Hampshire teenager killed after accidental air rifle shot

Connor Bell, of Searing Way, Tadley had been drinking with friends at the home of Joshua Brown in Cowslad Drive, Basingstoke on November 8, 2025 when Jack Beechey fired the fatal shot by mistaking the trigger for the safety catch.

The 17-year-old Queen Mary's College student, described as a "cheeky, kind, and caring boy" suffered an “unsurvivable” brain injury causing him to suffer a cardiac arrest.

He was taken to Southampton General Hospital where he died two days later.

An inquest at Winchester Coroner's Court heard that Mr Brown, now aged 18, had agreed with his parents that he was going to have a couple of friends round while they were away and that the air rifle, which they had owned for three weeks, would be left locked away in a cupboard.

But the teenager said that on the day, more friends than he had told his parents about attended their home and they drank vodka, cider and beers instead of the box of 12 Peroni beers that his father had bought for them.

READ MORE: Why do local newspapers report on court cases? What can they publish? 

Connor Bell died after he was accidentally shot with an air rifle (Image: Hampshire Constabulary)

Mr Brown said that he took out the .177 calibre air rifle and it was used to fire from the conservatory at targets in the garden such as bottles.

Giving evidence in the inquest, the teenager said that he had used it twice before that day, with his father.

"Dad showed me how to use it. Dad told me, 'Don't point it at people, and when finished, to crank it, check the magazine to see if it is empty, and then lift it up again."

The court heard that Mr Brown relayed this information to the group of friends before they used the weapon.

He said that later in the evening he was in the lounge when Mr Beechey ran in from the kitchen and said: “I shot Connor.”

Mr Beechey, now aged 18, told the inquest that he had drunk beer, cider and vodka during the evening and was a “little bit drunk”.

He said that Mr Brown had asked him to put the rifle back in its case so he decided to fire off the remaining pellets in the magazine from the conservatory because he “thought it would be safer” and added: “I thought I had completely unloaded it.”

Mr Beechey said as he walked into the kitchen he accidentally fired the rifle.

He said: “I tried to put the safety on but it was the wrong trigger. The safety is directly in front of the trigger.”

Mr Beechey, who had been friends with Connor for three years, told the court: "I thought I had completely unloaded it. I went into the kitchen and I attempted to put the safety on, pointing it to the side of me."

He said he was unaware it was pointing at Connor who was lying on the kitchen floor.

Coroner Jason Pegg asked Mr Beechey: "Why did you pull the trigger and not the safety catch?"

Mr Beechey responded: "The safety is directly in front of the trigger."

Coroner Pegg asked: "You made a mistake?"

Mr Beechey replied: "Yep."

The emergency services were called, and Mr Beechey told them "I shot my friend with an air rifle, it was an accident."

He was later arrested, but no further action was taken.

Coroner Pegg described the death as "deeply tragic."

He said that Mr Brown’s father had thought his son was only planning a small gathering and had told him not to take the air rifle out of the cupboard.

Mr Pegg said: “The reality was a little bit different, Joshua Brown, like many teenagers, decided to make it into more of a house party, his friends ended up bringing copious amounts of alcohol and within a short time of that party starting, Joshua and his friends were intoxicated with alcohol.”

The coroner continued: “It’s clear to me that he (Joshua) was shown how to use the rifle by his father. I am satisfied that Joshua told his friends how to use the weapon, how to load it, how to reload it and how to fire it and I am satisfied he told them how to use the safety catch.”

Mr Pegg said that there had been a “real risk and a degree of inevitably” of an accident happening among a group of young people drinking.

He added Connor’s death was “devastating”.

The coroner ruled that the cause of death was brain damage from a traumatic brain injury, caused by a cardiac arrest resulting from a gunshot wound to the head.

He added: "It's quite clear to me that Connor is a very much-loved son, grandson and a friend to many. He had aspirations in the fitness field."

He gave the official conclusion that the death was accidental, with a lack of weapons-handling skills contributing to the death. "Clearly, this was a dreadful accident."

Connor, a sports student at QMC, was described during the hearing by his father, Robert Bell, as a "cheeky, kind, and caring" boy who "never took himself too seriously, and had a wicked sense of humour.

"He was so full of life and would often be the driving force to get his mates to play football together."

A tribute from his family reads: "Connor was a much-loved boy, who was very sporty and had a large circle of friends.

“This was a tragic accident which led to the loss of Connor. His friends conducted CPR at the scene, which allowed our son to be an organ donor and save lives. He has since been awarded an Order of St John in recognition of his donation.

“This incident was a tragedy for all the families involved and we are all supporting each other at this incredibly difficult time.

“We would like to remind the public about the potential dangers of air rifles and the care needed to ensure they are safely stored.

"They should only be used by people with the necessary skills and weapon-handling training.”

QMC shared a tribute saying: "Connor was a well-loved sports student who worked hard on his studies and embraced all aspects of college life, especially football. 

"His presence touched the lives of many within Queen Mary’s College, and he will be remembered with great affection. 

"He was fun, caring, and a really good friend to those around him. We send our heartfelt condolences to all who knew and loved him, and our thoughts are with his family and everyone who is grieving this tragic loss."

Connor’s family have set up a tribute page in his memory, encouraging donations to the Wessex Neurological Centre at Southampton Hospital, which treated Connor with "care, compassion and dignity". 

It can be found here: https://connorbell.muchloved.com/

Helplines 

If you would like any help with bereavement, loss or mental wellbeing, here are some helpline numbers:  

Call the Samaritans on 116 123 or go online at samaritans.org 

Child Bereavement UK 0800 028 8840 childbereavementuk.org 

Cruse Bereavement Care 0808 808 1677 cruse.org.uk  

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) 0300 111 5065 uksobs.org