HEARTBREAKING PLEA
Sister of Merseyside pub shooting victim Elle Edwards, 26, pays tribute to her ‘rock’ with 2 arrested over murder
THE devastated sister of pub shooting victim Elle Edwards has paid tribute to her "rock" with two people arrested over the murder.
Elle, 26, was with Christmas Eve revellers in a pub’s heated outdoor area festooned with fairy lights when the killer blasted her in the head.
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And pals have begged "stop the shooting" after the tragedy - with Elle the third innocent victim in just a few months gunned down in Liverpool's indiscriminate gun killings.
Police made two arrests last night. A man of 30, from Tranmere, Wirral, was held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder — while a woman of 19, from Rock Ferry, was held on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
Four men had also been shot by the gunman, who fired up to eight bullets outside the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey, Merseyside.
One victim was said to be in a critical condition in hospital.
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Elle’s sister Lucy, who lives in Dubai but had flown home for Christmas, had been with her celebrating festivities at the pub but left earlier in the evening.
In a moving post on Instagram she said: “My beautiful sister, my bestest friend, my second mummy and my rock.
“I love and miss you so, so much already. My Elle May.”
Elle was said not to be the intended target — making her the latest victim of a string of indiscriminate gun killings in the area.
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In August, nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead by a masked man who burst into her house in Dovecot.
The day before, council worker Ashley Dale, 28, was fatally hit while in her garden in Liverpool.
Friends also paid tribute online to beautician Elle, as the Wirral salon where she worked wrote: “Heaven gained the most beautiful angel. We are all heartbroken.”
Britt Hughes, a colleague at the Nova Beauty salon, said they had “so many amazing memories”.
And she added: “When will people stop the shooting?”
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Elle’s heartbroken dad Tim and mum Gaynor were among those leaving flowers at the scene.
Their card called her “the light of their lives” and added: “You will never be gone.”
Two of Elle’s pals just gone indoor to buy drinks when the shots rang out at 11.50pm on Christmas Eve.
Meg and Jess, who did not give their surnames, thought they were fireworks until they spotted Ella on the ground.
Jess said: “People were around her trying to help her — but you can’t do anything.
“I just felt grateful that I am still here but felt guilty because I was with my family on Christmas and she wasn’t.”
Referring to Elle’s sister Lucy leaving early, she added: “It plays on your mind — whether she should have gone home too.”
Meg said: “We had been dancing and singing. I’ve got videos of us all I can't stop watching. We were so happy.”
Footage shared online shows a woman hearing the shots and asking: “Is that a gun?”
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Revellers tried to save Elle with CPR until paramedics arrived, but she died a short time later at Arrowe Park Hospital.
A local posted: “My daughter and her friend were in the pub. It was packed and both are traumatised. So horrendous.”
Another said: “My daughter was stood right by the girl who was killed. So scary.”
One mum added: “This is just so tragic. My daughter was there giving CPR with another girl until help arrived. My heart goes out to the families.”
Elle’s devastated cousin Rose Chloe wrote on Facebook: “Nothing will ever take this pain away.
“You are the most beautiful, intelligent, funny, gorgeous girl. My heart is broken.
“I love you forever and always my gorgeous cousin and best friend.”
On Christmas Day half-empty glasses and bottles littered tables outside the Greene King boozer.
It remained closed yesterday, with forensics at the scene and cordons still in place.
Two women who went to pay their respects were seen breaking down in tears as they hugged each other.
Locals said the area is quiet and there is usually “no trouble” at the pub.
A Lighthouse Inn spokesman described the shooting as a “tragedy beyond words”.
The most badly injured man is 28.
A 22-year-old was hit in the leg, a 24-year-old suffered hand injuries and a 33-year-old received wounds to a wrist.
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Police hunting the gunman believe he drove off in a dark Mercedes.
Detective Supt Sue Coombs said of Elle: “Tragically the victim suffered a serious gunshot injury to her head.
“We do not believe the victim in this case has been targeted.
“She was out enjoying Christmas with her sister and friends at what should be a peaceful time.
“What her family are now going through is incomprehensible.
“We are trying to establish the motive and the circumstances.”
Assistant Chief Con Jenny Sims called the shooting “callous and cold-blooded”.
She added Elle “should have had the rest of her life to look forward to.
“Her family should have been celebrating the joy of Christmas.
“Instead they are trying to come to terms with what has happened.
“The fact that this happened on Christmas Eve makes the tragedy even more unpalatable.
“It shows those responsible have no regard for the public.
“The actions of the gunman were totally and utterly reckless.”
A “proactive policing operation” was said to be underway across the area.
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Cops said in a statement: “Officers are in Birkenhead, Woodchurch and Wallasey in high visibility police presence in a direct response to the fatal shooting at The Lighthouse pub.”
They said six people had been arrested on suspicion of offences including drink driving, drug driving and being in possession of controlled drugs.
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DEATH IS 3RD
ELLE Edwards became the third unintended gun-death victim in the area in recent months.
In August, Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, was shot dead by a gunman who burst into her home in Dovecot, Liverpool, while chasing a convicted burglar.
Mum Cheryl, 46, was also shot in the arm as she opened the door.
Thomas Cashman, 34, of West Derby, denies murder.
She died a day after council worker Ashley Dale, 28, was shot dead in her garden in the Old Swan area of Liverpool.
Ashley is also not thought to have been the intended target.
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