Rhys gun killing suspect bailed

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Police are continuing to question six people about the killing of 11-year-old Rhys Jones after one was bailed.

A 15-year-old boy was released after being arrested on Friday over the gun death of Rhys in Croxteth, Liverpool, last week.

Two boys, aged 15 and 16, two men aged 19, a girl, 15, and an 18-year-old woman are all currently in custody.

On Saturday nearly 40,000 football fans paid tribute to Everton-mad Rhys with a minute's applause at Goodison Park.

Everton players, and their opponents Blackburn Rovers, wore black armbands as a mark of respect to the boy, who had been playing football outside the Fir Tree pub shortly before he died last Wednesday.

Rhys's parents, Melanie and Stephen, and his brother, Owen, stood with Everton manager David Moyes as cheers erupted from the crowd.

Suspect injured

Detectives are treating the inquiry in to Rhys's death as Category A Plus - the "most serious" of crimes.

One of the 19-year-olds arrested is being questioned by detectives on suspicion of murder, while the other suffered minor injuries as he tried to escape arrest.

The boys aged 15 and 16, and the females were arrested in Croxteth and Norris Green.

Officers would also like to speak to a woman who was seen pushing a pram near the scene shortly before Rhys was shot.

Det Supt Dave Kelly, the senior investigating officer, said: "We know from our inquiries there was a woman pushing a pram minutes before Rhys was killed and we believe she will have passed within close proximity to the killer.

We have ways of protecting members of the public who come forward with information Ch Supt Chris Armitt, Merseyside Police <a class="" href="/1/hi/england/merseyside/6961354.stm">Parents speak of loss</a>

"She is described as wearing white wide-legged trousers with a dark tunic style top, almost like a smock.

"She had dark hair, possibly tied back and was pushing a dark coloured pram at about 1925 BST."

Rhys "was in the wrong place at the wrong time", police have said.

Mr Kelly said his bike-riding teenage killer emerged from an estate at the back of the Fir Tree pub.

He said that the boy cycled at the back of the pub for a few minutes before firing three bullets in Rhys's direction - one of which passed through the boy's neck.

Chief Superintendent Chris Armitt said residents must "examine their consciences" and take a stand against gang culture.

Speaking at a press conference near the spot where Rhys was shot, Ch Supt Chris Armitt said: "We understand that people are concerned about giving information to the police, we understand that people are frightened.

Text information

"[But] what I want to say to people is, listen, they've got to stand up and they've got be counted.

"We have ways of protecting members of the public who come forward with information, we can protect their identity."

Officers have been handing out leaflets in the area with a special number for young people to text information anonymously.

Police have said that they are examining an abandoned bicycle, found in an area with a different postcode to the shooting.

Officers also confirmed descriptions of the killer's firearm, describing it as a black handgun with a long barrel.