A young girl was shot in an incident believed to be racially motivated by the police. The nine-year-old victim was struck by pellets from an airgun at approximately 1:30 pm on Chakeshill Drive in Bristol. Although she sustained no serious injuries, the girl was left traumatized by the attack. Authorities suspect that two individuals were involved in the incident.
Avon and Somerset Police are on the lookout for a white male aged 17-18, standing around 5ft 11ins tall, with dark blonde hair and a slim face. The suspect was reportedly wearing a distinctive blue padded coat and riding a black electric scooter with white markings at the time of the assault.
Following the shooting, a racial slur was directed at the victim. The police are actively investigating the matter and providing support to the victim and her family.
In an official statement, the police stated, “We are appealing for information regarding a reported airgun attack on a child being treated as a racially motivated assault. The incident involving a nine-year-old girl occurred in Chakeshill Drive, Brentry, Bristol on Thursday 2 September around 1:30 pm.”
“The assailant, described as a white male in his late teens, approximately 5ft 11ins tall with dark blonde hair and a slim face, was clad in a unique blue padded coat and riding a black electric scooter with white markings. The girl sustained minor injuries from the pellet shots, with no serious harm reported. An additional perpetrator is believed to have been involved, with a racial slur being uttered during the incident, leaving the victim in a state of trauma and unwilling to venture outside.”
Authorities are urging the public to come forward with any information they may have. Witnesses or individuals with relevant information are encouraged to reach out to the police on 101.
The police statement further added, “We have initiated an inquiry into the incident, are providing assistance to the victim and her family, and have connected them with Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) for support. Surveillance footage and door-to-door inquiries have been conducted.”
“We are now seeking any witnesses or individuals with dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage of the incident or the events leading up to it immediately after. Please contact us on 101, quoting reference number 5225247677, or fill out our online appeals form.”
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