A woman who died after a Christmas Eve shooting at a pub on Merseyside is not thought to have been targeted, Merseyside Police said.
The 26-year-old was out celebrating Christmas with friends and family when she was killed, police said on Sunday.
The unnamed victim suffered a serious gunshot injury to her head and was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital but died shortly after.
Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs said: “Her family have been informed and on today, which should be a day with friends celebrating, they are coming to terms with this tragic loss.
“It’s very early stages of the investigation but we do not believe that the victim in this case has been targeted.
“She was out enjoying Christmas with her sister and friends at what should have been a peaceful time.
“What her family are now going through is incomprehensible.”
Merseyside Police said officers were called to the Lighthouse in Wallasey Village at around 11.50pm on Saturday following reports of gunshots.
Three men were taken to hospital with gunshot wounds and a number of other people were also injured, police said.
A neighbour who heard shots said she assumed they were celebratory Christmas fireworks.
Jenny Hough, 77, told the PA news agency: "I heard the shots... I thought it was a firework actually, because it was nearly midnight.
"I just thought it was people celebrating midnight on Christmas Day."
On waking to the news of a fatality and multiple injuries, Ms Hough said: "I couldn't believe it. When I looked outside I thought 'Oh crikey'. It's a complete shock.
"My sister's garden had been broken into. We suspect it was people trying to get out of the pub and trying to climb over the wall and into her garden to get out."
Ms Hough said she had heard the pub had been "so crowded" that evening.
A spokesman for the Lighthouse pub said the shooting was "a tragedy beyond any words".
In a statement, they said: "All our thoughts are with the friends and family of our customers and in particular our hearts go out to the family of our customer who has lost her life."
Wallasey MP Dame Angela Eagle said the incident was "heartbreaking" and appealed for anyone with information to contact police.
She tweeted: "This is heartbreaking news - My thoughts are with the family of the woman who has died and those who are injured. Anyone with any information please tell the police."
The pub is "central" to the local community, the minister at a nearby church said.
Shock
Jeffrey Hughes, minister of the United Reformed Church in Wallasey Village, said news of the fatal shooting will have come as a shock to people in the area.
He told PA: "Wallasey Village is a fairly lively area, it's a nice part of Wallasey, its a nice part of the north end of the Wirral.
"We've got a lot of young people, families in that area. The Lighthouse is central in that community.
"It's a shock. When we first heard the news this morning that there'd been a shooting in Wallasey, Wallasey Village is the last place you would think of."
