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Rhys police hunt teenage killer Rhys police hunt teenage killer
(40 minutes later)
Detectives investigating the murder of an 11-year-old boy who was shot dead on his way home have issued more details about his killer. Detectives investigating the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones believe his killer could be as young as 13.
Rhys Jones was shot by a youth on a black BMX bicycle at a pub car park in Croxteth, Liverpool, on Wednesday. Rhys was walking home after playing football when he was shot by a youth on a black BMX bicycle at a pub car park in Croxteth, Liverpool.
The youth riding the bike is said to be about 5ft 8ins tall and was wearing dark clothes and white trainers. The youth is said to be aged 13 to 15, about 5ft 8ins tall and was wearing dark clothes and white trainers.
Two youths held earlier were bailed and police are now looking for a youth aged between 13 and 15. Rhys's mother Melanie cradled her son as paramedics battled for 90 minutes to save his life.
Rhys's mother Melanie has described how she cradled her dying son outside the pub where he was shot, as he walked home from football training. Two local boys, aged 14 and 18, arrested on suspicion of murder were released on Thursday night.
And the boy's father Stephen said the couple had "lost their world". Merseyside Police are continuing to appeal for the community's help in catching the killer.
Speaking at a news conference, Rhys's mother said: "Our son was only 11, our baby. This should not happen, this should not be going on. Please help us." Officers have been handing out leaflets in the area with a special number for young people to text information anonymously.
He was a very bright and sensible lad Melanie Jones, mother Fans united in grief for RhysHe was a very bright and sensible lad Melanie Jones, mother Fans united in grief for Rhys
"We have lost our world, the world has lost a good guy," Mr Jones said. Ass Ch Con Simon Byrne told the BBC: "Young people text each other frequently and we want information about who the killer is.
"We believe the killer is aged between 13 and 15 years of age and it is about making it easier for people to tell us if they have seen something, do they know the identity of the killer and where he is hiding now?"
Speaking at a news conference on Thursday, Rhys's mother said: "Our son was only 11, our baby.
"This should not happen, this should not be going on. Please help us.
"We have lost our world, the world has lost a good guy," Rhys's father Stephen said.
"He was football-mad, absolutely football-mad, a season ticket holder with me and his brother."He was football-mad, absolutely football-mad, a season ticket holder with me and his brother.
"Football was his life. If he wasn't watching it, he was playing it.""Football was his life. If he wasn't watching it, he was playing it."
They tried for an hour and a half to resuscitate him, but his little body couldn't take it Melanie Jones
His mother was not aware of any guns on the estate.His mother was not aware of any guns on the estate.
"He had a thing in school about guns, the police went in. He was very aware of that, he was a very bright and sensible lad," she said."He had a thing in school about guns, the police went in. He was very aware of that, he was a very bright and sensible lad," she said.
Rhys's football coach was the first to contact Mrs Jones over the shooting.Rhys's football coach was the first to contact Mrs Jones over the shooting.
She was then driven to the scene and found her son lying on his back unconscious.She was then driven to the scene and found her son lying on his back unconscious.
She said she held him in her arms, but could not speak to him.She said she held him in her arms, but could not speak to him.
'Senseless crime'
"He didn't come round. He was lying there in a pool of blood," she said."He didn't come round. He was lying there in a pool of blood," she said.
"They tried for an hour and a half to resuscitate him, but his little body couldn't take it."They tried for an hour and a half to resuscitate him, but his little body couldn't take it.
"Our whole family is devastated.""Our whole family is devastated."
Relatives, friends and neighbours gathered at a vigil for Rhys at Emmaus Church of England and Catholic School Primary School in Croxteth on Thursday evening.Relatives, friends and neighbours gathered at a vigil for Rhys at Emmaus Church of England and Catholic School Primary School in Croxteth on Thursday evening.
It is yards away from where the Everton fan was shot on his way home from football training.It is yards away from where the Everton fan was shot on his way home from football training.
Merseyside Assistant Chief Constable Simon Byrne appealed for people to help the inquiry. Anyone with information can text the word "crime" followed by their message to 61051.
"I think anyone listening to the heartfelt plea from the parents who've lost lovely Rhys can't be failed to be touched by the emotion and senselessness of this crime," he said.
"I would appeal to people...if you know who the killer is, turn them in quickly, there's no place for silence."