Enfield Drill Rappers Convicted of E-Bike Drive-By Murder of Keanu Harker

Two teenage drill rappers have been convicted of murder at the Old Bailey following a fatal drive-by shooting in North London that stemmed from a gang dispute on social media.

Following a week of jury deliberations, Emmanuel Popoola and Tayvon Etefia, both 18 and from Enfield, were found guilty on Monday of the murder of 18-year-old Keanu Harker. The pair were also convicted of possessing a self-loading pistol with intent to endanger life.

The court heard that on June 26 last year, Popoola shot Mr Harker in the head and chest after chasing him while riding as a pillion passenger on a high-powered electric bike driven by Etefia.

The fatal shooting was the culmination of an active rivalry between two Enfield-based gangs, identified in court as the 3x3 gang and the Get Money Gang (GMG).

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Jurors were told that the immediate catalyst for the murder was an altercation on the social media platform Snapchat, during which comments were made implying that Popoola lacked the financial means to purchase data for his mobile phone. The court heard that following the killing, gang members bragged about the murder in drill rap videos.

During the trial, Prosecutor Louise Oakley KC detailed the events of the shooting, explaining how the defendants pursued Mr Harker, who was also cycling at the time. As the e-bike pulled alongside the victim, Popoola discharged three shots from close range.

Detailing the immediate aftermath, Ms Oakley told the jury: "Keanu Harker immediately fell off his bicycle on to the road. He was fatally injured but somehow managed to crawl a short distance into the front garden of a residential address just off the Great Cambridge Road.

"Emmanuel Popoola and Tayvon did not stop. They continued to make good their escape."

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The prosecution established that after fleeing the scene, the two killers discarded their clothing and abandoned the e-bike used in the attack. They were subsequently collected in a vehicle driven by 25-year-old fellow drill rapper Eliezer Mbaki. A 17-year-old youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, later recovered the discarded e-bike.

The court was presented with evidence of a coordinated attempt by the killers to flee the jurisdiction. Within days of the shooting, Popoola successfully boarded a one-way Eurostar service from London St Pancras to Paris with the assistance of his 19-year-old girlfriend Anais King.

Etefia had booked a separate ticket to flee to France but was intercepted by police officers who boarded his train and arrested him just two minutes before it was scheduled to depart.

Following Popoola's arrival in the French capital, detectives placed King under surveillance as she planned to join him. Police tracked her journey to Paris where French authorities subsequently followed her directly to Popoola's apartment, resulting in his arrest.

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Popoola was extradited from France to London to face trial and King was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Popoola denied any involvement in the shooting while giving evidence in his defence.

Alongside the murder convictions, Mbaki, from Tottenham, King, from Enfield and the 17-year-old youth were all found guilty of perverting the course of justice.

Following the verdicts, the family of Keanu Harker released a statement addressing the devastating impact of the violence.

"We have been left with a lifetime of pain and loss that can never be undone," the family said. "We hope this case opens people's eyes to how damaging gang culture has become for young people.

"Too many children are losing their lives and too many families are being left to suffer unimaginable heartbreak. Something must change before more young lives are taken and more parents are forced to endure the pain that we now live with every day."

Detective Chief Inspector Lucie Card, who led the investigation for the Metropolitan Police, condemned the actions of the defendants.

She said: "Our painstaking investigation established that Keanu was murdered because his killers took offence to something that was said in a social media group chat.

"Rather than ignore the comments, Emmanuel Popoola armed himself with a pistol and with the help of Tayvon Etefia carried out a drive-by shooting. This was cowardly and disproportionate violence that has understandably shocked the community."

Etefia and Popoola are scheduled to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on Thursday and Friday. Mbaki, King and the 17-year-old youth will be sentenced at a later date.