Enfield Drill Rappers Emmanuel Popoola & Tayvon Etefia Jailed Over Snapchat Gang Murder

Enfield Drill Rappers Sentenced to [INSERT LIFE TERMS/YEARS] for Snapchat Gang Murder

Two teenage drill rappers have been sentenced to., LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITH A MINIMUM OF 22 YEARS at the Old Bailey today for the drive-by murder of an 18-year-old man in North London.

Emmanuel Popoola and Tayvon Etefia, both 18 and from Enfield, were previously convicted of the murder of Keanu Harker and possessing a self-loading pistol with intent to endanger life following a trial at the historic criminal court.

Handing down the sentences, Judge [INSERT JUDGE'S NAME] described the killing as [INSERT JUDGE'S KEY PHRASE, E.G., A COWARDLY AND PLANNED EXECUTION], telling the defendants: "[INSERT CHOICE JUDGE QUOTE FROM SENTENCING REMARKS]"

The fatal shooting, which took place on June 26 last year just off the Great Cambridge Road in Enfield, stemmed from a petty social media dispute that escalated into deadly gang violence.

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The court heard that an ongoing rivalry between two local factions, the 3x3 gang and the Get Money Gang (GMG), erupted on Snapchat when comments were posted mocking Popoola and implying he lacked the money to buy data for his mobile phone. In the days following the murder, gang members actively bragged about the execution in online drill rap videos.

On the day of the attack, Mr Harker was riding his bicycle when he was pursued by the defendants on a high-powered electric bike, which was driven by Etefia.

As they pulled alongside the victim, Popoola, riding as a pillion passenger, discharged three close-range shots from a self-loading pistol.

Mr Harker was struck in the head and chest and, despite being fatally injured, managed to crawl into a nearby residential front garden while Popoola and Etefia sped away from the scene.

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A major international manhunt was launched after the pair dumped the e-bike, discarded their clothes and attempted to flee to France via the Eurostar. Etefia was intercepted by police officers who boarded his train at London St Pancras just two minutes before it was due to depart.

Popoola successfully reached Paris with the assistance of his girlfriend, 19-year-old Anais King, but was arrested in a French apartment after detectives tracked King’s journey to join him. Popoola was subsequently extradited back to London to face trial.

Three accomplices were also convicted for their roles in the aftermath of the shooting. Fellow drill rapper Eliezer Mbaki, 25, from Tottenham, who drove the killers away from the scene, Anais King, from Enfield, and a 17-year-old youth who recovered the abandoned e-bike, were all found guilty of perverting the course of justice. They are due to be sentenced at a later date.