One of two boys who last week fired a volley of bullets into a Hastings home made a personal apology to the occupants.
The boy's mother yesterday said her son had visited the Pollard family, whose house was sprayed with bullets.
The boy also wanted to make a public apology, she said.
The shooting happened on June 19 when the boys, aged 12 and 13, were left alone at their rugby coach Cyril Buscke's home while he worked a late shift.
Up to 20.22 calibre bullets were fired mainly into the house over the road where Steve and Flo Pollard and their three children were sleeping.
Some of the bullets ripped through interior walls with one landing on the bed of the Pollards' six-year-old daughter who was asleep on the other side of the house.
Police later found the intoxicated boys, who had helped themselves to the liquor cabinet.
The boy's mother said police had found her son asleep in the house and the other boy on the street.
"I'm truly sorry to all the people I have hurt, particularly the Pollards, Cyril Buscke for betraying his trust in me, and especially the Ross Shield team and mum and dad," the boy said.
The boy has been dropped from his champion rugby team because of his actions.
"Rugby is his life, he's really feeling it," his mother said.
She said police Youth Aid had still not indicated what action it would take.
It had been the first time the boy had ever stayed at his coach's house and there had been no communication between the two since.
Mr Buscke said he had organised for someone to be at the house while he was at work, but that person had not shown up by the time he had to leave.
He also forgot to lock the door to his bedroom where his guns were kept.
Mr Buscke was fired as coach and faces the possible loss of his firearms license and further disciplinary action.
- HAWKE'S BAY TODAY
Hastings boy apologises to shooting victims
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