A teenager has told an inquest he fatally shot his friend with an air rifle at a house party after mistaking the trigger for the safety catch. Connor Bell, 17, from Tadley, was hit by a pellet fired by Jack Beechy, 18, at a house in Chineham, near Basingstoke, on 8 November 2025.
The pellet entered through Bell's right eye socket, causing a brain injury and cardiac arrest. He died two days later at Southampton General Hospital.
Coroner Jason Pegg recorded a conclusion of accidental death, noting it was exacerbated by a lack of weapons-handling skills. The inquest heard that Joshua Brown, 18, had taken out the .177 calibre rifle, which was then used to shoot at bottles in the garden. Beechy stated he was "a little bit drunk" when asked to put the rifle away and fired off remaining pellets, believing the gun was empty.
Hampshire police confirmed that a 17-year-old boy, now 18, had been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent but will face no further action after discussions with the Crown Prosecution Service and Bell's family.
Bell's family described him as "a much-loved boy, who was very sporty and had a large circle of friends." They urged people to remember the dangers of air rifles, emphasising they should be safely stored and only used by individuals with necessary skills and training.