UK - Boy, 8, shot in head at farm - Warcop, Cumbria - 28 September 2024 *charges March 2026*

[hiraethofthestars]

An eight-year-old boy has died after being shot in the head and face at a farm.
A man in his 60s was arrested at the scene in Warcop, Cumbria, on suspicion of assault. He remains in custody but was now under arrest on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter, police said.

Boy, 8, dies after suffering shot to head at Warcop farm - BBC News

Police arrest a man in his 60s after responding to reports that a child had suffered serious firearm injuries at a farm.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[hiraethofthestars]

Some more info.

Police and NWAS attended. The firearm was secured at the scene by police and an eight-year-old boy was taken to hospital by air ambulance having suffered serious and life-threatening injuries to his head and face.



Sadly, the boy has died overnight.

Death of a child under investigation following incident near Warcop

www.news.cumbria.police.uk

 

[LadyL]

oh man was he shooting at something else and didn't realize the boy was out there in the field?
might be his grandson? (JMO)
very sad RIP

 

[hiraethofthestars]

The Sun understands the pair were on the land rabbiting. A source told us: "They had permission to be on the land. There's been an agreement in place for years for them to rabbit there."

It's understood that a farm near to the field where the shooting took place does not have any livestock - and instead rents out its lands for sheep grazing.

Boy, 8, fatally shot on farm was 'hunting rabbits' - as man bailed after arrest

A man arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after an eight-year-old boy was shot dead at a farm has been bailed.

The farmer, who owns the land where the shooting took place, said he is 'deeply upset' by the incident. He said: "I had to witness what happened. It's deeply upsetting. My mother is in her 80s and ill."

One mother, who also lives in the village, said: "We don't know fully what happened yet. I have heard that he didn't go to the school in Warcop. I read earlier that it was an accidental discharge of the weapon.

She added: "We all have kids at that school so there was panic this morning that it may have been someone we knew. I read an e-mail from our school saying the victim didn't go there so we don't know where they were from.

Boy, 8, shot dead at farm was 'hunting rabbits' as farmer breaks silence

So sad.

 

[Dotta]

"Emergency services rushed to the scene,
near the A66, at 2.05pm
after a child had sustained 'serious and life-threatening injuries' from a firearm.

Jay was taken to hospital by air ambulance,
but the young boy sadly passed away overnight.

A man in his 60s, from West Cumbria,
was arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter,
but Cumbria Police have confirmed last night that he has been bailed."

RIP to the victim
Condolences to family.

Boy, eight, who died after being shot on a farm in Warcop is named

Jay Cartmell, from Frizington, West Cumbria, died after sustaining serious head injuries in a shooting incident on farmland near Warcop on Saturday.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Bethan]

What a dreadful tragedy for all involved.

Rest peacefully little man

My heartfelt condolences to his family.

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1842949506465202183

"Jay Cartmell
suffered injuries to his head and face
in an apparent rabbit hunting accident.

Parents today paid tribute
to their 'perfect little boy'
who was 'loving, kind and full of mischief'.

'Jay was extremely loved,
not only by us,
but by all who met him.
He had fantastic friends and always had a smile on his face.

We will miss him every day,
but his love surrounds us and his memory will never fade'."

REST IN PEACE

 

[Motoman_90]

Rest in peace Jay

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846860678209970368

 

[Dotta]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2033959918743482831

"A man has been charged with manslaughter
after allegedly shooting an eight-year-old schoolboy during a suspected rabbit hunting expedition.

Allan Thursby, 64, of Cleator Moor in Cumbria
has now been charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

The Crown Prosecution Service said that Jay suffered
'serious head injuries involving the discharge of a firearm by Mr Thursby'.

Thursby has been bailed
and is set to appear at Carlisle Magistrates' Court on March 26."

 

[Rikissa]

From 17 March 2026:

The Crown Prosecution Service has today announced that a 64-year-old man has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter following the death of eight-year-old schoolboy Jay Cartmell.

Man charged with gross negligence manslaughter after death of eight-year-old in Cumbria | The Crown Prosecution Service

www.cps.gov.uk

 

[Serononin]

I somehow didn't hear about this when it happened. What a tragedy