A 16-year-old boy has been left with potentially life-threatening injuries after a shooting in Birmingham. According to the authorities, the teenager was taken to hospital following the incident, which has prompted a police investigation in the city.
West Midlands Police said the shooting happened on Bowyer Road, near St Saviours Road, in the Alum Rock area of Birmingham. Officers were called to reports of the shooting shortly before half past five on Wednesday evening.
The location has drawn particular attention because the incident took place near a mosque. However, police stressed that, at this stage, they do not believe the shooting was connected to the place of worship.
Emergency services worked at the scene after the alarm was raised, and the teenager was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. His condition has been described as potentially life-threatening as medical staff treat him.
The force said its investigation is at an early stage. Officers have remained at the scene, and the area was cordoned off while specialists began the process of gathering evidence and establishing what happened.
As part of that work, police said they were carrying out forensic and CCTV enquiries and speaking to people in the area. Those steps are aimed at building a clearer picture of the sequence of events and identifying those responsible.
Investigators also appealed for help from the public, urging anyone who saw what happened, or who has footage from the area, to come forward. Police described the teenager's condition as critical as medical staff continued to treat him in hospital.
In an update, West Midlands Police said a 17-year-old had been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and was being questioned by officers. Under British law, a person who has been arrested is treated as a suspect and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The force did not release the identity of the arrested teenager, who is a minor, and gave no further detail about a possible motive. Officers said their enquiries were continuing as they worked to establish exactly what led to the shooting.
In a further development, the case moved from arrest to a formal charge. According to the latest account, the 17-year-old has now been charged with attempted murder over the shooting in Alum Rock, marking a significant step in the investigation that had begun days earlier.
The teenager has been remanded in custody and is due to appear before Birmingham magistrates later today. Because of his age, he cannot be identified, and, as with any defendant, he is presumed innocent unless and until he is convicted by a court.
Meanwhile, the condition of the injured boy remained a central concern. He was still described as being in a critical condition in hospital, where medical staff continued to treat him for the gunshot wounds he suffered on Wednesday evening.