A 28-year-old man charged with murdering a bystander in an East London bar shooting on April 12 failed to appear in court Tuesday after authorities confirmed he was admitted to a secure psychiatric unit for an acute mental health episode. The suspect, identified as Jamal Carter, was due to face magistrates in Thames Magistrates’ Court for a preliminary hearing in the killing of 34-year-old construction worker Daniel Reeves, who died at the scene after being struck by a stray bullet.
Key Points
- ✅ Jamal Carter, 28, charged with murder in the fatal shooting of Daniel Reeves
- ⚡ Reeves died instantly after being hit by a stray bullet outside the King’s End Bar in Walthamstow
- 💡 Carter was scheduled to appear in Thames Magistrates’ Court but was hospitalized due to a mental health crisis
London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed Carter was taken to the Priory Hospital North London, a high-security psychiatric facility, at 10:47 a.m. Tuesday—just two hours before his court hearing. A spokeswoman stated Carter was experiencing a "severe psychotic episode" and was deemed unfit to stand trial at this time. The Crown Prosecution Service has filed an application to extend Carter’s custody time limit, which currently expires on April 26.
Reeves’ family was informed of the postponement hours after they arrived at court expecting to see the man accused of killing their son and brother. His sister, 26-year-old Aisha Reeves, described the situation as "another layer of suffering" in a statement outside the courtroom. "We were told he was in hospital, not in court. How does that make sense when he shot my brother?" she said. The prosecution has requested a medical assessment to determine when, or if, Carter will be fit to resume legal proceedings.
| Timeline | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|
| April 12, 10:33 p.m. | Daniel Reeves fatally shot | King’s End Bar, Walthamstow |
| April 13, 3:15 a.m. | Jamal Carter arrested at his flat in Tottenham | Tottenham, North London |
| April 15, 10:47 a.m. | Carter admitted to Priory Hospital North London | Priory Hospital, North London |
| April 16, 10:00 a.m. | Scheduled court appearance postponed | Thames Magistrates’ Court |
Detectives from the Met’s Homicide and Major Crime Command confirmed the shooting stemmed from a dispute between two rival groups inside the bar. Surveillance footage shows Carter pulling a 9mm pistol from his waistband before discharging multiple rounds into the ceiling. Reeves was struck by a ricocheting bullet and died en route to Whipps Cross Hospital. Six other patrons were injured, two critically, in the chaos that followed.
💡 Pro Tip
When a defendant’s mental fitness is in question, courts typically order a psychiatric evaluation within seven days. The delay in Carter’s case may trigger a bail application from his defense team if his condition stabilizes.
Carter has no prior convictions for violent offenses but was known to mental health services for an incident in 2021 involving a knife threat in a public housing estate. The Crown Prosecution Service has not ruled out adding charges related to the six additional shooting victims. The police investigation remains active, with detectives reviewing CCTV, forensic evidence, and digital communications.
📋 By The Numbers
- 1 — Daniel Reeves, the sole fatality in the shooting
- 6 — Total shooting victims, including two in critical condition
- 9mm — Calibre of the firearm used by Jamal Carter
- 11 — Days since the shooting when Carter was hospitalized
Legal experts warn that delays caused by mental health assessments could complicate the prosecution’s case. Under UK law, defendants deemed unfit to plead may face indefinite detention in a psychiatric facility, regardless of the charges. The Reeves family has hired a civil rights attorney to explore wrongful death claims against the Metropolitan Police and the bar’s management, citing failures in security and emergency response.