Two young drill rappers have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the fatal shooting of a teenager in London following an online dispute. Keanu Harker, 18, was fatally shot by Emmanuel Popoola, 18, during a pursuit through Enfield, north London. Popoola, also known as Constancy, fired at Harker while riding as a passenger on an electric dirt bike driven by Teyvon Etefia, 18, known as Take Risks.
The tragic incident occurred amidst ongoing tensions between rival gangs in Enfield, specifically the 3×3 gang and the Get Money Gang (GMG). The altercation was fueled by a social media quarrel on Snapchat, where derogatory voice messages suggested that Popoola could not afford mobile data.
Following the murder, the perpetrators boasted about their actions in drill rap videos. The Old Bailey court in London found Popoola and Etefia guilty of murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. They were both sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 28 years.
During sentencing, Judge Anthony Leonard KC emphasized that Harker’s affiliation with a rival gang should not have led to his untimely death. He pointed out that the decision to kill Harker was a personal vendetta driven by the defendants’ desire for revenge over comments made on a public platform.
Another drill rapper, Eliezer Mbaki, 25, known as Spider, from Tottenham, received a prison term of four years and nine months for obstructing justice. The court heard that the assailants pursued Harker on an e-bike, shot him, and fled the scene, leaving the victim fatally wounded.
After the shooting, the perpetrators attempted to escape to France, with Popoola managing to board a train to Paris while Etefia was apprehended just before departure. Popoola’s girlfriend, Anais King, aided in his escape but was later apprehended by authorities. Popoola was eventually extradited from France to face justice.
In court, Popoola denied his involvement in the shooting, claiming he was falsely accused by Etefia. Harker’s mother expressed her grief, stating that her son’s life was unfairly taken due to senseless gang rivalry. She condemned the callous act of turning her son’s death into rap lyrics.
The defendants were further condemned by family members of the victim for their heinous actions, emphasizing the needless loss of life over trivial disputes. King and a 17-year-old accomplice were also found guilty of obstructing justice and await sentencing at a later date.
