DETECTIVES investigating a suspected shooting in Newcastle today charged a woman with firearms offences.

Last Wednesday police were informed a gun had been fired on Bentinck Street in Elswick, Newcastle, at about 1am and that a 19-year-old man was undergoing treatment in hospital for injuries consistent with being shot.

The man in question suffered non-life threatening injuries to his leg and was discharged the same day.

In the past week officers have searched multiple addresses across the west end of Newcastle and arrested 12 people. A firearm was also recovered from the River Tyne.

Yesterday Kenneth Thompson, 45, of Bentinck Street, Elswick, appeared in court after being charged with possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm to commit an indictable offence and criminal damage.

Now police have charged a 25-year-old woman with wounding with intent to commit GBH and possession of a firearm to commit an indictable offence.

Kerry Tams, 25, of Dunblane Crescent, West Denton, appeared before Bedlington Magistrates’ Court today where she was remanded in custody.

Earlier this week, Northumbria Police Superintendent Peter Bent, the officer leading the investigation, thanked residents in the west end for their patience.

He said: “This has been a large scale investigation which started when a local hospital identified a man had attended with what appeared to be gunshot injuries.

“A lot of hard work has gone in to establishing the circumstances, identifying those involved and then tracking those individuals down.

“There has been a lot of police activity in the west end of Newcastle in the last eight days and I know this would be concerning for residents.

“We have now charged a suspect in connection with this incident and I hope our robust response to this offending has gone some way to reassuring the community.

“Incidents of this nature are rare but we have had teams of highly trained detectives working on this case who have been dedicated to keeping the public safe.

“I want to thank the local community for their patience, support and co-operation and I would continue to ask anyone with information to contact police.”

Nine of the twelve people arrested remain under investigation while a 28-year-old woman arrested on Tuesday has been released with no further action.

Both Kerry Tams and Kenneth Thompson were remanded in custody to appear before Newcastle Crown Court on September 16.

Anyone with information that may assist police should call officers on 101 quoting log 113 07/08/19 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.