Hundreds of people have paid tribute to a 13-year-old Suffolk boy after he was shot with an air rifle and tragically killed.
A school has paid tribute to their 'extremely likeable' and popular pupil Ben Wragge, 13, whose tragic death after being shot with an air rifle has shocked the Thurston community.
Ben Wragge, who lived in the village, died on Sunday May 1 at West Suffolk Hospital, with a post mortem examination confirming the cause of death as injury from an air rifle pellet.
Helen Wilson, principal of Thurston Community College, said: 'This is a heartbreaking time for Thurston Community College, Thurston Village and our wider community. We are deeply saddened by the sudden death of Ben Wragge.
'Ben was a mature and intelligent young man. As a member of Year 9 and Penrose House, he was an extremely likeable character, whose calm and respectful demeanour made him popular across the college. Ben will be sadly missed by his friends and staff.
'The aftermath of this tragedy will be felt throughout our entire community. Our immediate priority is to provide support for those students affected.
'Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Ben's family and friends at this time.'
This morning (May 3) assemblies were held at the start of the day, with friends, staff and pupils paying tribute to Ben.
Dozens of people at the secondary school in Thurston and people from the village laid tributes and flowers for Ben at the school fence on Monday (May 2) and have continued to do so today.
An online tribute page set up by friends now has more than 2,000 'likes' with hundreds of posts.
Two teenagers who were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of manslaughter have now been released on bail to return to Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre on Thursday June 16 pending further enquiries.
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