Police chief promises identity protection for anyone with information

Sep 3 2007 by Vicky Anderson, Liverpool Daily Post

IT IS nearly two weeks since Rhys Jones was gunned down on his way home from football practice.

He was walking across the car park of the Fir Tree pub, on Croxteth Park’s Fir Tree Drive, at 7.30pm on August 22.

A hooded teen on a BMX bike came from the side of the pub from a cycle path and fired three shots, with one hitting Rhys in the neck.

Police are working on the theory he was an innocent victim caught in the crossfire of Croxteth’s gang violence.

There has been speculation that the killer is a gang member who may have been trying to hit a rival who was also in the car park.

So far, 16 people have been arrested. Eleven have been released on bail pending further enquiries and five are now being treated as witnesses.

Following yesterday’s vigil, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Bernard Hogan-Howe renewed the appeal for witnesses.

He said: “All these people have gathered here in memory of a young child whose life was cut cruelly short by a gunman.

“Everyone is here to support Rhys’s family and our thoughts are with them at this time.

“This is a community mourning a death that should never have hap- pened and this commun- ity wants those respons- ible to be held to account. Merseyside Police is determined to catch those responsible for Rhys’s death, and we are grateful for the intelligence which has been supplied regarding those involved.

“We need those people to take the next step now and to come forward as witnesses. Not only do we want to track down the gunman, we also need evidence about those involved in the various stages of the offence.

“There is much we can do to protect their identity and we will work closely with anyone who shows the courage, integrity and strength of character to come forward.”

Merseyside police last night confirmed one witness had reported they heard a fourth shot fired, minutes after the round of three.

But a spokeswoman said this account had not yet been confirmed or corroborated by any other sources.