Second Man Charged Over Shooting of UK Black Lives Matter Activist Sasha Johnson

Sasha Johnson (C) of the Black Lives Matter movement attends a protest at Hyde Park in London on June 13, 2020. Alberto Pezzali/AP Photo

British police said on Saturday that a second teenager had been charged with conspiracy to murder over the shooting of Black Lives Matter activist Sasha Johnson.

The 27-year-old remains in critical condition in hospital after being shot in the head at a party in London in the early hours of May 23.

The Metropolitan Police said that Devonte Brown, 18, of Southwark, was charged on Friday evening with conspiracy to murder. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday and was remanded in custody to appear to the Old Bailey on July 7.

Brown is the second person to be charged over the shooting. Another teenager, Cameron Deriggs, 18, appeared in court on May 29 and was remanded into custody until his next court appearance at the Old Bailey on June 25.

Johnson was shot in the head on the early morning of May 23 at a party in the back garden of a home in Consort Road, Peckham, southeast London.

Police forensic officers on Consort Road as they investigate the shooting of Sasha Johnson in London, on May 24, 2021. Chris J Ratcliffe /Getty Images

“Shortly before 3 a.m., four black males wearing dark clothing have gained entry into the garden through a side entrance and in the ensuing melee a firearm has been discharged injuring Sasha. The suspects have then fled the garden,” the Met said in a statement on May 25.

Johnson’s left-wing Taking the Initiative Party alleged that the incident was an “attempted murder” and “a hate crime or a targeted attack at worst.”

But Black Lives Matter activist Imarn Ayton, described as a friend of Johnson, told ITV on May 24 that it’s likely that she was shot in an incident that was “more related to rival gangs” in the area.

“I do believe that it was a party and there was some type of dispute between two individuals or two gangs, and it was wrong place, wrong time,” Ayton noted, adding that she doesn’t “believe [Johnson] was the intended victim.”

The Metropolitan Police also appeared to dispute claims that Johnson was the victim of a politically-motivated targeted attack.

“At this early stage work continues to establish a motive but there is nothing to suggest that Sasha was the subject of a targeted attack,” it said on May 26. “At this time, police are also not aware of any reports of threats made against her prior to the incident.”

Jack Philips, Lily Zhou, and PA contributed to this report.