Toddler critical after shooting

A toddler has been left fighting for life after being shot in the back of the head with an air rifle.

The 18-month-old boy, who has yet to be named, was rushed to hospital on last night after being shot at his home in Bennetts Road, Washwood Heath, Birmingham, in what medics believe was a complete accident. The boy was today described as being in a 'critical but stable' condition when he arrived at Birmingham Children's Hospital on Sunday night.

One resident on Bennetts Road, who did not wish to be identified, said: "It's terrible that this has happened and I think it's due to neglect. You shouldn't have guns around young children.

They added: "The police have been to question all the neighbours. I saw the ambulance arrive and that was the first I heard about it. I saw the family quite often and they are quite quiet. The rumour is that it was the little girl, one of his sisters, who pulled the trigger by accident."

Next door neighbour Robert Stacey, 50, said: "There are four people who live there, and they've got two or three of kids.

"Yesterday afternoon I saw the man next door doing target practice against some kind of shooting board in his back garden with an air rifle. "I asked him if he was with a club and he said he was. I have to admit I wasn't very happy at this going on next door to me because it made a loud clacking noise and I don't like having guns so nearby."

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be identified, said: "They are a nice family and are no trouble to anyone at all. The little boy who was shot was a lovely boy."

A man who described himself as the boy's uncle said near the family home: "The family are very upset but it was a complete accident. They don't want to talk to anyone."

A West Midlands Ambulance spokesperson said: "We were called to an address in Washwood Heath in Birmingham at around 6.40pm last night following reports of a child having been shot. He had suffered a serious head injury.

"We sent an ambulance, two rapid response vehicles, an incident support officer and West Midlands care team emergency doctors to take the child to Birmingham Children's Hospital.

"Two paramedics from the response vehicle also travelled with the ambulance crew to provide assistance while the child was treated en route to the hospital, where the boy was described as critical but stable shortly after arrival. We haven't had any update into his condition since that time."