7-year-old boy shot by gang members writes a letter to Father Christmas asking for the offenders to be caught

Christian Hickey was shot in the leg on October 12 alongside his mother, Jayne, 30, by two men. According to the police, two men knocked on the door and reportedly asked for the boy's father, Christian senior. After a brief conversation, one of the men fired a number of shots which resulted in Jayne being hit twice in her legs and Christian being shot once in his right leg.

After numerous surgeries both have now left hospital and are recovering at home. In the letter posted by Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) he wrote:

"To Santa, this year for Christmas I would like; 1. Help police catch the people who hurt me. 2. Match attack cards. 3. Remote controlled helicopter 4. Super graph. 5. Walkie talkies. 6. Fifa '16. 7. Jurassic World game PS4. 8. Minecraft story mode. From Christian H."


Detective Chief Superintendent Russ Jackson of the Greater Manchester Police Serious Crime Division said:
"It is heart wrenching to know that a little boy who should be writing a list filled with exciting gifts, has got this at the top of his Christmas list."
"What happened to Christian will stay with him for the rest of his life but what we can do is try to make this up to him by finding those responsible and bringing them to justice."


Detectives said the double shooting is potentially linked to the murder of gangland security boss Paul Massey, 55, in Salford in July, and a feud between rival gangs in the Swinton and central Salford area of the city which has so far seen at least five shootings.

"These people have absolutely no place in civilised society and we remain as determined as ever to find them. We are continuing to appeal for information and I would like to urge anybody who may know something to please get in touch." Jackson said.