Wickford shooting: Eight-year-old 'accidentally' shoots boy, 5, in the face

A five-year-old was shot in the face by an eight-year-old-boy at the weekend, police have confirmed.

Officers were called to a property on Upper Park Road, Wickford, Essex, at around 1.20pm on Sunday after reports a firearm had been discharged.

A spokeswoman said today: ‘It is thought to have been fired by an eight-year-old boy.’

Essex Police have refused to comment on the type of weapon used in the incident or the relationship between the two children. Officers believe it was fired accidentally.

The injured child was taken to the Royal London Hospital with a serious but not life-threatening injury.

A spokeswoman for the East Of England Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called at 1.16pm and sent two ambu-lances, two rapid response vehicles and the air ambulance was called.

‘The boy was flown to Royal London Hospital with serious facial injuries.’

An 18-year-old man was arrested for possession of a firearm and unrelated drug offences. He has now been bailed.

The owners of the property were not at home when the incident occurred.

Adapted from The Metro