Family face agony of telling twin sister that Stanley, 6, was killed in pellet gun shooting
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THE family of a six-year-old boy shot with a pellet gun at the home of his great-grandparents have spoken of the agony of telling his twin sister about his death.
Stanley Metcalf was being looked after by Albert Grannon, 77, and his wife Jennifer, 76, when the accident took place at around 4pm on Thursday. He was rushed to Hull Royal Infirmary with serious injuries but later died.
Detectives from Humberside Police are investigating the circumstances of the tragedy and trying to establish how the gun may have been accidentally triggered. Stanley and his twin, Elsie, were being looked after by Mr and Mrs Grannon at their home in Sproatley, East Yorks, when the gun went off. It is understood that Mr Grannon collapsed shortly afterwards, and was taken to Castle Hill Hospital, East Yorkshire, where he is in a serious condition.
Another of Stanley’s great-grandparents, who asked not to be named, de- scribed him as a “massive football fan” who had a very close relationship with his twin sister.
The 84-year-old added: “His sister absolutely loved him to bits and they would do everything together. I don’t know how you’re supposed to explain things like that to a six-year-old girl.”
Friends of Stanley’s parents, Jenny Dees, 40, and Andrew Metcalf, 39, paid heartbreaking tributes, describing the football-mad little boy, affectionately known as “Stan the man” as “a beautiful boy inside and out”.
Detectives, who have not made any arrests, are also investigating whether the owner of the gun had a licence, or indeed needed one.