A 12-year-old boy was shot with an air rifle as he retrieved his ball while playing football in the street.
The youngster was shot at a number of times before he was hit in the knee in an incident police have described as "any parent's worst nightmare".
An air ambulance was called and the boy taken to hospital following the "appalling assault" in Bolton, Greater Manchester, at around 3.50pm on Saturday.
Thankfully his injuries are not life-threatening but he will need surgery.
The boy was having a kick-about when the ball ended up on a flat roof where he was playing - and as he went to get the ball he was shot at.
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Police have launched an investigation and are currently trawling CCTV from the area.
Detective Inspector Andrew Fallows from Greater Manchester Police's Bolton borough said: "This was an appalling assault on a young boy who was just playing football in the street.
"How someone could comprehend shooting at a child is beyond me, this is any parent's worst nightmare when sending their kids out to play.
"Thankfully his injuries aren't life-threatening, but he will require surgery and his recovery is not going to be short.
"We are determined to find whoever decided using an air gun was appropriate action to take on a boy retrieving his football."
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Police are particularly keen to hear any information about a man who was seen in the area who is described as being white, of average build with glasses and with a grey beard and black hair tied back in a ponytail.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0161 856 5757, alternatively call 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
