Police leave scene of shooting at Gainford home

Emergency services were called to Balmer Hill in Gainford at 8.10pm on Saturday (August 29) after gunshots were fired at the home.

The victim, a 46-year-old man, suffered birdshot injuries to his abdomen and was rushed to hospital.

On Sunday (August 30), police and CSI officers were seen working at the detached home, while a cordon was put in place. The window had been smashed and door damaged by gunfire.

The house on Balmer Hill, Gainford, County Durham (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

This morning (August 31), police have left the scene, and a cordon is no longer in place.

The window has been boarded up to make the home secure.

Police and CSI on the scene on Sunday (August 30) (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

A 20-year-old man and a 16-year-old boy were arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, and both remained in custody.

The damaged door at the Balmer Hill house (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

The boy has also been arrested on suspicion of theft, failing to stop and driving without a licence, police said.

A spokesperson for Durham Police said on Sunday: “An investigation has been launched after a man was shot in Gainford last night.

A boarded-up window at the Gainford house (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“Emergency services were called to an address in Balmer Hill just after 8.10pm following reports that suspects had driven to a house and fired at it from their car before making off.

“A 46-year-old man suffered birdshot injuries to his abdomen and was taken to hospital. His condition has been described as critical but stable.

A boarded-up window and damaged door at the property (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“No one else at the address was injured and officers remain at the scene today.”

Neighbours, who did not want to be named, told The Northern Echo they heard two loud ‘pops’ around 8.10pm.

“I was just sat watching the TV,” they said. “They were talking about Newcastle on Sky Sports News, then we heard like a pop.

“At first I thought it was a car backfiring. We jumped.

Police have left the scene of the property this morning (August 31) (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“And then there was another pop, and it was a case of ‘What the heck was that?’

“Then the next thing we saw was a red soft-top car go down the road.

“After the pops, I looked along towards next door and we saw all the glass that was outside, and the front windows were gone.

A boarded-up window at the Gainford house (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

“It is something you see in movies or television.

“You don’t expect to see it in a little village, in your own of street.”

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We were called to an incident at a private address in Gainford, Darlington at 8.10pm on Saturday, August 29.

“We dispatched one ambulance crew, one duty officer, one clinical team leader and were supported by Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).

“One person was taken to hospital by road.”