“It’s awful, such a violent attack on their family and our community”
Views of Chakeshill Drive in Bristol, Thursday 18 September 2025 where a 9 year old girls was shot with an alleged air weapon on 2 September 2025. Police conducting door to door inquiries. (Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
Neighbours of a nine-year-old girl who was shot in a racially aggravated attack in north Bristol have said they were shocked, horrified and ‘heartbroken’ after hearing of the news yesterday. The attack happened more than a fortnight ago in Brentry, but police issued a public appeal to find the culprits on Wednesday afternoon this week, September 17.
The incident saw a nine-year-old shot three times with an airgun in Chakeshill Drive at lunchtime on Tuesday, September 2. Police said the pellets did not cause serious injury, but the girl was left so traumatised that she is now scared to leave the house.
Police said they were looking for two older teenagers, aged 17 or 18, one of whom had an e-scooter. The attack was being treated as a racially aggravated one because after shooting her with the pellets, one of the teenagers made a racial comment.
Police were out doing door-to-door enquiries on Thursday afternoon in Chakeshill Drive, a long crescent road of more than 150 homes off the main Charlton Road. The road, built by the local authority as council housing in the 1950s, is right on the northern edge of Bristol, with some of the homes backing on to the Henbury Loop railway line that marks the border between Bristol and South Gloucestershire, close to where the new YTL will eventually be.
There was shock on the street there on Thursday (September 18), with many people saying the first they heard about it was reading the news on Wednesday. PCSOs spent the afternoon talking to local residents and delivering leaflets appealing for anyone with information to get in touch.
READ MORE: Young girl shot in racially aggravated attackREAD MORE: The quiet Bristol suburb that will soon have noisy neighbours
Neighbours described the victim and her family as ‘lovely’ and said the community was desperate to help catch the culprits. “They are the best neighbours we’ve ever had, and the best neighbours anyone could ever have,” said one. “What more can you ask for? She’s like a daughter to us. They wouldn’t hurt a fly.
“She’s only a young mum with three kids and yet she helps me out so much, she checks in on our house when we’re away. She’ll help me with my shopping and make sure I’m OK. They are a brilliant family. Just brilliant. All of our kids are so close, they all play together.
Police conducting door-to-door inquiries on Chakeshill Drive, Brentry, north Bristol, after a 9-year-old girl was shot three times with an pellet gun in what police are describing as a racially aggravated attack(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
“I found out on the day it happened as I was called – and I was crying on the bus home. Unfortunately nothing was caught on our camera as a tree was in the way. And other neighbours don’t know anything about it,” she added.
“It’s awful – such a violent attack on their family and our community.” The neighbour added: “We do not stand for racism or hate of any kind. I have racist people in my family and they are not allowed to step a foot inside my home. I will not stand for it.
“We recently got this RING doorbell because it’s hard to feel safe – and I know the family have had one installed too after this. They are charging it at the moment. We ring each other a lot, they check in on me and I check in on them. It’s a complete violation. It’s disgusting – there’s no place for this here. It has broken our hearts,” she added.
Police said they are seeking a white male, aged 17-18 years old, roughly 5ft 11ins tall, with dark blonde hair and a slim face. At the time of the incident, he was wearing a distinctive blue padded coat and was riding a black electric scooter with white writing.
Views of Chakeshill Drive in Bristol, Thursday 18 September 2025 where a 9 year old girls was shot with an alleged air weapon on 2 September 2025. (Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
Local resident Lisa Stews, 41, said: “I didn’t know anything about this until I saw the news yesterday. I had my family calling me asking if I was OK and if I saw anything – but I knew nothing. I even checked my CCTV – but there’s nothing on there relating to this incident, she added.
Another resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I was in that day when it happened but I only found out about the incident today when it was posted on the news.
“Everyone is checking their CCTVs but no one knows what has happened or where because they haven’t told us,” she added.
The news of the shooting went national – much to the shock of many residents. “The first I heard of it was I saw it on Good Morning Britain this morning,” said one resident. “It’s disgusting that someone could do that. It’s normally such a quiet street. There is a bit of a problem with the kids going up and down on those e-bikes on the main road and sometimes down here, but usually it’s really quiet. It’s awful to hear this,” she added.
Another resident, Nerissa, is preparing to move out having lived in her home since 1973. But she’s not going far – only a couple of streets away to live with her son. “I think this is just adolescent nonsense that’s got blown up a bit. It’s awful for the poor young girl, of course, such a stupid thing to do – she wasn’t badly hurt, but it could have been more serious – hit her in the eye and caused damage,” she said.
“It’s so out of character for this street, it’s normally quiet with no problems at all,” she added.
Neighbourhood Policing Chief Inspector Keith Smith said: “This is a deeply troubling incident targeting a young child and we understand the impact this has had, not only on the victim and their family but also the wider community.
“Officers are actively pursuing lines of enquiry and there will continue to be reassurance patrols in the area. We would also like to stress that at this time we do believe this to be an isolated incident and would encourage anyone with pertinent information to come forward,” he added.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police gave particular lines of appeal they are making. “We are now appealing for any witnesses and those with dashcam, CCTV, or doorbell footage of the incident, or the moments leading up to it immediately afterwards, to contact us on 101 quoting reference number 5225247677, or complete our online appeals form,” she said.
Views of Chakeshill Drive in Bristol, Thursday 18 September 2025(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
“If you can help, please call 101 and give the call handler the reference number 5225247677, or complete our online appeals form,” she added.
“You can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their Anonymous Online Form,” she said.
