Police provide an update on the arrest after an 8-year-old boy was shot in the head on a farm

A man arrested after an eight-year-old boy was shot dead on a farm has been released on bail, police have confirmed.

Emergency services were called to the remote farm in the Warcop area of ​​Cumbria following reports of a child being seriously injured. The eight-year-old boy was taken to hospital by rescue helicopter after suffering injuries to his head and face.

He tragically died overnight, Cumbria Police said. The firearm was seized by officers.

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A 60-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault. He was taken into police custody and later held on suspicion of gross negligent homicide.

In an update released Sunday evening, police said he had been released on bail while investigators continued their investigation. Police continue to urge any witnesses to come forward.

Locals who live in Warcop said they believe the shooting may have been an accident. The farmer who owns the land where the shooting took place said he was “deeply upset” by the incident.

He told The Sun: “I had to witness what happened. It is deeply disturbing. My mother is over 80 and sick.”

A mother who also lives in the village said: “We don’t yet know exactly what happened. I heard he didn't go to school in Warcop. I read earlier that the weapon was fired accidentally.”

“Many of us have children of this age. It’s a very close community.”

She added: “We all have children in this school so there was panic this morning that it might have been someone we knew. I read an email from our school that said the victim didn't go there, so we don't know where.” They came out. It's quite shocking and you really feel sorry for the family. It's terrible news.

A third man, also a parent, said: “My friends asked me about it this morning. It's sad what happened here, but I don't know the family. It's a quiet village, but the people were there.” To this day it has remained quiet.

A resident of nearby Brough told the PA news agency he was driving past the scene when he saw paramedics, police cars and a helicopter. Frank Chalmers, 73, said: “I was passing the farm at about 3pm and saw the helicopter with its rotors stopped and paramedics marching up the hill, lots of police, maybe five police cars.”

“A car was parked in the middle of an empty field. It all looked very serious. I think with this police presence it's usually a horrific incident like a death. Normally such acts of violence do not occur.”

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