Teen shot in Suffolk suffers life-changing injuries
A 15-year-old boy was shot as he walked to school in Kesgrave at the beginning of the month is no longer in a life-threatening condition.
Last updated 9th Oct 2020
The teenager, who remains in intensive care at Addenbrookes Hospital, is not said to be in a life-threatening condition any longer but has suffered life-changing injuries.
He's expected to remain in hospital for a "considerable" length of time.
Police were called at just before 9am on the 7th of September following reports of a shooting on Friends Walk.
A 15-year-old was arrested shortly after and appeared at Ipswich Crown Court two days later.
Officers recovered a shotgun from a car which was seized at the time of the suspect's arrest.
The court heard that the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was allegedly shot in the face after a confrontation.
Officers say the defendant, who also can't be named for legal reasons, has been charged with three offences: attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life, and possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of injury.
Following a hearing at Ipswich Crown Court, the teenager has been remanded in custody until a plea hearing on 7th December.
A two-week trial is scheduled to start on 25th January 2021.
Speaking previously, Temporary Detective Superintendent David Henderson, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: "This has been a fast-moving investigation, with officers working around the clock since yesterday morning.
"I appreciate that many people will still be very concerned at an attack of this nature happening in a small town such as Kesgrave, but we continue to stress that incidents like this are extremely rare and that there is no wider threat to the local community.
"In addition, following the initial enquiries that have been carried-out, we can confirm that the victim and the suspect are known to each other and at this time there is absolutely nothing to suggest this incident is linked to organised criminality.
"Our thoughts remain with the victim and his family and we continue to offer them our full support.
"Additional patrols to provide reassurance are continuing in Kesgrave and a police pod has been put in place, so local residents have somewhere they can go to speak to officers should they wish to.
"I would urge anyone who has information about this terrible attack to make contact with us as soon as possible.”
The Chair of the Suffolk Safeguarding Partnership, Anthony Douglas has called for the emotional well-being of young people in the area to be respected.
He said: “This is an incredibly difficult time for the 1,870 students and their parents, teachers and staff associated with Kesgrave High School.
"Everybody has been affected by Monday’s incident and many of the students personally know the 15-yea- old whose life has been changed forever as a result of these events.
“On behalf of all those affected by this tragic incident, I ask that students attending the school and others in the local area are given the space, privacy and anonymity needed to give them time to deal with what has happened in their own way.
"From a child safeguarding perspective, this incident has come as children are returning to school after many months away, a process that comes with anxiety for many.
"The shooting will have increased anxiety levels. We are all duty-bound not to take any action that increases young people’s anxiety further.”