Four gangsters involved in a violent clash have been jailed after an innocent bystander was shot through the neck and left paralyzed for life. Fashion student Natalie Bignall (pictured left) was on a first date standing outside a pub in Broadway Market, Hackney, when she was hit by a stray bullet. The round had been fired by gang members trying to shoot a nearby group of drill rappers filming close to the pub. Rolls Samba, 28, Rimmel Arthur, 29, Ronnie Abedie, 27, and Kai-John Scarbrough, 22, have all been jailed for a total of almost nine years for their part in the incident. The catastrophic injuries 32-year-old Ms Bignall suffered during the nightmare shooting were so severe she is no longer able to walk or use her hands again.
Speaking about the horror ordeal on her Instagram account, Ms Bignall, of Plymouth, Devon, said: ‘My whole life got turned upside down in a second and I’m finally ready to start telling my story. Back in November 2020, I was shot through the neck by a bullet and fought for my life. I will forever be grateful to everybody that saved me as it’s a miracle that I’m still here. Although I’m still alive, the injury has changed my life. The bullet not only severed my main artery, but it also went through my spinal cord, leaving me with a C4 injury. This means I’m paralyzed from the neck down.’
Samba (bottom left), 28, Arthur (bottom right), 29, Abedie (top right), 27, and Scarbrough (top left), 22, all admitted violent disorder on the basis they provoked a rival gang by filming a drill video in enemy territory, which led to the shooting. During a hearing at London’s Old Bailey, the court heard how the tragic shooting took place at about 8pm on November 22, 2020. ‘An incident at Broadway Market arose out of a video recorded by the London Fields gang which was designed to provoke their opponents,’ said prosecutor Alisdair Smith. ‘The music video was uploaded to YouTube on 16 October 2020. In it, a number of people who were victims of violence were named and one name in the lyrics of that particular drill rap was “Pac-Man” who is believed to be Mr Samba.’
Samba, Arthur, Abedie and Scarbrough are all said to be members associated with the Nines gang who went to the London Fields’ territory to film their own video. ‘It was designed to counter the track recorded by London Fields and was to provide a justification for the confrontation between the two gangs in the territory of London Fields.’ Up to 10 members of the Nines gang met in Victoria Park accompanied by a camera crew before making their way to Broadway Market. CCTV footage shown in court showed the group marching in matching grey hoodies and wearing masks followed by a camera crew. Arthur wore a distinctive Burberry bandana to cover his face. At one point the gang can be seen chasing a cyclist who they believed to be a member of the London Fields gang for about 24 seconds.
One member of the group was not wearing a mask and can be heard saying: ‘I need a mask, I’m in Broadway.’ Other members of the gang reply: ‘Why do you need a mask bruv. Keep your head down.’ Judge Richard Marks KC said: ‘As I understand it, they have gone there to film this video in a place that they knew the rival gang were operating and knowing there was a real likelihood that they would encounter the other gang, and that if they did then violence was almost certainly to ensue.’ Mr Marks described the gangs as having a ‘longstanding enmity’ and making the video was ‘highly provocative.’ He said: ‘Gunmen opened fire at them discharging a number of bullets. Natalie Bignall was standing outside a nearby pub. She was on a first date and it was her terrible misfortune to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.’
The judge went on to praise Ms Bignall for her ‘extraordinary bravery’ following the shooting. ‘Her life has been completely devastated by what happened to her that day,’ he said. ‘Whilst none of you bear criminal responsibility for what happened to her, this incident is a classic example of what can happen to innocent members of the public.’ Jon Harrison, defending, said Arthur was an aspiring musician with one track on Spotify being listened to over 410,000 times and a video on YouTube with over 153,000 views. Samba, of Hoxton, who worked as a driver for the groceries-on-demand delivery company Gorillas, was jailed for two years and two months for violent disorder. From the public gallery someone shouted out ‘Pac-Man’ to get Samba’s attention before he went down to the cells. For the same offense, Arthur, of Wood Green, received two years and four months, Abedie, of no fixed address, two years and three months and Scarbrough, of Hackney, to one year and 11 months.
They denied charges of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and conspiracy to commit GBH and those counts were ordered to lie on file. Detective Inspector Matthew Webb, from Trident, Specialist Crime North, said: ‘What started as the filming of a provocative drill music video by a group of young men, resulted in a life being devastatingly turned upside down. This incident demonstrates how the lifestyle and violent rivalries of those connected to street gangs can impact on innocent members of the public, causing turmoil within our communities. This will not be accepted by the Metropolitan Police Service or Londoners and with the support of our communities we will continue to leave no stone unturned in bringing those involved in significant violence and firearms offending to justice. I would like to thank the victim and her family for the courage and bravery they have displayed throughout the judicial processes.’
A Gofundme page page as since been set up for Ms Bignall and has raised more than £55,000 ($66,732). A statement on the page says: ‘In November 2020, our beloved Natalie was the innocent victim of a gun crime incident in East London, where as a bystander she was tragically shot through the neck. She has been left with a C4 spinal cord injury resulting in her becoming a quadriplegic at the age of 32. This life shattering injury means she has lost the ability to move and feel anything from her neck down to her feet. The reality is that Natalie will never be able to walk again or have use of her hands.’
‘While fighting for her life in hospital she received two critical lifesaving surgeries, and despite the odds has been left with no brain damage and can breathe without assistance. However, the severity of Natalie’s injuries means she requires 24-hour care, specialist equipment, regular physiotherapy, and an accessible home that is able to cater to all of her needs. While her care is partially being funded by the NHS, without being able to work and receive a regular income, Natalie urgently needs additional support.’
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