Darwen man left in pain after ‘shot at with air rifle’ at bus stop

Mark Westall, 59, was leaving his friend’s 60th birthday party at Darwen FC over the weekend when a person speeding past him at the bus stop threw an egg at him.

In the incident, which happened at around 10.15pm on Saturday (March 25), at the bus stop opposite the Anchor Pub in Blackburn Road, Darwen, he was also shot.

The impact of the shot has left Mark with a “nasty, big black bruise on his stomach” which he says could have been a lot worse if he wasn’t wearing a thick jumper.

The bruising on Sunday, March 26 (left) and the bruise on Monday, March 27 (right) (Image: Mark Westall)

He said: “I was on my own and I don’t walk very well because I’ve got mobility issues, so I was walking with a stick.

“I got hit with the egg which I took a picture of and thought, ‘little gits, why have they done that?’ and then I realised my stomach was sore.

The egg that hit Mark (Image: Mark Westall)

“On Sunday morning, it was like a little dot where it was red, and over the day it started going dark and bruised which is when a friend said to me, ‘you’ve been shot at with an air pistol.’

“I’ve been to the doctor this morning (March 27) because I already had an appointment and they said I should be in A&E with that.”

“Because I’m a tubbish guy and had a jumper on, I was quite lucky. If I had have had a thin t-shirt on, I’m pretty sure it would have penetrated my skin actually.

"Or if they shot me in the face I could have quite easily lost an eye. It is bad.

“If they’re targeting people outside bus shelters, it’s not going to encourage people to use public transport is it?

"I wouldn’t like to think people aren't going to be shot at if they’re using public transport. I’m concerned that others may have also been shot at.”

Another Blackburn with Darwen resident spoke about an incident on Preston Old Road that seems to have involved an air rifle.

The man from Feniscowles said he was walking his dog on Sunday morning (March 26) when something hit the side of his head.

He initially thought it was a branch but then shortly after noticed his dog started limping.

He wrote: “It looks like I may have been shot with an air rifle. Just keep your eye out if walking up there or if you see someone carrying a rifle.”

The two incidents happened around three miles, or a 10-minute drive, from each other, however it is unknown whether the incidents are related.

The law states it is an offence to have an air weapon in a public place “without a reasonable excuse.”

Mark reported the incident but Lancashire Police said it is unable to provide a statement.

A spokesperson said: “It’s been reported to us but we don’t have a proper account from the victim yet so we can’t comment further.”