Residents 'terrified' as schoolboy injured in Bilston shooting

An eight-year-old boy and his stepfather were left wounded after being blasted with a shotgun at a teenager’s birthday party.

The schoolboy was hit in the arm by a shotgun pellet when a gunman, who is still at large, opened fire in Bilston.

His 30-year-old stepfather was also struck in the chest after trouble erupted at Bilston Sports and Social Club on Friday.

People living near to the Wellington Road club, at the junction with Green Lanes, have spoken of their shock after hearing two shots ring out at about 11pm.

Sanjeev Kumar, owner of nearby Green Lanes Tasty Bites, called police after spotting teenagers arguing outside the club moments before the shooting.

He recalled seeing the youngsters drinking and smoking in Green Lanes, as well as vomiting, littering and smashing glasses near his shop earlier in the evening.

The 40-year-old, who was on the phone to police when he heard the gunfire, said: “It was so scary, I was terrified. When there were shots, people started running towards the shop.

“I didn’t recognise a single one of them, I don’t think they’re from round here.”

Father-of-four Eden Jacobs said his 23-year-old daughter was ‘shaken up’ after hearing the gunfire and looking through her window to see a man in the club car park surrounded by smoke.

The South African native, who fled to the UK to escape rising gun crime, said: “It’s getting worrying now. You don’t even know if you are safe just having a walk to the High Street.

"You can’t talk to the kids nowadays because they are all up in your face.”

One member of the club, who did not want to be named, said party-goers hiring out rooms for functions had been causing problems for management.

He said: “I have been coming here since I was a child. There is trouble with parties but nothing like this.”

Armed police swooped on the former Labour club and blocked Green Lanes after reports of the shooting at about 11.10pm.

The victims, who have been released from hospital, were injured when the man went outside to see what was happening after trouble flared.

Detectives are now reviewing CCTV and have scoured the club for evidence but are yet to uncover a motive for the terrifying attack.

Det Sgt Chris Jones, who is overseeing the investigation, said: “We’re still trying establish the motive for the shooting, but at this time we don’t believe that the man or his stepson were the intended targets.

"Thankfully, they have escaped really serious injury, but the person or people responsible for this are clearly dangerous and willing to recklessly use violence.”

• Anyone with information is urged to contact the force via live chat at west-midlands.police.uk between 8am to midnight, call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, quoting log 3125 of September 14.