Rapper Convicted After Being Found with Gun at Savoy Circus
Jyrelle O'Connor, known as Loski, was involved in gang warfare
Loski or Jyrelle O'Connor and the gun found in the Uber. Picture: Met Police
January 4, 2023
A 23-year-old rapper has been convicted of firearms offences after he was found be carrying a revolver when stopped by police by the Westway.
Jyrelle O'Connor, also known as 'Loski', had the loaded weapon on him when an Uber, in which he was travelling under a false name, was stopped by unarmed officers near Savoy Circus on 9 April 2019. He is believed to have been on his way to Willesden.
The stop was made because officers wanted to question him in relation about the death of his friend Latwaan Griffiths in July 2018. The police believe that Latwaan was fatally stabbed following an attempted shooting on a rival gang. O’Connor’s DNA had been found inside the man bag that Latwaan had worn when he was stabbed. Officers also found his fingerprint on the reversible latex glove that had gunshot residue on the inside, indicating it had been worn to fire a gun.
When the car was searched, a small black sock was found under the passenger seat, directly in front of where O'Connor had been sitting. Inside the sock was the small black loaded revolver.
He was arrested on suspicion of being in possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and charged the following day. He was already prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.
Forensic analysis of the firearm confirmed it to be a 4mm Flobert Calibre Revolver with loaded ammunition. His DNA was found on the loading face of the cylinder. This is a covered part of the firearm that is not accessible without opening up the gun to see the ammunition.
O’Connor denied the charges and claimed he was forced to hold on to the gun after a drug dealer made threats against his and his mother’s lives.
Born in Kennington, he was one of the pioneers of the UK drill music scene, whose father had also been a rapper. Aged 12 he had moved to Borehamwood after he had been threated with a gun by a group of boys. He released his debut single in 2016 and had signed with Sony Music Entertainment.
He had continued to record even after his arrest, releasing a debut album in 202 , Music, Trial & Trauma: A Drill Story, which peaked at number 39 on the UK Albums Chart which dealt with his legal issues.
He was found guilty at the end of a three year investigation led by Detective Constable Andy Snazell from the Met's Specialist Crime Command. A retrial was needed after one of the prosecutors was taken ill in the first trial and the second trial resulted in a hung jury.
The judge and jury at the latest trial were told that O’Connor, who lives on Isham Road, Croydon was a prominent and high-profile member of a south London gang who were involved in ongoing violent disputes with other gangs in Brixton.
Following the conclusion of the trial, Detective Constable Snazell said, "This has been a trying and challenging case with many twists and turns, but I'm pleased the jury found O'Connor guilty of his crimes and I'd like to thank them for seeing through his lies and excuses.
"I have no doubt that O'Connor, or his gang associates, would have used this revolver in the future and by finding and destroying it we have taken a lethal weapon off the streets and potentially saved a life.
"As part of the trial the jury heard how fascinated O'Connor was by guns and gang lifestyle and on his phone he had been running numerous Google searches for firearms and ammunition in the months prior to his arrest.
"O'Connor was an influential individual and had many followers on social media. No amount of fortune or fame justifies his serious criminal actions and I'm confident this will be reflected in the sentence that will be handed down by the Judge."
Jyrelle O'Connor is due to be sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on Friday, 6 January.
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