Two people have been charged after a baby was shot with an air-rifle in Bristol.

One-year-old Harry Studley is in a critical condition in Bristol children’s hospital with a serious head injury after being shot by a pellet on Friday.

Jordan Walters, 24, and Emma Jane Horseman, 23, of Bristol, have been charged with causing grievous bodily harm, Avon and Somerset police said in a statement on Sunday. They have been remanded in custody to appear before Bristol magistrates court on 4 July.

Harry’s family issued a statement on Sunday thanking members of the public for their support. His parents, Amy Allen and Edward Studley, said: “Harry is still very poorly and we would reiterate that our request for privacy be respected as we and our family come to terms with what has happened.”

On Saturday police said they were treating the incident as a potentially negligent act. DI Jonathan Deane said: “We believe the child received the severe injury from one pellet discharged from an air weapon. Our focus is very much on unravelling the full circumstances leading up to this tragedy. We’re not looking for anyone else in connection with what happened and at the time we are treating this as a potentially negligent act.”

Emergency crews were called to a flat in Hartcliffe at 4.10pm on Friday. Neighbours reportedly said they heard the child “screaming and screaming”.

The Bristol Post quoted an unnamed man who witnessed the aftermath as saying: “I couldn’t sleep last night because I just couldn’t get this picture out of my head. The mother was running behind covered in blood.”

Officers have also thanked the local community for their patience and understanding while extensive inquiries have been carried out. Deane said: “Reassurance patrols will be carried out tonight and tomorrow. If any residents have specific concerns then please speak to their neighbourhood team.”