A woman in her 90s was injured when a group of youths armed with an air rifle shot at people enjoying an afternoon at a bowls club.
The group fled the scene afterwards and police are appealing for information to help track them down.
The woman suffered minor injuries in the shocking incident at Lancing Bowls Club, in Lancing, West Sussex, while three other people were hit but not injured.
One victim, Sheila Thornton, told BBC Sussex: “I thought I had been badly bitten. Something hit me in the back of the leg.
“I didn’t think anything of it until I saw the lady next to me and her leg was bleeding.”
Sheila said one man realised he had been hit on his cap at around 2.20pm, adding: “If it had been a little bit lower, it could have gone in his eye.”
Adur councillor Carol Albury said the incident on August 21 had shocked the community.
She said: “It is extremely upsetting and taken us all by surprise.
“It was in the afternoon at a busy park and you really don’t expect that sort of thing to happen around here.”
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: “Officers are appealing for witnesses after a woman aged in her 90s was shot with an air rifle in Lancing on Wednesday.
“A report was received of an air rifle being fired around Lancing Bowls Club in Manor Road at 2.25pm on Wednesday. One person – a woman in her 90s – suffered minor injuries.
“A group of young people was seen running from the scene. Officers attended and conducted an extensive search of the area but could not locate them.
“Neighbourhood policing officers will be maintaining a visible presence around the area over the coming days.”
