Gatwick Airport: Gunman fled to St Lucia after murder

The family of 28-year-old Sam Brown, who was murdered in the street after a party said they will "never have any closure" to what happened to their son when he was gunned down on Saturday, July 24, 2022.

Chase Griffith, 22, fled to Saint Lucia after the "revenge" shooting, having cut his distinctive hairstyle and changed his appearance.

Sam and Griffith were attending a party along with 150 other people at Cheney Row Park in Walthamstow, London, on July 23.

Gatwick Airport

The party continued well into the night and, in the early hours of the next morning, a man was stabbed and taken to hospital.

In the aftermath, Griffith produced a firearm and shot Sam once in the chest, believing he was responsible for the stabbing.

Sam Brown (Image: Family of Sam Brown)

Sam staggered into his car and managed to drive a short distance before losing consciousness. He was taken to hospital where he died from his injuries.

The Metropolitan Police and the National Crime Agency investigated the incident.

Detective Chief Inspector Kelly Allen who led the investigation that night said there were numerous witnesses to Sam's murder - but people were "reluctant to come forward and speak to police."

Cheney Row Park (Image: Google)

In the meantime, Griffith fled the scene and travelled home where he got rid of a tracksuit he was wearing.

On July 27, Griffith boarded a flight to Saint Lucia from Gatwick Airport and remained in the country until he was extradited on December 8 to the UK for trial.

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DCI Allen added: "Sam Brown was gunned down in the street by Chase Griffith in an act of perceived revenge following a stabbing that had taken place earlier that night.

"Griffith then fled the country to Saint Lucia, while Sam’s family grieved his brutal murder.

"Thanks to diligent detective work, using CCTV and other forensic evidence, a watertight case was built against Griffith allowing his arrest and extradition back to the UK to face justice."

The runway at St Lucia's international airport (Image: David Stanley / CC BY 2.0 DEED)

Griffith, of Ashfield Parade in Southgate, was found guilty of Sam Brown's murder at the conclusion of the trial on Wednesday, November 29. 

In a statement, Sam's family wrote: "We will never have any closure to what actually happened to our son that night. We all have to move on with our lives as we know that’s what Sam would want us to do. He will always be our angel and never forgotten.”

He will be sentenced at the Old Bailey on a date to be determined.