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Teenager killed by air rifle in tragic accident
A TEENAGE boy has died after being shot with an air rifle in a tragic target practice accident at his home in Hayes, leaving his family and school devastated.
Sam Shaw, 15, of Pinkwell Lane, died on Saturday at 4.20pm in the garden of his house where he had been playing.
Neil Sherman, headteacher of Harlington Community School where Sam studied, said: "Sam was a lovely kid a mischievous rogue and although he was 15 he appeared much younger.
"There was no malice in him. He was popular with students and with staff and he will be sadly missed.
"I've got two kids of my own and I can't think of anything worse than for a family to lose a child in such tragic circumstances.
"Nobody expects to outlive their children, and there is something fundamentally wrong when your child dies well before their time in such tragic circumstances.
"This was an unnecessary waste of life."
Mr Sherman said a room has been set aside at the school with senior and pastoral staff there to give support to any child or member of staff who needs it.
He added: "It may be that there was no one to blame, but we cannot bring him back.
"We're aware it was an air rifle accident and I know some people don't think they are as dangerous as other sorts of fire arms.
"But if any good is to come out of this, it will be that people will get the message that these things are dangerous and that people should be careful.
"I would prefer it if this weapon were made illegal because it would have prevented the tragic waste of a young man's life."
Michelle Gibbons, director of study for key stage four at the school, said: "He was a lively young man, full of life.
"e had recently started some work experience at a garage with his dad, I believe, which he was loving, and he looked forward to carrying it on.
"So many of the students are devastated."
Neighbour Ray Phillips, 36, said: "Sam was a very good lad. He was best friends with my 15-year-old, Ashley, and he was here often. He was very popular and always polite to everyone."
Among the tributes outside the home, one said: "I can't believe I am writing this.
"You were the most fantastic guy with that cheeky grin of yours, you made me smile."
Another said: "There's a new angel shining above, look after him, we will miss your smile."
A police spokesman said the death was being treated as an accident and no arrests had been made.
On Monday morning the Shaw home was empty, and the family is believed to be staying elsewhere.
A full report is being prepared for the Coroner and a post mortem is due to take place, shortly followed by the opening and adjournement of an inquest.
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Stories like this only serve to remind us that air rifles are real weapons and not toys. Children who are given these weapons are rarely satisfied with shooting pieces of cardboard or tin cans and often move on to moving targets, such as cats and wildlife. I'm not suggesting this was the case in this very tragic story.
Last year, my sister becamse a target as she was driving her car down the A40; she was hit in the side of the head. Fortunately, she had stopped at a red light. The offender had targeted two other women and was never caught.
It is high time these dangerous weapons were illegalised, or owners made to pay out for a license.
rest in peace sam you will be forever missed by your friends and family. such a wonderful boy who didnt deserve to have such a short life, you will always be in everyones heads and hearts and im sure the days at southall discount tyres will not be the same with out you there!!!! stay safe up there and u will always be missed by thoes you left behind.
R.I.P SAM OUR LOVE FOREVER XXXXX
SAM!
If broken heart's were stepping stone's i would make a path from the hearts that have been broken from the sadness of losing you.i would walk along that path until i got to you,and bring you back to those that
are never going to get over the empty feeling of not been able to see your cheeky face, and your big blue eyes,that cute but cheeky face could melt any heart,it did mine thats for sure,no body could stay cross with you,not for long any way,you could of melted gold never lone hearts.i am sure your be around all of those people that love and miss you,and you will never be far from your best friend gagan's side,he is going to feel lost without you,he will never find a replacement friend,that will be as good a friend as he had in you.rest in peace sam,you will alway's be close to the hearts of all your family and friend's,and never far from the thought's of us that didnt know you as well as those that did know you so well.xxx angie healey & family.
i thought from what it said on the front page of the march 25th issue,to leave your on tributes to sam,visit the communties page to add them,can you not have a page just to leave such tributes,instead of mixing the moaning jacks of this worlds comments with it.i am sure sam's family and friends dont want to read your views on any subject,and certainly not your views about air riffles,show some compasion please.
sam.i light a candle every day hoping the pain will go away.but with the light of each new dawn.another day and your still gone.love you sam.keep smiling up above and every time i think of you up their i will smile with you.you were one in a million.love from billie joxxxxxxx