Former Gunner Ashley Cole accidentally shoots fan with air rifle

Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole accidentally shot and wounded a 21-year-old on work placement last week on the club’s training ground, according to a Sunday paper.



The News of the World is reporting that the former Gunner was ‘larking about’ with a potentially deadly.22 air rifle, not realising it was loaded, when he fired at work placement student and fan Tom Cowan from just 5 feet away.

Cowan was apparently patched up by Chelsea medics and given two days to rest after the ordeal, which was witnessed by a dozen staff members of the club. The sports science student needed further treatment two days later, according to the tabloid’s exclusive report.

A club source told News of the World: "It's truly inconceivable that a Premier League footballer could bring a gun to the training ground.

"But Ashley pulled the rifle from a box and started larking about with it in the changing room, not realising it was loaded."

"It ended up pointed at Tom just five feet away. Then the gun went off with a loud pop and Tom screamed as this lead pellet hit him in the side.”

The broadsheet’s source went on to say that Chelsea top brass were concerned that “it would be a PR disaster if this became public knowledge, so the club has closed ranks over it”

Cole’s next target is a crucial home challenge against Manchester United Tuesday night.