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| Two held in hunt for boy's killer | Two held in hunt for boy's killer |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Two teenagers 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. | Two teenagers 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 Fir Tree pub car park in Croxteth, Liverpool, on Wednesday night. | Rhys Jones was hit by a bullet in the Fir Tree pub car park in Croxteth, Liverpool, on Wednesday night. |
| 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. |
| Police asked for help from the local community, despite the arrests of the two local males, aged 14 and 18. | Police asked for help from the local community, despite the arrests of the two local males, aged 14 and 18. |
| Merseyside Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "There have been two arrests in this case, but that doesn't prove anything. | Merseyside Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe said: "There have been two arrests in this case, but that doesn't prove anything. |
| He was an absolutely brilliant little lad Tony Ainscough,Neighbour Reaction to the shooting class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6959856.stm">In pictures: Rhys murder | |
| "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." |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was meeting the prime minister at Downing Street to discuss youth crime, a discussion which was planned prior to the shooting. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was meeting the prime minister at Downing Street to discuss youth crime, a discussion which was planned prior to the shooting. |
| "I am shocked and saddened to hear about this tragic shooting. My thoughts are with the victim's family and friends," said Ms Smith. | "I am shocked and saddened to hear about this tragic shooting. My thoughts are with the victim's family and friends," said Ms Smith. |
| 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 with two friends, still wearing his kit, when he was shot at about 1930 BST. | He was on his way home from football training with two friends, still wearing his kit, when he was shot at about 1930 BST. |
| 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 are still examining the scene, including a neighbouring parade of shops. | About 100 officers have been assigned to the investigation and police are still examining 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. | 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. |
| Police are continuing to examine the scene | Police are continuing to examine the scene |
| A neighbour of the family - who did not want to be named - said he was "staggered" by the news. | A neighbour of the family - who did not want to be named - said he was "staggered" by the news. |
| He said: "He was just a lovely kid, always out playing football and in an Everton shirt. He came from a well-respected, loving family." | He said: "He was just a lovely kid, always out playing football and in an Everton shirt. He came from a well-respected, loving family." |
| Another neighbour, Tony Ainscough, 31, whose nine-year-old son was a friend of Rhys, said: "I am absolutely devastated. It's just getting absolutely pathetic. | Another neighbour, Tony Ainscough, 31, whose nine-year-old son was a friend of Rhys, said: "I am absolutely devastated. It's just getting absolutely pathetic. |
| "He was an absolutely brilliant little lad, an innocent little kid. | "He was an absolutely brilliant little lad, an innocent little kid. |
| "He and my son would play computer games together, there's no way he had anything to do with gangs and people need to know that." | "He and my son would play computer games together, there's no way he had anything to do with gangs and people need to know that." |
| Langley Close, the area around the pub, was made a "designated area" by Merseyside 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 Merseyside 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. |