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| Two held in hunt for boy's killer | Two held in hunt for boy's killer |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two teenage boys have been arrested over 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | "There have been two arrests in this case, but that doesn't prove anything. |
| Somebody... will know who committed the crime and who provided the weapon - and we want them both Bernard Hogan-Howe, Chief Constable class="" href="/1/hi/england/merseyside/6959659.stm">Reaction to the shooting | |
| "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." | "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's family. | |
| "I'm sure hearts go out to the family of that little boy." | "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. | 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. | 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. | 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". | 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." | "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. | 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. | "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. | About 100 officers have been assigned to the investigation and police remain at the scene, including a neighbouring parade of shops. |
| Three shots fired | Three shots fired |
| 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. | 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. |
| Rhys was hit by one of three shots fired | Rhys was hit by one of three shots fired |
| Councillor Rose Bailey, who lives nearby and is a member of the local police authority, appealed for people with information to come forward. | 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. | 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." | "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. | 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. | The decision was made in response to concerns raised by local residents about youths gathering outside the pub and local shops. |
| Do you live in the area? Did you see what happened or have been affected by this story? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. | Do you live in the area? Did you see what happened or have been affected by this story? Send us your comments by filling out the form below. |