Oxfordshire Shooting "Tragic Accident"

31 January 2012, 08:06 | Updated: 31 January 2012, 08:08

The teenage son of a US Air Force colonel has died after being shot, suffering serious head injuries at a house near Bicester.

The death of the 13-year-old son of a US Air Force Lieutenant Colonel from gunshot wounds was a "tragic accident", a US Air Force spokesman said last night.

The 13-year-old boy was shot in the head at a house in Souldern, near Bicester, Oxfordshire, on Sunday morning.

He died at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford yesterday (Monday) with his family by his side. His father is understood to be based at the US Air Force base in nearby RAF Croughton.

Thames Valley Police are investigating how the teenager died and said: "The exact circumstances are yet unclear''. They are not treating his death as suspicious.

A spokesman from the US Air Force said: "The 13-year-old son of an active duty US Air Force lieutenant colonel assigned to an academic exchange programme at Oxford University has passed away after a tragic accident.

"All possible support and comfort is being provided to the family. During these difficult times we respect the family's request for privacy."

A South Central Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "We got a call at 10.06am yesterday to Souldern following reports that a 13-year-old male had suffered head injuries with a shotgun."

A police spokeswoman said:"Thames Valley Police is continuing in its inquiries to help the family establish what has happened.

"It is believed there is no third-party involvement and so no one is being sought in relation to the incident."

The teenager's death has been referred to the coroner for Oxfordshire.

Watch a video report from Souldern.