A 17-year-old boy died after his friend accidentally shot him in the head with an air rifle at a house party, an inquest was told on Wednesday. Connor Bell suffered a severe brain injury during the gathering in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on 8 November last year. He died two days later at Southampton General Hospital.
Jack Beechy, 18, pulled the fatal trigger while mistaking it for the safety catch, the Winchester coroner’s court heard. The two teenagers had been drinking alcohol and shooting the crank air rifle out of a conservatory into a garden at targets like bottles.
Beechy told the inquest he had been drinking cider and vodka at the party and was a little bit drunk. He accidentally discharged the weapon when attempting to engage the safety catch while the barrel was pointed toward Bell’s head.
The air rifle was normally stored in a cupboard under the stairs at the home of another friend, Joshua Brown. Brown, who was 17 at the time, gave evidence stating his father had previously taught him how to handle the weapon safely. When asked if he had considered putting the gun away before guests arrived, Brown said he wanted his friends to use it because he thought it would be fun.
Police arrested Beechy following the incident, but authorities took no further criminal action. Hampshire area coroner Jason Pegg recorded a conclusion of accidental death, stating the medical cause was a gunshot wound to the head leading to cardiac arrest from a brain injury.
Robert Bell paid tribute to his son during the hearing, describing him as a kind, caring and mischievous person with a wicked sense of humour. He noted that his son loved sports, particularly football, and was studying a sports course at college.
The coroner warned about the dangers involving firearms and alcohol among youths. Jason Pegg said the tragedy shows the real risk when a group of young people drink alcohol together.
Pegg added that Connor was a young man with a life planned ahead of him who had aspirations in physical fitness.
