An 11-year-old boy was hit by a stray shotgun pellet as he played in a park with his siblings, after a man was blasted in the back in a street nearby.
The child was enjoying a trip to Loxford Park in Ilford, east London with his parents and siblings who are aged between eight and 14, when he was struck in the cheek on Monday afternoon.
A 22-year-old man, who does not know the boy or his family, was hit at close range in the back with a sawn-off shotgun and is in a critical condition after the attack in Loxford Lane at around 4.30pm.
The 11-year-old has had the pellet removed and has since been discharged from hospital.
Detective Chief Inspector Simon Moring said: “The child was playing in the park with his parents and three siblings and took a pellet in the cheek. It's been removed in hospital and he's now back at home with his family. It is not what you expect when you go to play on the local swings.”
He said that the motive for the shooting remains “unclear”, and added: “The victim has undergone surgery today and we hope to speak to him in due course.”
The suspect is a black man who was wearing a baseball cap with a light-coloured peak, and a dark top with a white or yellow pattern on the sleeve.
Officers also want to trace two cars that were near the scene at the time: a white Seat that is missing its driver's side wing mirror, and a black BMW that is missing its front number plate.
Mr Moring added: “This shooting has left a man in a critical condition and endangered an innocent child. We would appeal to anyone who witnessed the incident or has any information to contact police immediately. Your call will be treated in complete confidence.”
Press Association
