Nine-year-old shot three times in racially aggravated assault in Bristol; police hunt teenager with airgun

A nine-year-old girl was shot three times with an airgun in what Avon and Somerset Police described as a racially aggravated assault in Bristol on September 2. The attack happened at about 1:30 p.m. on Chakeshill Drive, Brentry, a residential street, and the child sustained discomfort from the pellets but was not seriously injured. Police said the incident involved at least one teenage offender and indicated there may have been a second person involved in the attack. The assault also included a racial remark, which left the girl traumatised and too frightened to leave the house.

A second paragraph of the report would continue here to provide further context about the incident, including the investigators' ongoing efforts and the specifics of the description released by authorities for the suspect. The description released by Avon and Somerset Police identifies a white male, believed to be between 17 and 18 years old, about 5ft 11in tall with dark blonde hair and a slim face. He was wearing a distinctive blue padded coat and was riding a black electric scooter with white writing when the incident occurred.

Avon and Somerset Police launched a formal investigation and are pursuing multiple lines of enquiry to identify the offender or offenders. Officers have been supporting the victim and her family throughout the inquiry, and they have referred the family to Stand Against Racism and Inequality (SARI) for additional support. Investigators have conducted house-to-house inquiries and reviewed CCTV footage from the area, as well as nearby dashcam recordings, to establish the sequence of events and identify anyone who may have witnessed the moments leading up to or following the attack. Neighbourhood Policing Chief Inspector Keith Smith emphasised that the incident is deeply troubling and assured the public that reassurance patrols would continue as investigators pursue all lines of inquiry. He urged anyone with information to come forward and said that the case appears to be isolated, while stressing that every lead would be thoroughly explored.

Witnesses or anyone with dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage of the incident or the moments surrounding it are urged to contact Avon and Somerset Police by calling 101 and quoting reference number 5225247677, or by submitting information through the force’s online appeals form. The investigation remains active as officers work to determine exactly what happened, the roles of any additional individuals involved, and whether the attack was motivated by racial animus.