Two teenagers have been arrested after an elderly patient was shot in the head with an air rifle at a hospital.
Patients, visitors and staff at Wolverhampton’s New Cross Hospital had to dive for cover when the thugs armed with pellet guns opened fire on Thursday afternoon.
One victim was a 77-year-old woman who was shot in the back of a head as she left an appointment at the hospital’s eye clinic.
The youths then hit a security officer who went to the aid of the OAP -but was luckily protected by the padding on his coat.
The gran was taken to A&E where the pellet was removed and she was discharged later that day.
Two other hospital visitors were also struck by pellets as they waited at a nearby bus stop but were uninjured.
Two boys, both aged 13, were later arrested on suspicion of assault near to the hospital and had their weapon and ammunition seized by police.
The pair have been released on bail.
The hospital’s chief operating officer Gwen Nuttall said: “Wherever this happens it is very concerning, but the real concern for me is the shock suffered by the lady.
“You don’t expect something like this to happen in a hospital.”
Chief Inspector Darren Walsh, from West Midlands Police, said: “This was a random and indiscriminate attack on visitors to a busy hospital; somewhere people should feel particularly safe and secure.
“My thoughts are with the elderly lady who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time – I hope she makes a speedy recovery.
“I know people are going to be shocked by what has happened but this is being treated as a one-off incident.
“I hope visitors to the hospital are reassured that two people have been arrested and a weapon has been seized.”
