Pupils shot by gun yobs
Seventeen pupils were shot with BB guns in a terrifying attack as they were playing during their lunchtime break at a Staffordshire school. Seventeen pupils were shot with BB guns in a terrifying attack as they were playing during their lunchtime break at a Staffordshire school. The children, who escaped with minor injuries, were targeted by 'snipers' taking pot shots through a hedge at Etching Hill Primary in Rugeley yesterday afternoon. The drama unfolded at the Penk Drive school just after 1pm yesterday when children alerted teachers after being shot. Full story and special reports in the Express & Star.
The children, who escaped with minor injuries, were targeted by 'snipers' taking pot shots through a hedge at Etching Hill Primary in Rugeley yesterday afternoon.
The drama unfolded at the Penk Drive school just after 1pm yesterday when children alerted teachers after being shot.
Headteacher Jenny Dodd, who has only been in the job since September, said thankfully the injuries, to 15 boys and two girls aged between seven and 11, were all minor.
"Just small bruises," she said. "Many of them did not even know they had been hit, including one boy who was struck on the nose.
"It was only when one girl reported she had been hit that others began to realise they had also been hurt."
The nightmare every headteacher fears began for Mrs Dodd shortly before 1pm when a little girl complained to a playground supervisor she had been hit.
The supervisor reported it to deputy head Paul Bates and the police were alerted. Mrs Dodd said: "There was no panic among the children, no crying, I don't think they even realised that they had been hit."
All of the children remained at school for the afternoon lessons but Mrs Dodd admitted that in 28 years of teaching this was the worst incident she had had to deal with. The school, which has 431 pupils, was open as normal today.
An amnesty for people to hand in guns at Rugeley police station has been launched in the wake of the shooting. Chief Inspector Juliet Prince said: "Today there will be a secure box in the foyer of Rugeley police station where anyone can hand in a ball bearing gun they want to get rid of, anonymously if they wish."
Two 12-year-olds, not pupils at the school, were arrested last night but have been released on police bail.
