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Six released in Rhys murder case Everton players' tribute to Rhys
(about 1 hour later)
Detectives investigating the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones have released six suspects they were holding. Players from Everton Football Club have paid tribute to Rhys Jones during a visit to the scene where the 11-year-old was murdered in Merseyside.
Merseyside Police said four people were released without charge and two on police bail, leaving no-one in custody. The squad laid flowers, a shirt and boots at the makeshift shrine to the youngster outside the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool.
Officers confirmed they had spoken to a potentially vital witness, who could have seen Rhys's killer just before he opened fire, in Croxteth, Liverpool. Rhys, an Everton fan, was shot outside the pub on Wednesday evening.
Rhys, an Everton fan, died on Wednesday outside the Fir Tree pub. The Everton squad visited the scene on Monday. Detectives investigating his death have released six suspects, four without charge and two on police bail.
Players paid their respects and laid a football, boots and flowers at the spot where the youngster died. The Everton squad paid their tribute on Monday morning and laid a wreath in the shape of a blue and white football bearing the message: "With deepest sympathy to the family of Rhys from all at Everton Football Club."
Hundreds of bouquets have already been placed at the site in Rhy's memory. Everton captain Phil Neville urged people to help the police catch the youngster's killer.
On Saturday nearly 40,000 football fans paid tribute to Everton-mad Rhys with a minute's applause at Goodison Park while Everton players, and their opponents Blackburn Rovers, wore black armbands as a mark of respect. "We are here today to pay our respects and appeal to anyone to come out and give information about the person who did this terrible thing," he said.
We just hope this thing never happens again Phil Neville, Everton FC captain Rhys's brother visits shrine
"Rhys was an 11-year-old lad and massive Evertonian. We just hope this thing never happens again."
His colleague, defender Alan Stubbs, said the shooting had devastated the city of Liverpool and also appealed for information.
"It has affected everyone, it has affected the whole city.
"What's happened is a tragic, tragic event.
"Anyone with any information to help the police, please come forward."
The squad's tribute followed a minute's applause by almost 40,000 fans in front of Rhys's family at Goodison Park ground on Saturday before Everton's home game against Blackburn Rovers.
Former Everton player Wayne Rooney, who was born in Croxteth, has also left a floral tribute to Rhys.
An Everton shirt with the message 'Good night - God Bless Rhys' was left by Rooney, his fiancee Coleen McLoughlin, and her family.
Everton footballers and fans paid tribute with a minute's applause
A bouquet of lilies also left at the shrine to Rhys carried the message: "To Rhys, such a tragic loss, rest in peace with the angels. All the players and staff at Blackburn Rovers Football Club."
Merseyside Police have said they have spoken to a key witness in the inquiry but want more people in the community to come forward.
Two teenage boys and two teenage girls were released without charge on Monday morning. A further two males, aged 16 and 19, were released on bail pending further inquiries.Two teenage boys and two teenage girls were released without charge on Monday morning. A further two males, aged 16 and 19, were released on bail pending further inquiries.
There is no doubt in my mind [Rhys] wouldn't have died if a [mobile police station] had been there Emma Ahmed, local resident Rhys's brother visits shrine
It follows the arrest of four teenage boys - a 14-year-old, two aged 15 and one aged 18 - earlier in the inquiry. They were also released on bail.It follows the arrest of four teenage boys - a 14-year-old, two aged 15 and one aged 18 - earlier in the inquiry. They were also released on bail.
Police have confirmed they have spoken to a woman seen pushing a pram near the Fir Tree pub just before the shooting. Zero tolerance
On Sunday, Rhys's brother Owen made his first visit to the huge floral shrine created where the youngster was killed. The shooting has also prompted the father of Damilola Taylor to call for a zero tolerance approach to gun crime.
Owen, 17, was flanked by four friends as he left a large bouquet and an Everton football club rug. Richard Taylor's son, Damilola, was murdered in Peckham seven years ago.
Prayers were also said in churches across Liverpool for Rhys on Sunday. He told BBC News 24 that "more had to be done to" keep young people away from violence:
The Reverend Doctor David Leslie, vicar of St Cuthbert's Church near to where Rhys was shot in Croxteth, said it had all been a "terrible shock". "I think a zero level of action: that we demand that the authorities should take, in order to stem down these acts, is really something that we really need to get hold of and stop it's continuation; especially with young people, because young people are the ones that are suffering here."
He said: "I think everybody is absolutely devastated by what has happened. It's been a terrible shock and in some ways it seems almost unreal." Richard Taylor said lessons had to be learnt from such tragedies:
Concerns have been raised by residents living in the area that had police fulfilled a plan to open a mobile police station in the Fir Tree's car park, Rhys would not have died. "There are some areas that need to be dealt with in terms of dealing with gangs - allowing gangs to form among young people.
Emma Ahmed, 33, who sits on the Croxteth Country Park Residents' Association, said: "We have been working for the last year to improve the estate. "Young people have been used by gang leaders to lure them into activities that will end up in this manner.
Rhys's parents said they had "lost our world" after their son's death "I cannot imagine a young boy of 11 - my young son was stabbed - but a young boy of 11 was shot down with a gun, it's really not something I could ever have believed could happen."
"We were promised a mobile pod, a mobile police station, and it should have been here in April and would have been stationed on the car park where Rhys died, but police said they didn't have the resources.
"There is no doubt in my mind he wouldn't have died if that had been there."
But Ch Insp Bill McWilliam, head of neighbourhood policing in the Alt Valley area, explained that the force has listened to residents.
"After extensive police and partner agency consultation across the whole of the Alt Valley Neighbourhood, it was decided to launch a mobile community bus which is staffed not just by police but also by partner agencies working on crime reduction," he said.
"This is to be piloted in September. Merseyside Police does have a mobile police station but its location is subject to immediate and competing demands from a number of communities at any one time."