A woman shot dead outside a pub on Christmas Eve has been named as 26-year-old Elle Edwards, with tributes pouring in for a 'beautiful angel'.
Elle, understood to have worked as a beautician, was gunned down on a night out with friends, with a murder investigation continuing on Boxing Day. Friends and colleagues have now paid tribute to her, saying she had a 'pure heart'.
Pub-goers tried desperately to give her CPR after she was shot in the head outside the packed Lighthouse Inn pub in Wallasey Village on Merseyside. Police said she was killed during a night out celebrating Christmas and is not thought to have been the target of the attack.
Elle worked at a Wirral beauty salon, reports the Liverpool Echo. Friend Britt Hughes posted a tribute on Facebook, saying: "Christmas will never be the same again. Our gorgeous girl whose face made me so happy inside when she walked in the room, a girl who I couldn’t have been any more similar to.
"Shared so many amazing memories this summer with you and spoke to you non-stop, who am I gonna be in fits of laughter with on voice notes terrorising the world. You'll be so missed my beautiful bestie."
At a police press conference, an urgent appeal was made for information about the horrific events, with a dark-coloured Mercedes A-Class seen driving away from the scene shortly after the shooting.
Friend Tyreece Hon, reports The Mirror, paid tribute to her as a 'big sister' and expressed his heartbreak at the news.
Writing on Facebook, Tyreece said: "My heart goes out to your family who took me in as a son love you loads. Shine bright you crazy diamond."
Heartbroken friends said they were lost for word as tributes poured in saying 'heaven has gained an angel'. Others said 'may she rest in peace' and that they 'couldn't believe' she was gone.
Tributes reading 'RIP angel' and 'so sad, beautiful girl' were posted across social media, with another reading: "Far too beautiful for this cruel cruel world, head to them stars Elle."
A moving tribute was paid to Elle by the Nova Beauty studio in Moreton, Wirral, where she worked.
Posting on its Instagram page, the business said: "Absolutely lost for words. Heaven gained the most beautiful angel, we are all heartbroken, thinking of all of your family right now Elle, thank you for all of the laughs and happiness you brought into our lives, rest in paradise angel, love from your team at Nova."
Beautician Abi Coogan said her heart was broken, adding: "This doesn’t feel real, you have affected us all Elle, the biggest personality and the purest hear. Thank you for all of the laughs you brought me when I needed it the most, my heart hurts thinking of all of your family, love you forever, rest in paradise beautiful girl."
It was revealed a 28-year-old man from Beechwood was fighting for his life in hospital after he was left in a critical condition in the same shooting incident, three other men also suffered injuries but none were thought to be life-threatening.
Speaking about the shocking incident, Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs: “No family should have to be faced with this ordeal at any time but at Christmas, which should be a time of peace and celebration, it makes it so much harder to bear.
"Our specially trained family liaison officers are supporting the family at this tragic time and we are determined to find those responsible. The investigation is still in the early stages and we are trying to establish a motive and the circumstances surrounding this callous and cold-blooded shooting.
"We believe the gunman fired shots at the front entrance to the pub. Minutes later a dark-coloured car, possibly an A-Class Mercedes, was seen to leave the pub car park. We are particularly keen to speak to the driver of that car and ask anyone who may have seen it to contact us immediately.
"We will not rest until we find the people responsible for this shooting and I would appeal to anyone who has information or believes they captured something significant on their dashcam, doorbell camera or mobile phone to contact us."
There's been no police update as yet on Boxing Day.
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