CHRIS Kaba rapped about shooting rivals in a music video posed as his alter ego ‘Itch’ alongside members of the notorious ’67’ gang.
The 24-year-old drill rapper spit about being “on chingings”, which is said to be a reference to someone killing their enemy.
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In the music video, feared Kaba and fellow gang pals – wearing winter coats, balaclavas and ski goggles – brag about shooting their “ops” and selling drugs.
And as fake snow falls around Kaba in the clip, he continues to make gun signs with his hands.
Kaba previously served prison sentences for firearms offences and possessing weapons.
As leading member of the ‘67’ gang based in Brixton, South London, Kaba was facing the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence when he was shot dead by Met Police firearms officer Martyn Blake, according to the officer’s barrister.
And in the week leading up to his death on the night of 5 September 2022, Kaba was linked to two shootings.
67 crimes
Police have labelled 67 itself a “criminal gang”, with some members having been linked to multiple offences, including the fatal attacks on Dwayne Simpson in 2015, as well as 18-year-old Cheyon Evans and Josiph Beker, 17, both in 2019, reports the Evening Standard.
A police report from 2023 said 67 was engaging in an “active and violent dispute with a rival faction of street gangs in Lambeth”, with ties to shootings, stabbings, and murders.
“67 gang and those affiliated to the group are embedded in a culture of drug supply, serious violence, firearms and knife possession”, it stated.
“It is my firm belief 67 have been and remain the highest harm street gang in Lambeth and that they continue to present serious risk to harm to those individuals and groups they are in opposition with or have had issues with.”
In 2019, a total of 16 people were jailed following a major investigation into drugs supply in the Home Counties from Lambeth – all linked to 67, reports MyLondon.
Eight members of the South London gang even boasted about their use of “waps”, which means guns, and “skengs” which means guns or knives, in songs, the article continued.
The gangsters have spread their network through the rest of London, reaching out to Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Berkshire and Hampshire.
Former Scotland Yard detective Peter Bleksley told The Sun, 67 “commit crime on a daily basis”.
“At the time of Chris Kaba’s death they were engaged in a ruthless war with another gang from Wandsworth.
“Chris Kaba’s criminal offending dates back to when he was 13, when he was convicted of stabbing someone.
“He’s then later convicted of an affray and not long after that he gains another criminal conviction for possessing an imitation firearm when he receives four years in prison.
“And there’s another one. He got five months for yet another offence… failing to stop for the police and possession of a knife which had been discarded.
“He was a career criminal, a career gangster, and he took part in many drill rap videos where the gang glorify their violence by putting their hands into the position as if they were guns, and acting out the firing of those weapons.”
CCTV SHOOTING
Shortly before Kaba was killed, he was caught on CCTV shooting a gang rival at a packed nightclub in Hackney, East London.
The Old Bailey heard during legal argument there was “strong evidence” Kaba was one of a gang who carried out a shotgun attack in Brixton the night before his death.
Sgt Blake’s defence counsel argued the shootings explained why Kaba tried to ram his way out of a police trap in Streatham before he died.
Patrick Gibbs KC suggested that had Kaba lived, “he would have been tried for attempted murder in this court over many weeks.”
But jurors trying 40-year-old Sgt Blake for murder, were barred from knowing about Kaba’s life of crime.
Mr Justice Goss ruled Kaba’s background and the shootings before his death, offered no “important explanatory evidence” to the case.
Blake – cleared of murder yesterday in just three hours after a three-week trial – had been briefed about the Brixton shooting before going out on patrol but had no knowledge of Kaba when he killed him.
The judge this morning lifted a contempt of court order allowing reporting of Kaba’s background for the first time.
Until now, Kaba has been painted as a loving dad-to-be who worked as a construction worker.
But he had convictions dating back to the age of 13.
Kaba was found guilty for his part in a vicious nine-man fight in 2014 during which he was shot.
And he was sentenced to four years imprisonment in 2017 for possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Kaba was jailed for five months in 2020 for possessing a knife – and failing to stop for police.
The dad-to-be was also handed a 28-day domestic violence order in April 2022 preventing him contacting the mother of his unborn child.
It emerged during legal submissions that Kaba had previously been subject to an interim gang order.
He was due to face an application for a permanent order which was due to take place 10 days after his death.
It was also revealed in legal argument how Kaba had gunshot residue on his sleeve when he was shot dead by Blake.
Chris Kaba’s life of crime
Chris Kaba was a feared “core member” of a notorious gang and was involved in a nightclub shooting just days before he was shot by a cleared cop, it can be revealed today.
The 24-year-old drill rapper had served prison sentences for firearms offences and possessing weapons.
It can now be revealed that the Audi Q8 the father-of-one was driving when he was shot had been linked to three previous gun incidents in 2022.
CCTV footage allegedly captured the moment Mr Kaba opened fire on a rival in a nightclub on August 30 and Mr Blake’s defence said there was “strong evidence” he was also involved in a Brixton shooting the night before his death.
The first shotgun incident to which the Audi was linked was on May 22 2022 in Bromley, south London.
It involved the same type of gun used in a shooting on September 4 and was still outstanding when Mr Kaba was killed, the court heard in the absence of the jury.
Early on August 30 2022, Mr Kaba had targeted a rival to his “67 gang” at the Oval Space club in Hackney, north London, an earlier Old Bailey trial had heard.
He and other 67 associates had been at a party in the nightclub when he spotted 25-year-old Brandon Malutshi who was associated with the rival “17 gang”.
Mr Kaba was said to be “moving mad” before he produced a handgun and shot at Mr Malutshi, causing panic on the dancefloor.
Wearing a grey tracksuit, he then pursued the victim into the street brandishing the handgun and shooting as Mr Malutshi tried to flee, it was alleged.
A number of shots were fired before Mr Malutshi collapsed having suffered gunshot wounds to both legs.
He was taken to hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Mr Kaba was identified on CCTV footage of the shooting taken from inside and outside the club.
The gun, which was not recovered, had been smuggled into the club by Marcus Pottinger, who had previously worked there and was able to avoid security checks.
Mr Kaba had travelled to Hackney in the Audi but made his getaway in a Range Rover.
The Audi was driven away by Shemiah Bell who parked it outside his home for Mr Kaba to pick up in the morning.
Following an earlier trial at the Old Bailey, Pottinger, 31, and Bell, 32, were found guilty of wounding with intent.
The pair along with Connel Bamgboye, 29, were found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
In April, Judge Simon Mayo KC jailed Bell for 10 years, Pottinger for nine years and Bamgboye for five years and six months.
The only evidence the jury heard about Kaba’s character was from a friend who knew him for two years and claimed he was a “calm” person.
It contrasted to evidence from an earlier three-month Old Bailey trial this year which heard how Kaba brutally shot a rival in a drug feud.
CCTV showed Kaba shooting rival gang member Brandon Malutshi at the packed Oval Space nightclub in Hackney, East London.
Kaba then ran after his target into the street and continued firing, hitting him in the leg.
Jurors in that earlier trial were told the shooting was part of a County Lines feud between Kaba’s 67 gang and the rival 17 gang, which Malutshi was associated with.
The court heard how Kaba’s fellow gang member Marcus Pottinger, 30, smuggled a handgun through metal detectors into the Open Space club, where he had previously worked.
Kaba and his gang were carrying metal nitrous oxide canisters and balloons when they entered the club on the night of 30 August 2022.
Hundreds of party-goers were in the club at the time, continuing Notting Hill Carnival celebrations.
Another gang member, 31-year-old Shemiah Bell, was initially seen on CCTV inside the club holding a bag containing the gun.
The 67 gang members were seen loitering around the bar with drinks before Kaba spotted rival Malutshi.
Kaba was seen approaching Bell, who made a gun signal with his hand and handed the bag to him along with a single black glove.
Putting on a face covering and lifting up his hood, he then moved towards his enemy and drew his right hand.
Kaba opened fire and Malutshi then sprinted off with Kaba and Bell in pursuit.
CCTV showed Malutshi cowering behind a car as Kaba emerged from the club wearing a grey tracksuit with his hood up and mask still on.
Kaba chased Malutshi down the street and three further shots were fired at Malutshi.
One of the bullets pierced his right leg just under the buttock.
Kaba then made his way with Bell towards the Audi Q8 getaway car, which he was driving when shot dead by gun cop Blake.
Malutshi was given a blood transfusion and despite medical advice, discharged himself later that day with a bullet fragment still embedded in his right leg.
Bell was jailed for 10 years in April this year and Pottinger got nine years.
Both were convicted of wounding with intent and possessing a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence following a three-month trial.
Another of Kaba’s associates, 28-year-old Connel Bamgboye, was jailed for five years and six months after he was convicted of the firearms offence.
Bamgboye’s passport was in Kaba’s car when he was shot dead by Blake.
TIMELINE OF THE PROBE
THIS is how events unfolded two years ago.
August 30, 2022: CCTV footage allegedly captured the moment Kaba opened fire on a rival in a nightclub in Hackney.
September 4, 2022: Kaba’s Audi Q8 was linked to a shotgun attack on a car containing two people outside a Brixton school.
September 5, 2022: A Tactical Firearms Commander is made aware of the sighting of the Audi Q8, driven by Chris Kaba, after ANPR camera flags up its alleged involvement in the previous shooting.
The commander declares a firearms incident and passes tactics to an armed response team. Armed officers pursue the car, which is forced to a stop at 10.07pm in Streatham Hill, South London.
As Mr Kaba revs the engine, an officer standing in front of the car fires a single shot through the windscreen.
September 6: Mr Kaba dies in hospital at 0.19am. The Metropolitan Police refers itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
September 7: Statement by Mr Kaba’s family calls for a murder investigation.
September 12: Met confirm Officer NX121 has been suspended from frontline duties
September 20, 2023: Officer charged with murder by the Crown Prosecution Service. Hundreds of colleagues reportedly turn in their weapons permits.
March 8, 2024: Judge lifts anonymity order, naming Martyn Blake as the officer.
October 21, 2024: Blake is cleared of murder, with jurors at the Old Bailey taking just three hours to reach a unanimous verdict.
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