AIRGUN CHILD FATALITIES
We are aware of at least TWENTY children/young people who have died in airgun related incidents. There may be others we are not aware of.
Child on child airgun deaths are avoidable tragedies. The 'boys' toys' culture surrounding airguns is perpetuated because of inadequacies in public protection measures relating to the purchase, ownership, use and storage of airguns. These issues remain unaddressed in England and Wales despite numerous deaths. New legislation applies in Scotland.
The Air Weapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill
The Airweapons and Licensing (Scotland) Bill was passed by the Scottish Parliament in June 2015 and received the Royal Assent in August 2015. Under the provisions of the Act it is an offence for a person to use, possess, purchase or acquire an air weapon in Scotland without holding an air weapon certificate.
Stanley Metcalf aged six died from injuries following an incident involving an airgun in Sproatley, East Yorkshire in July 2018.
Alexander Morez aged five died from head injuries after being shot by what is believed to have been an airgun in Loughborough, Leicestershire in August 2017.
Jake Berry, aged 19 died from head injuries after what is thought to have been an 'accident' with an airgun at his home in Billinge, Merseyside on 4th September 2016.
Ben Wragge, aged 13 died after being shot with an airgun in Thurston, Suffolk. Two teenagers were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter but no charges were brought. 1st May 2016.
NB The Coroner submitted a Prevention of Further Deaths Report to the Home Office. In October 2017 the Home Secretary announced a 'Review into Air Weapon Regulations in England and Wales'. The outcome of the Review has never been published.
An un-named thirteen year old boy, apparently took his own life with an airgun after a family row in Souldern, Oxfordshire on 31st January 2012.
Rhys Johnson, aged ten, died after being shot with an airgun while playing with a 12 year old friend near his home in Llansamlet, Swansea on 27th September 2009.
Jonathan Cooke, aged five, died after being shot with an airgun while playing with several other children and supervised by an adult in a garden during a weekend camping holiday in Wiltshire in August 2009.
Sam Shaw, aged fifteen, died after being shot with an airgun while playing in a garden with his brother and a friend in Hayes, West London in March 2009.
Rachel Davis, aged eighteen, died after being shot with an airgun while socialising with friends in a flat in Bury, Greater Manchester in December 2008.
Rashid Ullah, aged eighteen months, died after being shot with an airgun in a garden where his father been shooting then left the gun, where it was accessed by a five year old who shot the toddler in Birmingham, West Midlands in September 2008.
Danny Marsh, aged seventeen, died after being shot with an airgun while with his cousin and a friend in a garden shed at the home of his grandmother in Maesglas, Newport in November 2007.
Mitchel Picken, aged twelve, died after being shot with an airgun while playing at the home of a friend where a gun owning father had failed to store his gun responsibly, enabling the children to access the gun in Baddeley Green, Staffordshire in August 2006.
Alex Cole, aged twelve, died after being shot with an airgun while playing at the home of a friend. The friend's gun owning father had failed to store his gun responsibly, enabling the children to access the gun in Conningsby, South Yorkshire in May 2005.
Andrew Morton, aged two and being carried by his cousin, died after being shot with an airgun fired from a window by a sniper in Glasgow in March 2005.
Scott Heap, aged eleven, died after being shot with an airgun while playing at the home of a friend in Scotland in October 2004
Matthew Sheffield, aged fourteen, died after being shot with an airgun pellet while playing with friends in a garden in Stockton on Tees, Co. Durham in April 2001
George Atkinson, aged thirteen, died after being shot with an airgun while playing with a cousin at the home of an aunt near Mold, Wales in July 1999
Margaret McEwan, aged eight, died after being shot with an airgun while playing with a cousin at the home of an aunt in Warwickshire in August 1995
Danny Sandergaarde, aged fourteen, died after being shot with an airgun while playing with his sister and friends at home in Kent in August 1994
Matthew Fowkes, aged ten, died after being shot with an airgun while playing in woods with his sister and brother while other people were shooting nearby in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire in 1989
Infer Trust is working with victims, parents and others to raise awareness of airgun issues and reduce the number of incidents where children and young people access irresponsibly stored airguns.
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AIRGUNS - FATALITIES - ADULTS
We know of of at least TWELVE adults who have died after being shot with an airgun. There may be others we are not aware of.
Daphne Seager, aged 62, a cancer patient, died after being shot in the head seven times by her husband with an airgun at their home in Dagenham, Essex in June 2013.
Chris Humphreys, aged 24 died after apparently being shot in the head with an airgun at a property in Sheffield, South Yorkshire. He survived the shooting but died six days later from his injuries in May 2013.
David Gower, aged 37, died after being stabbed and shot with an airgun in Bulkington, Warwickshire in June 2011.
Robert Lettin, aged 57, died after being shot in the chest with his own air rifle during a robbery at his home in Cricklewood in January 2007.
Thomas Nicoll, aged 72 died after being shot with an airgun at his home in Winchburgh, Scotland in August 2007.
Graeme Baxter, aged 32, died after being shot with an airgun at the home of a drunken friend in East Calder, Scotland in April 2006.
Stephen Callaghan, aged 37, died after being shot with an airgun and attacked with a cricket bat in Cottingham, East Riding of Yorkshire on Boxing Day, December 2006.
Alan Eva, aged 49, died after being attacked with a hammer, crossbow and airgun at his home in Chard, Somerset in July 2005.
Jonathan Hughes, aged 21, died after being shotwith an airgun in Castleford, West Yorkshire in November 2004.
Theresa Brooks, aged 36, died after being shot with an airgun in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire in August 2002.
Isabelle Lewis, aged 38, died after being shot with an airgun, stabbed and mutilated in New Addington, Surrey in 1988.
Karen Floyd, aged 27, mother-of-three, died after being shot with an airgun at her home in Milton Keynes in July 1995.
AIRGUNS - SUICIDES
We know of at least TEN adults who have taken their own lives with an airgun. There may be others we are not aware of. These tragedies draw attention to the lethality and availability of airguns.
If you have suicidal thoughts please contact The Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90. If you have been affected by suicide you could contact Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, a National Registered Charity through their website or by calling 0844 561 6855. If you are concerned about someone else with access to a gun while suffering from stress, depression, debt problems, relationship breakdown, employment issues, mental or physical illness, alcohol or substance abuse, please raise your concerns with others. You could contact a Doctor, a Mental Health Worker, the Police, call the National Charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 (calls can be made anonymously) or contact Infer Trust for advice, either through the website or by ringing 0771 9696 279. If you know of an airgun which is no longer needed please contact your local police regarding safe disposal.
Abdulaziz Djafaflia, took his own life using an airgun in Bournemouth, Dorset in February 2015.
Peter Seager, aged 66, unlawfully killed his wife Daphne Seager before taking his own life with his airgun at his home in Dagenham Essex in June 2013.
Elaine Hollier, aged 44 from Malvern, suffering from a depressive illness and worried about debt, bought an airgun and used it to take her own life on the following day, 12th May 2009.
John Robinson, aged 60 from Borras, Wrexham, suffering from depression and other illnesses used his airgun to take his own life in July 2008.
Ian Brotherhood, aged 47 unemployed ex-miner suffering from depression and other illnesses used his airgun to take his own life in June 2008.
NB Two months before his death the deceased had been detailed for assessment under the Mental Health Act having attempted suicide using his airgun. The police were apparently unable to seize the weapon since it did not require a licence. The coroner submitted a Rule 43 Letter to the Home Secretary regarding airgun licencing. No action was taken.
Charles Jones, aged 69 took his own life with an airgun which he kept in the loft of his home in New Addington in September 2005.
Peter Hopkin, took his own life by hanging and shooting himself with an airgun in North Dalton, North Yorkshire in March 2004
Nasseri Hussein, aged 26, an Iranian assylum seeker, took his own life with a modified airgun in a children's playground in Eastbourne in June 2004.
Jason Wardle, aged 29, a naval rating, took his own life with an airgun following a siege at a flat in Helston, Cornwall in November 2003.
Douglas Channon, aged 55, unlawfully killed his estranged wife's partner before taking his own life using an airgun in Effingham, West Sussex in April 2000.
