Rapper DigDat Jailed For Life After Notting Hill Shooting

In a case that has gripped both the music world and London’s legal system, rapper Nathan Tokosi—better known to fans as DigDat—has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in a brutal drive-by shooting in Notting Hill. The attack, which occurred in the early hours of November 20, 2023, left fellow artist Daniel Offei-Ntow, also known as Lugavelz, with life-threatening injuries after being shot six times in the head, mouth, and torso while sitting in his car.

According to the BBC, Tokosi, 26, of Deptford in southeast London, was found guilty of attempted murder and a string of firearms offences after two high-profile trials at the Old Bailey. The judge handed down a life sentence with a minimum term of 24 years, underscoring the severity and premeditated nature of the crime. The court heard that Tokosi, accompanied by at least one other individual, pulled up in a stolen Audi next to Offei-Ntow’s Mitsubishi Outlander on Clydesdale Road and opened fire through a rear passenger window, discharging at least six rounds.

Prosecutor Kate Bex KC told the court that Offei-Ntow—himself a rising figure in London’s music scene—was struck in the head, mouth, and body, and required two lifesaving surgeries. Miraculously, he survived the initial attack, but has since died of unrelated causes, with no evidence of third-party involvement or a direct connection to the shooting, as reported by Metro.

The aftermath was chaotic and harrowing. Armed police arrived quickly at the scene, finding Offei-Ntow’s car riddled with bullet holes and its interior spattered with blood. Officers traced a trail of blood to Offei-Ntow’s nearby flat, where they found him in shock and severely injured, sitting on his sofa. He was rushed to hospital with injuries initially assessed as life-threatening, but was later discharged, according to statements from the Metropolitan Police.

The investigation that followed was both meticulous and relentless. Police dogs recovered a latex glove and a black bag containing a handgun and three rounds of ammunition near where the stolen Audi was abandoned in Allington Road, Queen’s Park. Forensic teams found Tokosi’s DNA inside the vehicle, providing a critical link between the rapper and the crime scene. Detective Inspector Chris Shepherd, who led the investigation, described Tokosi’s actions as “premeditated, reckless and malicious.” He added, “Tokosi’s actions were premeditated, reckless and malicious. He lied at trial, maintaining that he had no involvement whatsoever in the shooting. The committed police investigation to bring Tokosi before the courts reflects our no-tolerance approach to gang violence on London’s streets.”

Further inquiries revealed that Tokosi had borrowed a BMW to make two trips from his father’s home in Deptford to Notting Hill on consecutive nights that weekend, suggesting careful planning. DNA evidence also initially pointed to another artist, Kamal Benjamin (known as Wesson), but social media posts and travel records showed Benjamin had left the UK for Dubai days before the shooting, clearing him of direct involvement in the attack.

Tokosi’s criminal history weighed heavily during sentencing. The court heard he had amassed eight previous convictions for 13 offences, including violent incidents dating back to age 11. At just 13, he was convicted of attempted murder after stabbing a victim in the ribs, resulting in a seven-year youth detention sentence and three years on extended licence. Helen Shaw from the Crown Prosecution Service called the Notting Hill attack an “utterly mindless attack which very nearly claimed a life.” She emphasized, “That night, Nathan Tokosi clearly intended to kill his victim by shooting him in the head at close range, with CCTV revealing Tokosi doing several drives around the area in a stolen Audi in the days and hours before the shooting.”

Tokosi’s legal troubles didn’t end with the drive-by. In February 2024, he was arrested in Lewisham after his car was stopped by police. A search of his address uncovered another firearm and ammunition, leading to additional charges and a second trial. Ultimately, he was convicted of attempted murder, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and two counts of possession of ammunition with intent to endanger life.

In mitigation, Tokosi’s defense portrayed him as a “laidback” young man caught up in the whirlwind of sudden musical success and the “fast-paced and chaotic” lifestyle that accompanied it. Defense counsel Shannon Revel argued, “He described that his job as a rapper effectively became an existence, rather than something that he could take time off from.” Revel also highlighted Tokosi’s diagnosis of ADHD at age 11, suggesting longstanding struggles with impulse control and behavior, particularly in the high-pressure environment of the music industry.

Despite these arguments, Judge Sarah Munro KC was unambiguous in her assessment of Tokosi’s threat to society. She stated that she was in “no doubt he was a dangerous offender,” emphasizing the gravity of his actions and the risk he posed to the public. The judge’s decision to impose a life sentence with a 24-year minimum term reflected both the seriousness of the offence and Tokosi’s extensive history of violence.

The case has sparked wider conversations about the intersection of fame, youth, and violence in London’s music scene. DigDat’s single “Air Force” had peaked at number 20 on the UK singles chart in 2018, and he was hailed by outlets such as the BBC as a “massive talent.” Yet his rapid rise to notoriety was matched by a descent into criminality that ultimately left one man fighting for his life and another behind bars for decades.

Detective Inspector Shepherd credited the persistence of the investigation team and the swift actions of officers and medical staff for ensuring justice was served. “I would like to credit the investigation team for their work bringing Tokosi to justice, as well as the officers and medical staff who treated the victim after the shooting,” he said.

For many, the story of Nathan Tokosi serves as a cautionary tale—a stark reminder of how the pressures and temptations of sudden fame can collide with unresolved personal struggles, leading to tragic consequences for individuals and communities alike. The court’s verdict, and the life sentence handed down, send a clear message about the seriousness with which London’s authorities view gun violence, particularly when it threatens to spill over into public spaces and claim innocent lives.

As the dust settles on this high-profile case, London’s streets remain under the watchful eye of law enforcement, determined to curb the tide of gang-related violence and ensure that justice prevails, no matter how famous the accused may be.