A UK court has sentenced Nigerian teenager Emmanuel Popoola and his accomplice, Tayvon Etefia, to life imprisonment for the murder of 18-year-old Keanu Harker, bringing an end to a case that shocked communities across London.
The pair were ordered to serve a minimum of 28 years each after they were convicted of murder at the Old Bailey following a six-week trial.
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Harker was shot dead in Enfield, north London, on June 26, 2025, after a dispute that began with comments made in a Snapchat group chat. According to the Metropolitan Police, Popoola became angered after being mocked online over claims that he did not have mobile data.
Investigators said Popoola and Etefia tracked the victim on an electric bike before carrying out a drive-by shooting that claimed his life.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that, alongside the murder convictions, three other individuals were found guilty of perverting the course of justice. Eliezer Mbaki, 25, received a four-year, nine-month prison sentence, while Anais King, 19, and a 17-year-old boy, whose identity is protected by law, were also convicted.
Reacting to the judgment, Harker’s family said the convictions offered some measure of justice but could never erase the pain of losing their son.
“Our son had just turned 18 when these individuals decided to take his life. No amount of time they spend in prison will ever be enough. We have been left with a lifetime of pain and loss,” the family said.
They also expressed hope that the case would draw attention to the growing impact of gang violence and prevent more young people from losing their lives.
Lead investigator, Detective Chief Inspector Lucie Card, described the killing as a tragic example of how minor disagreements can escalate into deadly violence.
She said investigations showed Harker was murdered because his attackers took offence at comments made in a social media group chat, instead of walking away from the disagreement.
Police revealed that after the shooting, Popoola fled to France, while Etefia was arrested at London’s St Pancras International Station just minutes before boarding a train to Paris.
Popoola was later arrested in Paris during a joint operation involving British and French authorities before being extradited to the UK to stand trial.
The Metropolitan Police said the convictions reflect months of painstaking investigation aimed at securing justice for the victim and his family.
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