A 13-year-old boy is in a critical condition in hospital after being shot in the back in Birmingham, West Midlands police have said. The teenager was shot in Hockley Circus, Birmingham, shortly before 7pm on Thursday. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition and is believed to have suffered life-changing injuries. Police closed off the area on Friday morning as forensic inquiries were carried out. West Midlands police issued an urgent appeal for information and witnesses to come forward. They also urged anyone with dashcam footage to assist them in identifying those responsible for the shooting. Sunny Singh, who works at Soho News, told BirminghamLive that he heard a “loud gunshot” and that moments later a terrified teenage boy ran in, saying “somebody tried to shoot me” and hid behind a fridge. “He then said, ‘Someone had been shot at the flyover.’ He looked scared. He hid behind a fridge for around two minutes.” After Singh told the boy he had to leave, fearing for the safety of his customers, he said he ran out of the shop and got on a bus. He added: “I am quite shocked by what happened. My thoughts are with the boy who was shot and his family.” A West Midlands police spokesman said: “Our investigations are in the very early stages, but we understand the 13-year-old was walking down Hockley Circus when he was shot in the back. He remains in hospital in a critical condition with injuries believed to be life-changing. “We are urgently appealing to anyone in the area with any information. This is a busy area with lots of motorists, so we’re asking anyone with dashcams to check their footage as this may help us identify the people responsible. “Also if you witnessed anything, please contact us as this information could provide integral to our investigation.”