11-Year-Old Boy Shot in the Head After Climbing Fence to Retrieve Football
“Thankfully the victim’s injuries are not serious, and he is making a good recovery," said Detective Inspector Paul Mulrooney, of South CID
Getty
Stock image of a football, known as a soccer ball, in AmericaAn 11-year-old boy in England was shot in the head after climbing a fence to recover a ball.
Police announced on Thursday, May 23, that the incident happened on the evening of Monday, May 20, as the boy was playing with friends in a backyard in Leyland, Lancashire.
According to a press release from the Lancashire Police, after the football (or soccer ball in America) went over the fence, the pre-teen climbed over it and "was hit in the head by a metal pellet fired from what is thought to be an air weapon."
A neighbor recalled hearing "commotion in the road" after the incident occurred in a conversation with The Telegraph.
Getty
Stock image of a backyard fenceRelated: Teacher Accused of Abuse, Handing 'Inappropriate' Note to 14-Year-Old Dies by Suicide 2 Days Later
"I heard that the boy’s mother had gone to a friend’s house to get help and it was her who dialled 999. The friend told me the boy had been shot in the head with a BB gun," she said. "I can’t understand why it happened. And it makes you think if it’s safe for kids to be playing out."
According to the Lancashire Police, the incident left the boy with a fractured skull, causing him to undergo surgery at Alder Hey Hospital, and he is now recovering.
“This incident has left a young boy with some really significant injuries, and it is fortunate he was not more seriously hurt or even killed," said Detective Constable Paul Brown of South CID [Criminal Investigation Department].
Noting that authorities are "carrying out a number of inquiries to try and identify the person or persons responsible," the Lancashire Police provided an update later that same day, advising that they have identified a person of interest.
Getty
Stock image of an ambulance"Following a number of inquiries, we have now identified someone of interest to our investigation and we will be speaking to them in due course. That person is another juvenile," the department's update read.
Detective Inspector Paul Mulrooney of South CID shared in a statement that he is "grateful to those who have come forward with information so far."
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
"We are confident there is no wider risk to anyone in the community. Thankfully the victim’s injuries are not serious, and he is making a good recovery," his statement added.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.
