Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Boy of 69 killed in air gun tragedy
Probe on shooting at relatives’ home
A FOOTBALL-MAD boy aged six was shot dead with a pellet gun in what police called a “tragic accident”.
Stanley Metcalf died in hospital after being wounded at the home of relatives, believed to be his great-grandparents.
Investigators said he had a “pellet gun injury”. Family members were with him at the time.
Detectives have not arrested anyone in connection with Stanley’s death but are speaking to his relatives as part of their inquiry.
His family yesterday released a poignant photo of him grinning proudly in his new Hull City kit.
He was taken to the city’s Royal Infirmary after Thursday’s shooting in the village of Sproatley, East Yorks, but could not be saved.
Stanley’s great-grandmother, 84, who did not wish to be named, said the hospital’s doctors “did everything they possibly could” for him.
She described him as a “massive football fan” and told how the family was devastated by his death.
“I’ve been in floods of tears ever since it happened,” she said. “I couldn’t sleep last night, just thinking about our kind, brainy little boy and how tragic it all is.
“He was very close to his twin sister, who loved him to bits and they did everything together. I don’t know how you’re supposed to explain things like this to a six-year-old girl.
Locals described “joyful” Stanley as a “dedicated footballer” with the village under-sevens side and said he came from “a very nice, genuine family”.
Det Chief Insp Mark Goulding said: “The initial indication is of a pellet gun injury but we are still investigating. Our thoughts are with the family, now being supported by specialist officers.”
Police are looking into whether the pellet gun required a licence and if its owner possessed one.
OF GUN VICTIM STANLEY