Police chief admits Sheffield boy, 12, shot in street could easily have been killed

A police chief shocked at the shooting of a 12-year-old boy in Sheffield has admitted the youngster could easily have been killed.
By Claire Lewis
Published 14th Jan 2020, 07:19 BST
Updated 14th Jan 2020, 07:19 BST
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The young boy was shot in his leg in the Errington Road and Northern Avenue area of Arbourthorne as part of a dispute between two organised crime groups linked to several incidents since mid-November.

South Yorkshire Police said the victim was an ‘innocent’ bystander, with the suspected intended target in the area at the time of the shooting.

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The young boy was stood with some teenage friends when a gun was fired in the street from a car as it passed the group.

A police cordon in Arbourthorne after a boy, aged 12, was shot on Sunday afternoonA police cordon in Arbourthorne after a boy, aged 12, was shot on Sunday afternoon
A police cordon in Arbourthorne after a boy, aged 12, was shot on Sunday afternoon

Last night the gunman remained at large.

Assisant Chief Constable Tim Forber described the shooting as an ‘horrendous incident’.

He said: “I am sure that anyone who is a parent of a child this age can’t imagine what the parents of this young boy are feeling like now.

“He is an innocent young boy out with three of his friends looking for something to do on a Sunday afternoon and he has ended up being shot.

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“Thankfully the injuries are not life threatening but they could have so easily resulted in a fatality.”

ACC Forber has urged anyone with information to come forward.

He said: “It is only by the police and the community working together that we will solve this horrendous crime and make our communies safer and make sure we get justice for this young 12-year-old who has been injured as a result of this dreadful attack.”