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Teenager fatally shot friend by mistake with air rifle at Basingstoke party, inquest told
Overview
A Winchester inquest has heard that 17-year-old Connor Bell died after being fatally shot in the eye with an air rifle by a friend who mistook the trigger for the safety catch at a house party in Chineham, near Basingstoke. The coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death exacerbated by a lack of weapons-handling skills, while police confirmed no further action will be taken against the teenager involved.
Key points
- Connor Bell, 17, died two days after being shot with an air rifle at a house party in Chineham on 8 November 2025.
- Jack Beechy, now 18, told the inquest he fired the rifle by mistake, confusing the trigger with the safety catch.
- The pellet entered Bell's right eye socket, causing unsurvivable brain injuries and cardiac arrest.
- Coroner Jason Pegg recorded a conclusion of accidental death, noting a lack of weapons-handling skills and the presence of alcohol.
- Police arrested a 17-year-old following the incident, but he will face no further action after consultation with the Crown Prosecution Service and the victim's family.
- Bell's family highlighted the dangers of air rifles and noted that CPR performed by friends allowed him to become an organ donor.