kent Police Treat Folkestone Hotel Fire as Suspicious
Caribbean Governments Advance Reparations Campaign Seeking Engagement With Britain
Scottish Labour Leader Backs Rosebank and Jackdaw North Sea Projects
FCA Urges Young Adults to Trace £1.5 Billion in Unclaimed Child Trust Funds
UK Competition Regulator Opens Inquiry Into McCormick-Unilever Foods Deal
Public Inquiry Into Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys Mental Health Failings Set to Begin
Nigel Farage Looks to US Immigration Enforcement Model for UK Border Policy
Chiltern Railways Moves Into Public Ownership
Security Review Raises Concerns Over Sensitive UK Police Data Stored on Microsoft Cloud
Burnham Government Warns of Difficult Autumn Budget as Fiscal Headroom Narrows
Bank of England Holds Rates at 3.75% as Inflation Rises to 3.1%
Ed Sheeran Tour Faces Backlash After Macklemore Is Removed Over Pro-Palestinian Remarks
Vandalism of Traffic Cameras Intensifies Across Parts of England
Nearly 300 Evacuated as Fire Hits Grand Burstin Hotel in Folkestone
King Charles Warns AI Executives About Risks From Uncontrolled Technology
Church of England Apologises for Role in Historical Forced Adoption Practices
UK Debate Over Online Speech Intensifies After Arrest Figures Draw Scrutiny
Oxfordshire Village Holds Symbolic Independence Vote Over Asylum Accommodation Plan
Nigel Farage and Richard Tice Sue National Crime Agency Over Alleged Banking Data Leaks
Apple Introduces Stricter Age Checks for UK Accounts
BBC Cash Reserves Fall 66% to £125 Million as Broadcaster Restructures
McLaren Announces £500 Million UK Investment and Plans 1,000 Jobs
Green Party Wins Historic Gorton and Denton By-Election as Labour Falls to Third
Burnham Government Prepares October Budget Under Growing Fiscal Pressure
UK Energy Suppliers Pull Fixed-Price Deals as Wholesale Markets Turn More Volatile
Bank of England Holds Rates at 3.75% as Middle East Energy Shock Raises Inflation Risks
Addison Lee Founder Loses £20 Million UK Tax Tribunal Case
BrewDog Creditors Face Losses on About £190 Million of Debt
Harrods Seeks to Recover Abuse Compensation Costs From Mohamed Al Fayed’s Estate
Ed Davey Targets Reform UK as Liberal Democrat Conference Opens
Great Britain Retail Sales Rise 0.5% in August
NHS England Approves Life-Extending Treatment for Incurable Breast Cancer
Proposals to Limit NHS ADHD Diagnoses Draw Criticism From Patient Groups
Resolution Foundation Warns of Housing Cost Crunch for Low-Income UK Families
BBC Cash Reserves Fall to Decade Low as Annual Deficit Reaches £121 Million
Millisecond Software Error Triggered Major UK Air Traffic Control Disruption
Twenty Women Underwent Unnecessary Mastectomies During NHS Cancer Care
Sensitive UK Police Data Found Vulnerable to Access by Foreign Actors
British Steel Faces Renewed Pressure for a Long-Term Financial Plan
MPs Urge Government to End Thames Water Restructuring Talks With U.S. Hedge Funds
Andy Burnham Warns of Difficult UK Budget Choices as Inflation Returns to 3.1%
×