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Trigger warning: references of violence and X-ray images
Last summer we sat down with one of our Coin Street social housing residents to hear the important message he has to share. Former boxer, Davidstar Royal King is a man who has overcome a near death experience and has dedicated himself to sharing his story so that others can learn from it. We met up with Davidstar again last month to hear what has been going on in his life and his campaigning since we last talked.
The original article – which goes into detail on Davidstar’s life and near death situation – can be found here All eyes on the gunshot survivor and ear what he has to say? | Coin Street
Davidstar’s campaigning work today is a result of the tragic events that unfolded on the evening of 30 April 1994. As a young man of 23 years with a promising career in boxing just developing, Davidstar found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time. Leaving a disco one night in East Dulwich, someone fired what appeared to be a shotgun at Davidstar’s head, resulting in his losing an eye and suffering severe brain injuries.
Against all odds, Davidstar survived. Despite being told by doctors that he would never walk or talk again, his family fought for the treatment he needed. After years spent learning step by step to walk and talk, he decided to devote himself to educate young people about the dangers of gangs and gun crime.
Click to enlarge the images of Davidstar
We met Davidstar again as he was celebrating his 53rd birthday and the 30 year anniversary of the evening that changed his life.
He told us,
“It’s been 30 years since my near-death shooting. I was shot by a very young wannabe gangster and there are still kids who are copycatting those evil actions. 30 years on and I can still turn on the radio or read a newspaper and read far too many stories of young people dying or being maimed for life by guns and knives.
Death is far too common amongst the young. In South London 30 years ago I was one of the first people to be shot in what has now become an epidemic of young people hurting each other. The person who shot me was part of a local gang, and was a child only 14 years old.
We all saw the case of Sasha Johnson, a young woman in her 20s, shot in the head at a party in Peckham – she still is in intensive care and the case remains unsolved. Last month a 16 year old schoolboy was shot and seriously injured in Brixton at his home, and a man in his 20’s was shot and killed in Battersea just the week before.
I’m still here but our young people are dying”.
We asked Davidstar what can be done to get the message across that guns and violence are not the answer?
“As a result of the brain damage caused by my traumatic head injury my ability to speak and physically move around had to be compensated by other parts of my brain. I began to see things in pictures. If you describe something to me, I will see it visually. That’s why everything I wear now has symbolic meaning and I like it when people ask me about my artistic outfits.
Murderous situations make me fight intelligently to campaign to stop these destructive situations amongst youngsters.
Forget EastEnders, we need to create a picture of what the nitty gritty impact of gun crime. In the time since my injury, medical technology has developed and just a few months ago for the first time I managed to get an X-ray that shows visually how the left side of my brain is still riddled with shotgun fragments, all across it. Previously the magnets used in X-rays would have run the risk of displacing the shotgun pellets in my brain. But now I can show young people this is what occurs to your brain when you get shot. Imagine what that would do to you.”
Davidstar's X-ray images (click to enlarge)
Davidstar continues to take his message onto the streets and to politicians , using his eye catching sense of style. He told us people stop him all the time to talk to him about what he is wearing and his accessories, and that opens up a conversation about the serious side of his campaigning.
Click to enlarge the images of Davidstar
One of these encounters led to Davidstar’s recent cameo appearance in the hit movie, Rye Lane.
He told us more,
“Many years ago I was out on the street over the river in Covent Garden, dressed colourfully and handing out leaflets on gun violence to passersby.
When I’m out, I use my creative flair to come up with outfits that help me tell my story. A young women approached me curious about my message and I told her my story. She introduced herself as Kyla Simone Bruce and explained she was studying film and trying to break into the industry. She said “Davidstar I would like to make a documentary about you and your work to get this message heard at a political level”. That documentary was called “Lend Me Your Eye” and kickstarted Kyla’s career as a director and script writer.
I had forgotten all about it until I was in Peckham one day with my sister Nellie and we both spotted a big film crew. I heard a voice shout “Davidstar” and it was Kyla who I hadn’t seen for years. She said she wanted to include me in this new film Rye Lane. I said ok and they set up the shot with me handing out my campaigning leaflets in Peckham. As I was doing it I did my shoe shuffle dance. I still love to dance. Most people who know me as a gunshot survivor and know I shouldn’t be able to dance. So I love when people see I have got the moves – it means more. I’m still the best dancer on the planet Earth you know”
So watch out for Davidstar busting a move in the hit UK comedy Rye Lane, and watch out for him coming to a street near you, continuing to spread a message that needs to be heard more than ever.
If you’d like to hear more about Davidstar’s story or get involved in his campaign he would love to hear from you. Davidstar can be contacted by email - just click on the button below.