Teenager faces questions over Rhys Jones ‘hidden gun’ claims

Oct 10 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

DETECTIVES investigating the Rhys Jones murder are trying to establish whether a teenager arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm was forced to conceal the weapon.

Yesterday it emerged a 16-year-old boy was picked up on Saturday by officers investigating the murder of Rhys, shot dead by a youth on a BMX while on his way home from playing football.

Merseyside Police confirmed two firearms had also been recovered, during a separate police raid in the Norris Green area, not far from where 11-year-old Rhys was killed.

But the force refused to confirm whether either of the firearms had been confirmed as the one that killed the young Everton fan.

The weapons were undergoing forensic examination, the results of which the force said would not be released imminently.

Officers confirmed one line of inquiry was whether the arrested teenager had been forced to conceal the weapon.

The teenager was questioned but later released on police bail. Officers said he had not been detained before as part of the inquiry, and stressed he was not questioned on suspicion of murder. It is now understood the teenager is being represented by a solicitor.

A spokeswoman for Merseyside Police said: “Following the execution of a search warrant last week Merseyside Police have arrested a 16-year-old boy on suspicion of possession of a firearm.

“The youth, from L11 (Norris Green area) was questioned by detectives at a police station on Merseyside and has been released on police bail pending further inquiries.”

Rhys died after he was shot as he walked across a pub car park near his home in Croxteth Park on August 22.

Police believe he was the innocent victim of a gangland feud and the killer had another target.

Officers have made a number of arrests in the hunt for the killer, but no-one has yet been charged with the murder.