Tributes to boy, 8, fatally shot in head & face while ‘hunting rabbits’ on farm
TRIBUTES have flooded in for an eight-year-old boy shot dead while reportedly hunting rabbits on a farm, as he’s pictured for the first time.
Schoolboy Jay Cartmell was shot in the head and face during the incident on an isolated hillside near Warcop, in Cumbria on Saturday afternoon.
A man in his 60s was arrested at the scene close to Wheatsheaf Farm, initially on suspicion of assault GBH and later of gross negligence manslaughter.
He has since been bailed.
Whitehaven Miners Social Football Club posted a tribute on Facebook, saying: “Rip wee man… Our thoughts are with your family, coaches and team mates.”
One commenter said: “RIP little man. You were a talented little guy, and full of character.
“Pleasure to coach, and a pleasure to call my son’s friend. In our hearts forever.”
A second said: “Sleep tight little man, forever a U9 miners blue. Sending lots of love and strength to all your little friends, school friends, team mates and family.”
Another wrote: “Rest in peace Jay, a fun and lovely friend… and such a loving little boy, with that cheeky smile… Sending so so much love to all of your family and friends.”
And a fourth person said: “RIP little man, gone way way too soon. Heartbreaking. Thinking of all family and friends at this very sad time.”
Emergency services were called to the scene at around 2.50pm on Saturday. The boy tragically died in hospital overnight into Sunday.
Cumbria Constabulary said a firearm was secured by officers at the scene.
The Sun understands the pair were on the land rabbiting.
A source told us: “They had permission to be on the land. There’s been an agreement in place for years for them to rabbit there.”
One of the local tenants who uses the pasture said they believed that those involved could be members of the traveller community.
They said: “We just rent that land… There’s the gypsy fair on Brough Hill, so apparently it’s some of them. That’s the rumour going round.”
The famous Appleby Horse Fair, which attracts around 10,000 travellers each year, is based around six miles from the site of the tragedy.
Another farmer said the child’s family is “deeply upset”.
“It was a tragic accident,” he told The Sun.
“I feel so sorry for the family, our thoughts are with them. It’s deeply upsetting.”
An MoD firing range is adjacent to the land where the schoolboy was injured.
An MoD spokesperson confirmed it is not involved.
Witnesses reported seeing five police cars and an air ambulance, as well as forensics officers in the field on Saturday afternoon.
Cumbria Police said on Sunday: “An eight-year-old boy was taken to hospital by air ambulance having suffered serious and life-threatening injuries to his head and face.
“Sadly, the boy has died overnight.”