The Wallasey community must “come together” as it faces up to an “out of character” and “abhorrent incident” which saw Elle Edwards fatally shot on Christmas Eve.
Tributes have continued to grow in number outside The Lighthouse in Wallasey Village where the 26-year-old beautician suffered a serious gunshot injury to the head three nights ago. Elle, who was not believed to be the victim of a targeted attack, was taken to Arrowe Park hospital but later died. Four men were also hospitalised with gunshot wounds.
A police presence remained outside the pub today, Tuesday December 27, as officers continued their investigations. Yesterday, Merseyside Police confirmed a 30-year-old man from Tranmere had been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. A 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry has also been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
READ MORE: Elle Edwards was 'singing and dancing' moments before being shot dead
Friends and family have laid flowers outside of the pub which has been described as a “family establishment”, with community leaders also attending the scene and local area yesterday in a bid to reassure residents. Additional uniformed police are patrolling Wallasey Village while a mobile police station has been set up for residents to talk to officers with any information or issues they want to discuss.
A number of local councillors went door-to-door yesterday to speak to residents and businesses about the incident. They included Wirral Borough Council leader, Cllr Jeanette Williamson, who has called on people with any information to “do the right thing and speak up”.
The Wirral council leader said she was "still in shock" when speaking to the ECHO in the Village yesterday afternoon, adding in a statement: “We have come together to reassure residents in Wallasey Village following this horrendous and abhorrent incident. This is a one-off occurrence which is out of character for the area, and police and council are here to provide reassurance and support to residents in the village.”
Also supporting residents in the area was local Cllr Lesley Rennie, who said locals were “mortified” and that the “quiet village” had been left devastated by what happened on Christmas Eve. Dame Angela Eagle, MP for Wallasey, said that it was “important that police and community partners come together in the aftermath of this extremely shocking and awful tragedy", adding: “I urge anyone with information that will help the investigation, no matter how small to please come contact police so the perpetrator of this appalling crime is brought to justice.”
Speaking to the ECHO yesterday afternoon, Wallasey Cllr Paul Lewis echoed his colleague’s thoughts. He said: “People in Wallasey will come together after this incident, not only to support the family but also the people who have been affected. Whether it’s the staff and the other customers in the pub or those who were injured in the attack, but also anybody in this community who wants to keep this community safe and to keep this community as a pleasant place to live.”
Cllr Paul Stewart, who represents the ward of Seacombe, noted how The Lighthouse Inn is “a family establishment” and sought to reassure local residents that Saturday’s shooting was “out of character” for the “such a quiet place.” He added: “I ask anybody with any information, however trivial, along with any CCTV, Ring doorbell footage, to hand it over to police and let them decide if it is relevant to the investigation or not.”
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000948723.
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
READ NEXT:
Heartbreak as 'presents for daughter sit unopened' after Christmas Eve shooting
'Not for the faint hearted' passageway in Liverpool city centre many people 'don't know exists'
74 tributes, death and funeral notices from across Merseyside
Man and woman arrested in connection with murder of Elle Edwards
Grandad's death now a murder enquiry after 'mistaken' arson attack on home
