DRIVE-BY SHOOTING
Sasha Johnson: Surgery ‘went well’ on ‘Black Panther of Oxford’ shot in head in ‘drive-by’ as pal blames ‘rival gangs’
A BLACK Lives Matter activist was blasted in the head by "rival gangs" who opened fire at a house party in a drive-by shooting, a pal says.
Sasha Johnson, 27, was left fighting for life after the horror in Peckham, South East London, on Sunday morning.
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A friend has now revealed surgery "went well" on the self-styled 'Black Panther of Oxford' and she remains in hospital with her parents at her side.
Imarn Ayton also claimed "rival gangs" were to blame for the shooting - rather than her "activism" for BLM.
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She told the : "There was a rival gang that may have heard about someone being in that party that they didn't feel quite comfortable with or trusted and so they resorted to driving past and shooting into the garden, and one of those shots obviously hit Sasha Johnson. But I don't believe she was the intended victim."
A horrified neighbour reported hearing gunshots ringing out as the house and a woman "hysterically crying" as the party ended in bloodshed.
While another said: "I heard two shots three seconds apart. Then a car screeched off and I heard a woman desperately shouting for help."
The Taking the Initiative Party (TTIP) claim Sasha, who helped organise last summer's BLM protests, was gunned down after receiving" numerous death threats as a result of her activism".
Police have since said they don't believe the shooting was targeted and nothing suggests she received "credible death threats".
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The party said in a statement: "It is with great sadness that we inform you that our own Sasha Johnson has been brutally attacked and sustained a gunshot wound to her head.
"She is currently in intensive care and in a critical condition. The attack happened in the early hours of this morning, following numerous death threats as a result of her activism.
"Sasha has always been actively fighting for black people and the injustices that surround the black community, as well as being both a member of BLM and a member of Taking the Initiative Party's Executive Leadership Committee.
"Sasha is also a mother of two and a strong, powerful voice for our people and our community.
"Let's all come together and pray for Sasha, pray for her recovery and show our support to her family and loved ones. #prayforsashajohnson."
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Police were scrambled to the shooting, which was close to a house party, at around 3am yesterday.
Mum-of-two Sasha, who organised the BLM protests last year, was found suffering from gunshot wounds.
She was rushed to hospital where she remains in a critical condition.
BLM held a vigil in Ruskin Park near King's College Hospital at 3pm this afternoon.
Upset friends and family were seen weeping and hugging each other as they gathered for Sasha.
Detective Chief Inspector Jimi Tele said: "This was a shocking incident that has left a young woman with very serious injuries. Our thoughts are with her family who are being provided with support at this terribly difficult time.
"If you saw anything suspicious in the Consort Road area in the early hours of Sunday morning or if you have heard information since that could help detectives, it is crucial that you get in touch."
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Sasha, who attended university in Oxford, had previously called for people accused of racism to be put on a sex offenders-style "race offenders register".
The youth worker and cafe owner gained attention over summer as a prominent figure at a number of BLM protests, and has since helped to found the Taking the Initiative Party.
She serves on the party's executive committee as the member in charge of activism.
Speaking to about the party's proposals, Sasha said the race offences list would be intended to protect minority groups from racist abuse and other discriminatory behaviour.
"It's similar to the sex offenders register," she said.
"If you were to be racially abusive to someone, [the register] would question whether someone is fit enough to hold a particular job where their bias could influence another person's life."
She said being placed on the list would stop people from being able to work in "certain fields" or even live in certain areas.
"If you live in a majority-coloured neighbourhood you shouldn't reside there because you're a risk to those people," she added.
"Just like if a sex offender lived next to a school he would be a risk to those children."
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She went on to call for reparations to be made to black people in Britain via tax breaks, and also voiced support for the defunding of police departments, although TTIP has ruled out the latter.
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Black Lives Matter has sought to distance itself from groups like TTIP and said it was not behind attempts in October to register a political party using the BLM name.
Anyone with information can call police on 101 quoting reference CAD1172/23MAY or ring Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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Snapchat video shows heavy police presence outside party where BLM activist Sasha Johnson was shot in the head
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