Chris Kaba, also known as “Chris Le Messie,” became a central figure in debates surrounding police use of force, justice, and systemic issues in London. Kaba was fatally shot by a Metropolitan Police officer on September 5, 2022, in Streatham Hill, London, as he attempted to evade arrest. His death, and the subsequent trial of the officer involved, have drawn widespread public attention and sparked protests demanding justice.
The Incident Leading to His Death
On the day of the shooting, Kaba was driving an Audi Q8 that had been linked to a firearms incident that occurred the previous day. An unmarked police vehicle followed Kaba’s car until he reached a roadblock set up by armed police officers in a marked car. According to witnesses, Kaba refused to exit the vehicle and drove it into one of the police cars.
As officers approached the vehicle on foot, one of them fired a single round through the car’s windscreen, striking Kaba. He was immediately taken to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries the following day. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launched an investigation into the shooting, examining the circumstances that led to the fatal encounter.
Kaba’s Criminal Background
Kaba’s history with the Police dates back to a firearms offence in 2017. In December of that year, Kaba was involved in an incident in Canning Town, East London, where police reported gunshots were fired. Although no one was injured, Kaba was later charged with possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
Kaba had been charged in 2018 with possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, about an incident on 30 December 2017. He was found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court in January 2019, and sentenced to four years in a Young Offenders Institute. He was released in 2021.
In the months following his death, six men were charged with conspiring with Kaba to commit murder and grievous bodily harm; the charges relate to a shooting which took place in Tower Hamlets on 30 August 2022, days before Kaba’s death.
Kaba was a member of 67, a Brixton Hill-based drill rap group which one of its members says has been called a criminal gang by the police. He was known by his stagename Madix or Mad Itch.
In January 2019, he was sentenced to four years in a young offender institution at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Kaba served his sentence and was released in 2021, more than a year before his fatal encounter with police.
The Trial and Verdict
In September 2023, following an investigation, a police officer was charged with the murder of Chris Kaba. The trial began in October 2024 at the Old Bailey, one of the UK’s most prominent criminal courts. After a trial of intense scrutiny and emotional testimony, the jury delivered a not-guilty verdict on October 21, 2024. The verdict has ignited public outcry, with protests demanding justice and accountability for Kaba’s death.
Public Response and Legacy
Chris Kaba’s death has sparked significant public protests, including demonstrations organized by Black Lives Matter and other community groups who argue that the shooting was unjustified and racially motivated. The incident has highlighted ongoing tensions between law enforcement and Black communities in London, with activists demanding reforms to police conduct and accountability measures.
Kaba’s family, who have expressed their devastation over the not-guilty verdict, continue to advocate for justice and transparency. They maintain that Kaba’s life, like many others lost in similar circumstances, was valuable and that the system failed him.
As the investigation into the shooting by the IOPC and calls for police reform continue, Kaba’s story remains a pivotal point in the conversation about racial justice and police practices in the UK.
