Investigation Launched After Fatal Shooting of Eight-Year-Old in Cumbria

An investigation is underway after an eight-year-old boy tragically died following a shooting incident on a farm in Cumbria, United Kingdom. Emergency services were alerted to the scene in the Warcop area around 2.50 pm on Saturday, September 28. The call reported a serious injury to a child caused by a firearm.

Responders, including Cumbria Police and the North West Ambulance Service—featuring an air ambulance—rushed to the location where the boy was critically wounded in his head and face. He was swiftly airlifted to a nearby hospital but eventually succumbed to his injuries overnight.

Police have arrested a man in his 60s at the scene on initial suspicions of assault causing grievous bodily harm. However, following the boy’s death, these charges have escalated to gross negligence manslaughter. The firearm involved in the incident has been secured for investigation by law enforcement.

Local resident Frank Chalmers, who passed by the scene, described his observations to the PA media: “I passed the farm at about 3pm and I saw the helicopter with its rotors stopped and medics marching up the hill. A lot of police, maybe five police vans, were present, and one car was parked in the middle of a field. It all looked very serious.”

Photographs from the scene depict a significant police presence with several police vans and a crime scene investigation vehicle. Police officers are seen standing around a field close to a parked car, indicating the seriousness of the incident.

The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the details surrounding the incident. Officers remain on site, with police activity still noticeable in the area, which Frank Chalmers described as “very, very rural.”

The community is grappling with shock as details from the heartbreaking event continue to emerge. Law enforcement officials have asked for privacy as inquiries proceed and to allow the family of the deceased boy to grieve their loss.