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Police arrest 17th suspect in shooting of boy in Liverpool

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the murder of Rhys Jones, 11, who was shot dead in Croxteth, Liverpool, on his way home from playing soccer.

The arrest is the 17th by Merseyside police in connection with the inquiry. Rhys's funeral will take place today at Liverpool's Anglican Cathedral. The hearse will pause outside Everton's Goodison Park soccer ground on its way to the cathedral.

Dave Kelly, the senior investigating officer, said: "We have a very clear strategy for this investigation and we are determined to leave no stone unturned. We are confident about the swift progress we are making, and want to thank the public for their ongoing support."

Police say that the killer escaped on a BMX bike shortly after the shooting in the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Croxteth, on Aug. 22. He is described as 13 to 15 years old, about 1.7m tall and wearing dark clothes and white sneakers.

Detectives are continuing to appeal for the driver of a red car to come forward and help them with their inquiries. The motorists would have been on Fir Tree Drive North at around 7:40pm on the night of the shooting and may have seen a cyclist riding towards Dam Wood.

Eleven people have been bailed and a further five have been released without charge because they are being treated as witnesses.

"People are aware that we have described one individual firing a gun but, as with any offense, there are various stages and elements to it, including where the gun came from and what happened afterwards. When we have grounds to suspect people involved in any stage, they will be arrested," Kelly said.

Sources say a 19-year-old man was spotted sprinting across the pub car park after the first shot was fired before taking cover behind a bus shelter.

One theory is that the shooting was ordered by an 18-year-old member of the Croxteth Crew, a local gang, possibly linked to a dispute over a girl.
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