Man bailed over death of boy, 8, who was shot in face at Cumbria farm

A man arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter after an eight-year-old boy was shot dead at a farm has been bailed.

Police said they were called to the remote farm in the village of Warcop shortly before 3pm on Saturday. A firearm was secured at the scene by police and the child was taken to hospital by air ambulance, having suffered a gunshot wound to his head and face.

Cumbria police said the boy died overnight from his injuries. A man in his 60s was arrested at the scene on suspicion of assault. He was taken into police custody and later held on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter.

The man was later bailed as police continued their investigations. Cumbria police urged any witnesses to come forward.

A resident of nearby Brough told the PA news agency he was driving by the scene when he saw medics, police vans and a helicopter.

Frank Chalmers, 73, said: “I passed the farm at around 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.

“One car was parked in the middle of an empty field. It all looked very serious. I think with that level of police presence it’s usually a dreadful incident like a death. They don’t usually turn out in that kind of force.” He said the area is “very, very rural”.