Two young drill rappers have been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of a teenager in a drive-by shooting in London following a social media dispute.
The victim, Keanu Harker, 18, was fatally shot in the head and chest by Emmanuel Popoola, also 18, during a pursuit in Enfield, a district in north London. Popoola, known as Constancy, was riding as a passenger on a high-powered electric dirt bike driven by Teyvon Etefia, 18, who is also known as Take Risks.
The violent clash stemmed from ongoing tensions between two rival gangs in Enfield, the 3×3 gang, and the Get Money Gang (GMG). The tragic incident was triggered by a disagreement on Snapchat where derogatory voice messages were exchanged, suggesting that Popoola could not afford mobile data.
After the shooting, the perpetrators boasted about the crime in their drill rap videos. Popoola and Etefia, both residents of Enfield, were convicted of murder and possessing a self-loading pistol with intent to harm, receiving life sentences with a minimum term of 28 years.
During the trial at the Old Bailey in London, Judge Anthony Leonard KC condemned the senseless act, highlighting that Keanu Harker’s affiliation with a rival gang should not have cost him his life. The judge emphasized that the decision to kill Harker was a personal vendetta driven by the defendants’ ego and a desire for revenge over social media comments.
In a related development, another drill rapper, Eliezer Mbaki, 25, known as Spider, from Tottenham, was sentenced to four years and nine months for obstructing justice.
Prosecutor Louise Oakley KC informed the court that Popoola and Etefia chased Harker on their e-bike, with Popoola firing the fatal shots as they rode alongside. Despite efforts to flee the scene and discard incriminating evidence, the defendants were apprehended by law enforcement.
Popoola attempted to escape to France but was arrested with the assistance of his girlfriend, Anais King, who was also implicated in aiding the fugitive. Ultimately, both Popoola and King were apprehended, with Popoola denying his involvement in the shooting during the trial.
In a poignant victim impact statement, Keanu Harker’s mother expressed profound grief over her son’s untimely death, lamenting the loss of his promising future. She criticized the older individuals who manipulated and exploited her vulnerable son, leading to his tragic demise.
The heartbroken mother condemned the callousness of turning her son’s death into rap lyrics and underscored the enduring pain of losing a child to senseless violence. Similarly, the victim’s father emphasized Keanu’s worth and the injustice of his premature death.
Addressing the defendants in court, a relative of the victim condemned their actions as a needless loss of life driven by misguided loyalties to territorial affiliations. Additional accomplices involved in obstructing justice will face sentencing at a later date.