Two Held In Hunt For Boy’s Killer

Two teenage boys have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of an 11-year-old boy who was shot dead on his way home from playing football.

Rhys Jones was hit by a bullet in the car park of the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool on Wednesday night.

Merseyside Police said two teenagers from Croxteth, aged 14 and 18, had been arrested on suspicion of murder.

However, Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe said police still needed witnesses to come forward.

“There have been two arrests in this case, but that doesn’t prove anything.

“The principal thing I need to get over to the public is we need your help, and we are not yet at all certain as to who committed this crime.”

Earlier Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was “desperately sorry” for Rhys’ family.

“I’m sure hearts go out to the family of that little boy.”

Police said Rhys lived in the local area with his mother, father and 17-year-old brother.

He was on his way home from football training, still wearing his kit, when he was shot at about 1930 BST.

A witness said three shots were fired by a youth, with his face covered by a hood, who rode past on a BMX bicycle.

Mr Hogan-Howe said his reaction to the murder was one of “absolute shock and horror”.

“Any murder is terrible and any shooting is a terrible event, but for an 11-year-old boy to die in this way on the streets has got to be something we all have to make sure does not happen again.”

Mr Hogan-Howe repeated earlier calls for the community and local gangs to come forward with information.

“Somebody out there will know who did this. They will know who committed the crime and who provided the weapon – and we want them both,” he added.

About 100 officers have been assigned to the investigation and police remain at the scene, including a neighbouring parade of shops.

An eyewitness, who did not want to be named but was drinking outside the pub, said a youth aged about 14 or 15, wearing a hoodie, rode up to the car park and fired three shots from a distance of about 30m.

One shot missed the boys and another hit a car, while the other bullet hit Rhys. He was taken to Alder Hey Hospital but later pronounced dead.

Councillor Rose Bailey, who lives nearby and is a member of the local police authority, appealed for people with information to come forward.

She added: “It sends shockwaves through the community of Croxteth and really it must be devastating.

“To think your young son is out playing football and then to get a call to say he’s been shot, I really don’t know as a parent how you would handle that.”

Langley Close, the area around the pub, was made a “designated area” by police last year, meaning officers could disperse groups and move people away from the area.

The decision was made in response to concerns raised by local residents about youths gathering outside the pub and local shops.