Teenager Dies After Accidental Air Rifle Shooting at House Party

A 17-year-old boy died from a gunshot wound to the head after his friend accidentally fired an air rifle at a house party in Basingstoke, Hampshire, an inquest has heard. Connor Bell was fatally injured on November 8, 2025, when his friend, Jack Beechey, then 17, discharged the weapon.

The party was held at the home of Joshua Brown, who is now 18. His parents had agreed to a small gathering, but more friends arrived than anticipated, and alcohol was consumed. The .177 calibre air rifle, owned by the Brown family for three weeks, was meant to be stored locked away. However, after drinking, Joshua Brown took the rifle out, and it was used to shoot at targets in the garden.

Later in the evening, Beechey ran into the lounge from the kitchen and stated, "I shot Connor." Bell sustained an unsurvivable brain injury when the pellet entered his right eye socket, leading to cardiac arrest. He was taken to Southampton General Hospital, where he died two days later.

Beechey told the inquest he had consumed alcohol and was "a little bit drunk." He stated that Joshua Brown had asked him to put the rifle back in its case. Beechey decided to fire off the remaining pellets from the conservatory, believing it would be safer and thinking he had unloaded the weapon. As he moved into the kitchen, he accidentally fired the rifle while attempting to engage the safety catch, mistaking the trigger for it. "I tried to put the safety on but it was the wrong trigger. The safety is directly in front of the trigger," he explained.

Beechey informed the police at the scene that he had shot his friend, stating it was an accident. A post-mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as a hypoxic brain injury resulting from a gunshot wound to the head. Coroner Jason Pegg recorded a verdict of accidental death, noting a lack of weapons-handling skills as a contributing factor.

Coroner Pegg highlighted that Joshua Brown's father had instructed his son not to take the air rifle out of the cupboard, under the assumption of a small gathering. "The reality was a little bit different," Pegg said, describing how the party escalated with friends bringing alcohol, leading to intoxication. He was satisfied that Joshua Brown had been shown how to use the rifle by his father and had subsequently instructed his friends on its operation, including the safety catch. The coroner added that a "real risk and a degree of inevitability" of an accident occurring among intoxicated young people was present.

Connor Bell's father described his son as cheeky, caring, and possessing a wicked sense of humour. He was a keen footballer and gym-goer with aspirations of becoming a personal trainer. In a statement, Connor's family noted his organised an Order of St John in recognition of his organ donation, which saved lives. They described the incident as a tragedy for all involved and reminded the public about the dangers of air rifles, emphasizing the need for safe storage and proper training.

A 17-year-old boy, now 18, who was arrested on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent, will face no further action, according to Hampshire Constabulary.