Friends of a 13-year-old schoolboy from Thurston who died after being shot with an air rifle have paid tribute.

The Thurston Community College pupil, named by police as Ben Wragge, died at West Suffolk Hospital yesterday (May 1) and two teenagers have now been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of manslaughter.

Hundreds of friends have taken to social media in tribute to the “nice lad”, with a memorial page flooded with comments just hours after it was set up.

One post read: “I truly don’t know why these things happen it isnt fair and Ben was such a nice lad heaven has gained another angel.”

Another posted: “RIP BEN u will always be in my heart man I will miss you so much you will always be in everyones heart u was so funny. Ben always had a smile on his face and he would want us to be happy so we now know he is in a better place.”

Suffolk police officers were called by paramedics at 1.35pm yesterday afternoon after reports that a boy had suffered life-threatening injuries.

He was taken to west Suffolk Hospital in a critical condition, where he died a short time later.

Officers are continuing to investigate the incident and believe a firearm was discharged.

At 1.30pm today (May 2) a post mortem examination confirmed the cause of death as injury caused by an air gun pellet.

The two teenagers arrested yesterday have been bailed to return to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre on Thursday June 16 pending further enquiries.

Note: This article and previous stories reported the victim’s age as 14. He is in fact 13-years-old and was officially named by police at 1.30pm today (May 2) as Ben Wragge. The age was reported to the EADT as 14 by Suffolk police both yesterday and this morning.