Two men have been charged with the murder of a 17-year-old girl who was shot dead in north London seven years ago.
Tanesha Melbourne-Blake died after being shot from a moving vehicle in Chalgrove Road, Tottenham. The gun was fired at a group of people she was with.
She was killed by a single bullet that struck her in the heart shortly before 9.35pm on 2 April 2018, and died at the scene. Police believed the fatal shot was fired from the back seat, and in the attack two other shots were fired.
Detectives have said they believe the gun used was a rented Czech-made Browning pistol.
The suspected murder weapon was found dumped in a communal gardens in north London shortly after the teenager’s killing.
Since the shooting, detectives have made a series of arrests and on Wednesday they announced that two men had been charged with Tanesha’s murder, which came 13 weeks before her 18th birthday.
The Metropolitan police said: “Marcus La-Croix, 36, of Hackney was charged with murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.
“Michael Clarke, 34, of Luton was charged with murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life.”
La-Croix appeared at Thames magistrates court on Wednesday and was remanded to appear at the Old Bailey for a bail application on Friday, the Crown Prosecution Service said. Clarke will appear at Willesden magistrates court on Thursday.
The Met previously said the vehicle used in the shooting was a grey/silver Vauxhall Meriva people carrier with the registration number of KS56 NKG. Five days after Tanesha was shot it was found burnt out in Barnet, north London.
Tanesha had seven siblings and her murder devastated her family. She wanted to be a youth worker and was a regular volunteer at a community centre.
In 2019 her mother, who did not wish to be named, said her daughter was studying to fulfil her dreams: “Tanesha wanted to become a youth worker and was excited to progress to level two in September. She loved working with children and helping people with disabilities, this is something she excelled at and, as her mother, I was extremely proud of her.
“Tanesha loved hair and beauty, and was well known for doing family and friends’ hair. Tanesha was the sweetest, caring and most loving daughter anyone could have wished for. She was the most loyal friend, and had friends in all areas of London, and everyone idolised her and wanted to be her friend. I remember how much she lit up a room and how much presence she had.”
Akin Akintola, an engagement coordinator at Bruce Grove Youth Space, where Tanesha volunteered, said: “Tanesha was such a beautiful person inside and out. Anyone that had the opportunity to meet her would say she had such a good heart.
“She had a bubbly personality and always had a beautiful big smile on her face. Losing Tanesha is unexplainable and took a big hit on the youth centre and left a big hole in all our hearts.”
