Chris Kaba was a “core member” of one of London’s most dangerous gangs and was accused of being involved in two shootings in less than a week before he was killed by a police marksman, it can now be reported.

He was accused of shooting a rival gang member in a nighclub in September 2022 and would have stood trial for attempted murder had he not been shot dead by officer Martyn Blake just six days later. 

Gunshot residue was found on his sleeve and balaclava on the night he was killed – September 5 – which was believed to have been from a second shooting the night before.

Kaba was previously convicted for possession of weapons, and the Audi he was shot in had been linked to three previous firearms incidents in just five months. 

This information can now bve revealed following the lifting of reporting restrictions by Justice Goss at the Old Bailey on Tuesday.

Blake was cleared of murdering Kaba in the same court on Monday, after shooting the 24-year-old through the windscreen of the Audi two years ago. 

Kaba’s mother, Helen Lumuanganu, has been fighting to keep a ban on revealing more details of the incident until an inquest into her son’s death in complete, but this was rejected. 

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy argued in a letter to court that “open and transparent public disclosure” of  Kaba’s character would “significantly reduce the risk of unrest on the streets of London and keep the public safe”. 

Before Kaba was shot dead, police knew the Audi Q8 had been used as a getaway car in Brixton, South London, the night before, but they did not know it was Kaba driving it.