Essex Shooting: Boy, 5, Seriously Injured A five-year-old boy has been seriously injured after a gun was apparently fired by mistake at his home in Essex. Police were called to the property in Upper Park Road, Wickford, following reports of an incident at 1.20pm on Sunday. The child was taken to the Royal London Hospital with a serious but not life-threatening injury. An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "Police are speaking to members of the family to determine the exact circumstances leading up to the incident . But (we) believe that this was an accidental discharge of the weapon and inquiries are ongoing. An 18-year-old man was arrested for possession of a firearm and drug offences and has been released on bail. The weapon and other legally held firearms were handed over to officers.