Police today named the six-year-old boy believed to have died after being shot with a pellet gun in a ‘tragic accident’.
Stanley Metcalf, who was on his summer holiday from primary school, was found fatally injured at a home in the village of Sproatley, East Yorkshire yesterday afternoon.
Stanley, who was a football mad Hull City fan, was rushed to hospital but could not be saved.
Humberside Police launched an investigation after he died from apparent pellet gun shot injuries.
It is understood the child was visiting the house, which locals said is home to an elderly couple.
Stanley Metcalf, who was on his summer holiday fropm primary school, was found fatally injured at a home in the village of Sproatley, East Yorkshire yesterday afternoon
A six-year-old boy has died after apparently sustaining pellet gun shot injuries in Sproatley
Police have sealed a house next to the village church and say they are investigatin
Detective Chief Inspector Mark Goulding, of Humberside Police, said: ‘We’re investigating the circumstances of the tragic death of a six-year-old boy.
‘We were called at 4pm yesterday following reports the boy had been seriously injured at an address.
‘He was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary but sadly passed away. ‘Initial indication is this is a pellet gun injury but still we’re investigating the circumstances and the investigation is at an early stage.
‘Our thoughts are with his family, who are being supported by specialist officers and we request that they are given privacy at this very difficult time.’
Claire Shaw, 34, said she believed an older couple lived in the property.
She said: ‘I am assuming it is a grandchild or something because it is an old couple who live there.
‘We have passed them occasionally when we have walked the dogs but we don’t know them. My children go to Sproatley school and it is nobody the same age [from the school].
‘If the child was from the village I would think they would go to Sproatley school, everybody else does.’
Lee Powter, 33 who lives on the corner of the road, said: ‘We saw a police car come down, then we saw another police car.
‘We didn’t know what was going on. I woke up this morning and heard that a child had died.
‘I can’t imagine how the family feel, condolences to them.’
A series of officers were seen coming to and from the property this afternoon
Sproatley is a village of less than 2,000 people, which lies to the north-east of Hull.
Police activity is currently concentrated on a row of houses next to the village’s St Swithins Church.
Police have visited this row of houses next to the village church following the incident