Innocent girl, 17, was shot dead in 'ride out' in revenge for 'public humiliation' of gang member who was beaten up in front of his girlfriend, court hears

By MATT STRUDWICK, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 11:49, 8 April 2026 | Updated: 11:50, 8 April 2026 A teenage girl killed in a drive-by shooting in a revenge attack for the 'public humiliation' of a gang member who was beaten up in front of his girlfriend may not have been the intended target, a court has been told.  Tanesha Melbourne-Blake, 17, was killed in Chalgrove Road, Tottenham, on April 2, 2018, at the end of the Easter bank holiday weekend. Marcus La-Croix, 38, is accused of shooting her dead with a self-loading pistol in a 'ride out' after a rivalry between the Northumberland Park Killers and the Wood Green Mob. He is standing trial at the Old Bailey, in London, and denies murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, namely a Czechoslovakian-made automatic Browning. Tanesha had been hanging out with her friends and playing a game called 'penny up' against a garden wall on the day she died. She was walking with her boyfriend, Lumear Small, when a car with tinted rear windows pulled up alongside them. The murder trial heard her partner saw 'a hand holding something emerge' and 'three bright sparks' before describing hearing a 'pap, pap, pap' sound like fireworks.  Jurors were yesterday told Tanesha 'had no involvement in any kind of criminality'.  Tanesha Melbourne-Blake, 17, was killed in Chalgrove Road, Tottenham, on April 2, 2018, at the end of the Easter bank holiday weekend Marcus La-Croix, 38, is accused of shooting her dead with a self-loading pistol in a 'ride out' after a rivalry between the Northumberland Park Killers and the Wood Green Mob Prosecutor Jocelyn Ledward KC said: 'The 'ride out' was intended to result in death or serious injury through the use of a self-loading pistol, although Tanesha may not have been the intended target.' La-Croix had been attacked at Tinseltown Restaurant in Farringdon in the early hours of 1 April 2018, Easter Sunday, by four men associated with the Northumberland Park Killers. The court heard he had been pulled down the stairs before being repeatedly kicked and punched.   Footage of the attack and his girlfriend, Samantha Aborro, trying to protect him was posted on social media after one of the attackers picked up La-Croix's iPhone. Ms Ledward said Michael Clarke, 36, was a close associate of La-Croix, who was also known as Bobby Slater, and was involved in the events following the attack.  She said: 'The prosecution case is that La-Croix and Clarke were close associates, prepared to support each other, and that support extended well beyond the bounds of normal friendship. 'In the face of the physical attack and public humiliation of La-Croix that took place less than 48 hours before the fatal shooting, it was Clarke who rushed to act in support of him, rushing to his side, which we say speaks volumes of the nature of the relationship between them.' The attack was live-streamed on La-Croix's Instagram account using his phone, the court heard. A voice in the clip said the attack was the 'consequence of screaming green'. After the attack, La-Croix jumped behind the restaurant's kitchen counter and asked for a knife, but was not given one. 'He was undoubtedly injured during the attack,' Ms Ledward said. The four men were later identified and convicted of affray. Ms Ledward said: 'The prosecution say Michael Clarke rushed to La-Croix's side in the hours after this assault.' She said Clarke went to visit La-Croix at his home. Floral tributes for Tanesha Melbourne-Blake on Chalgrove Road in Tottenham, north London -- April 4, 2018 Describing the fatal shooting of Tanesha, Ms Ledward told the court: 'The car had only stopped for a few seconds, and was driven straight off. 'Whilst this was happening, Tanesha shouted to her friend, "Jace, duck!". 'As Jace ducked, Tanesha turned to face her friend and said "Jace, I've been shot", as she fell towards her. 'Tanesha asked her to call her mother, but then very quickly became pale and stopped breathing. 'Lumear used Tanesha's phone to call an ambulance, and then called Tanesha's family. 'Neighbours and passers-by came to her aid, doing what they could.' Two members of Tanesha's family were in court today. La-Croix, of Hackney, denies murder and possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life. The trial continues and is due to last five weeks. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.