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teenage drill rapper boasted in a music video about stabbing a young man whose life was saved by open heart surgery at the roadside.
Joshua Erorh, 18, attacked the 21-year-old outside a fast-food restaurant in New Cross, south London just before midnight on Saturday, March 14.
Erorh, who raps under the name Lil MDot, was armed with a knife concealed under a white plastic bag over his hand, and confronted the victim before stabbing him twice in the chest.
One of the blows pierced his heart, Kingston Crown Court heard. The victim’s brother came out of the restaurant to intervene and Erorh fled, leaving behind a blue push bike.
After a short chase along New Cross Road, the victim collapsed and his brother decided to drive him directly to hospital.
Police officers flagged down the car on a nearby street after noticing it being driven erratically. Officers provided first aid to the victim, before paramedics arrived and carried out emergency open heart surgery on the the side of the road.
The victim was taken to hospital for further treatment, and remains in a life-threatening condition more than eight months later.
The attack was motivated by Erorh’s mistaken belief that the victim was an active member of a rival gang, the court heard.
He later posted a drill music video boasting about the attack, which included references to the food order the victim made minutes before he was stabbed.
The pair, aged 16 and 17, were friends and performed under the names Showkey and MDot.
In his 2018 song G to the B, Erorh raps: “I was 13 man, I didn’t know a lot, all I knew was to back my shank [knife] and chase opps [rivals].
“2016 man two of my bros dropped, R.I.P Sho Sho, RI.P Mdot.”
Erorh, of Courtney Road, Grays was acquitted of attempted murder but found guilty of causing grievous bodily harm with intent today.
He will be sentenced on February 8, 2021 at Snaresbrook Crown Court.
Detective Constable Jamie Layton, of the Met’s South East Basic Command Unit, said officers carried out extensive CCTV and mobile phone analysis to link Erorh to the scene.
He said: “This was a shocking act of violence that could have cost a man’s life, and my team and I were committed to bringing Erorh to justice.
“I want to praise the police officers that stopped the car and provided the victim with initial first aid and CPR, while they waited for emergency health workers to arrive on the scene.
“Had it not been for the brilliant efforts of the medics, the victim may have died from his injuries.
“However, his life and his family’s life has now been changed forever due to this brutal act of violence and he continues to fight for his life.
“I hope that the conviction of Erorh, and the sentence that will follow, will send out a clear message to those all too willing to engage in violence that it will simply not be tolerated. No good can ever come from carrying a knife.
“Bearing down on violence in London is a top priority for the Met and we will continue to apprehend those responsible for causing misery and fear in our communities.”
A 22-year-old man was found not guilty of assisting an offender.
Anyone with information about knife crime can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
