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Rhys's parents appeal to killer | Rhys's parents appeal to killer |
(40 minutes later) | |
The parents of 11-year-old Rhys Jones who was shot in Liverpool have urged his killer to surrender to police. | The parents of 11-year-old Rhys Jones who was shot in Liverpool have urged his killer to surrender to police. |
Melanie and Stephen Jones said if the teenager who shot their son would not confess then it was up to his or her parents to turn the killer in. | Melanie and Stephen Jones said if the teenager who shot their son would not confess then it was up to his or her parents to turn the killer in. |
Mrs Jones also revealed the family planned to leave Croxteth because they could not face living in the area. | Mrs Jones also revealed the family planned to leave Croxteth because they could not face living in the area. |
Rhys died in his mother's arms after being hit by one of three bullets fired outside the Fir Tree pub on Wednesday. | Rhys died in his mother's arms after being hit by one of three bullets fired outside the Fir Tree pub on Wednesday. |
Police have defended their record in the area, saying they are continuing to crack down on gang activity. | |
Mrs Jones, 41, spoke directly to the killer, saying: "Turn yourself in. How can you live with yourself? | Mrs Jones, 41, spoke directly to the killer, saying: "Turn yourself in. How can you live with yourself? |
"You are not going to be able to live with yourself. It's going to be on your conscience for the rest of your life." | "You are not going to be able to live with yourself. It's going to be on your conscience for the rest of your life." |
She said of the killer's parents: "What kind of people are they? They must know it's their kid. They must know what they're up to - or don't they care? | She said of the killer's parents: "What kind of people are they? They must know it's their kid. They must know what they're up to - or don't they care? |
"I knew where my son was. I knew where my sons were all the time... | "I knew where my son was. I knew where my sons were all the time... |
I just want to ask them to be brave Melanie Jones, Rhys's mother Rhys's brother visits shrine Police reveal gang crackdown | I just want to ask them to be brave Melanie Jones, Rhys's mother Rhys's brother visits shrine Police reveal gang crackdown |
"I blame the parents most of all. There are no boundaries any more. There's no respect. | "I blame the parents most of all. There are no boundaries any more. There's no respect. |
"If their parents had any thought about our pain and what we have lost they'd turn in their son. A sister, or aunt or son must know who it is or suspect who it is. | "If their parents had any thought about our pain and what we have lost they'd turn in their son. A sister, or aunt or son must know who it is or suspect who it is. |
"It's not going to bring Rhys back but we want this person caught because I really believe that he will do it again." | "It's not going to bring Rhys back but we want this person caught because I really believe that he will do it again." |
She also urged people in the Croxteth area to be "brave" and speak out if they had information about the murder of her son, an Everton season ticket holder who had been playing football with friends on the night he was shot. | She also urged people in the Croxteth area to be "brave" and speak out if they had information about the murder of her son, an Everton season ticket holder who had been playing football with friends on the night he was shot. |
Gangs and guns | Gangs and guns |
"People are frightened to come forward and frightened to give evidence. They fear for themselves and for their own families," she said. | "People are frightened to come forward and frightened to give evidence. They fear for themselves and for their own families," she said. |
"It is the gangs, isn't it? It is the guns. I would be frightened. But witnesses need to come forward. | "It is the gangs, isn't it? It is the guns. I would be frightened. But witnesses need to come forward. |
"I just want to ask them to be brave." | "I just want to ask them to be brave." |
Everton players in tribute | Everton players in tribute |
Detectives investigating Rhys's death outside the pub have released six suspects, four without charge and two on police bail. | Detectives investigating Rhys's death outside the pub have released six suspects, four without charge and two on police bail. |
It follows the arrest of four teenage boys earlier in the inquiry, who were also released on bail. | It follows the arrest of four teenage boys earlier in the inquiry, who were also released on bail. |
Merseyside Police said they were continuing covert operations to bring down two feuding gangs operating in the area. | Merseyside Police said they were continuing covert operations to bring down two feuding gangs operating in the area. |
Officers said 11 firearms have been seized in the last two weeks in Croxteth and 50 in the last 12 months across the force. | Officers said 11 firearms have been seized in the last two weeks in Croxteth and 50 in the last 12 months across the force. |
The youngster's murder has shocked the nation - masses of floral tributes have been laid at the spot where he fell, including wreaths from Everton and Blackburn football clubs and Wayne Rooney, who was born in Croxteth. | The youngster's murder has shocked the nation - masses of floral tributes have been laid at the spot where he fell, including wreaths from Everton and Blackburn football clubs and Wayne Rooney, who was born in Croxteth. |
Mrs Jones, who has lived in the area for 17 years, revealed that prior to the attack she had never before felt afraid in the Croxteth Park estate. | Mrs Jones, who has lived in the area for 17 years, revealed that prior to the attack she had never before felt afraid in the Croxteth Park estate. |
However, she and her family are now planning to move from their three-bedroom house. | However, she and her family are now planning to move from their three-bedroom house. |
We have to be strong... we can't fall apart... we have got to take each hour as it comes and do the best we can Melanie Jones | We have to be strong... we can't fall apart... we have got to take each hour as it comes and do the best we can Melanie Jones |
She said: "We never knew anything about guns. We've lived there 17 years and we've never had any trouble, never been frightened about going out. | She said: "We never knew anything about guns. We've lived there 17 years and we've never had any trouble, never been frightened about going out. |
"I don't feel safe now up there. I am going to leave. I can't live on there any more. I can't go up to those shops any more. | "I don't feel safe now up there. I am going to leave. I can't live on there any more. I can't go up to those shops any more. |
"I've got to move somewhere else." | "I've got to move somewhere else." |
Her husband and Rhys's father, Stephen, said: "It's a question of us not being able to go up to the shops every day past the spot where our son has died." | Her husband and Rhys's father, Stephen, said: "It's a question of us not being able to go up to the shops every day past the spot where our son has died." |
Mrs Jones added: "I just don't know how we are coping really. | Mrs Jones added: "I just don't know how we are coping really. |
"But we have to be strong. We can't fall apart. We have got to take each hour as it comes and do the best we can." | "But we have to be strong. We can't fall apart. We have got to take each hour as it comes and do the best we can." |