People living in Wallasey Village woke up on Christmas Day to an unimaginable tragedy on their doorstep.
The murder of Elle Edwards on December 24 has shaken the community to its core and will have a lasting impact on everyone who visited the Lighthouse pub that night to celebrate the festivities with friends and family.
Elle was fatally shot in the head when a gunman opened fire at the pub entrance shortly before midnight. Detectives believe Elle was not the intended target and was simply caught in the crossfire as the killer tried to shoot someone else.
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Five days on from what police have described as a "callous and cold blooded shooting", a sea of tributes continues to mount outside the Lighthouse - a pub that residents said is a "big part" of the community.
John, 59, who lives in the area, told the ECHO: "I know it's a cliché but that sort of thing doesn't happen around here. It's called the village and although it's not a village, as you see in little villages it has a community."
John said "everyone felt a bit sick" when they heard the news of the shooting. He said: "You sit around the dining table [on Christmas Day] thinking there's one family not going through this."
John often visits the Lighthouse for "Friday date nights" with his wife Diane, 60, and while he thinks it's going to take a while until people feel ready to revisit the pub, he said: "It's such a big part of the community.
"That's where you go to if you want a family meal. The younger generation go there, sometimes you get parties going on - 18th or 21st birthdays."
Diane added: "That's our Friday date night - it's a night out for us. There's obviously been a big police presence up and down here.Since it happened it's almost like an eerie feeling. It's absolutely devastating."
John Pratt, 69, opened his men's clothing store Munros for the first time today since the fatal shooting. John said it felt "very sad" coming into work, but "you just carry on, do the best you can and look after people coming in."
"It brought home to us that this can happen anywhere, even in the safest place this can happen. This is my fourth menswear shop and it's felt the safest one of all of them."
As the Lighthouse became the centre of a murder investigation on Christmas Day, residents told the ECHO kind strangers offered to plate up Christmas dinners for those who had planned to eat at the pub.
In a statement today, December 29, staff at the Lighthouse said that out of respect for Elle, her family, and the other victims, they will remain closed over the new year period.
A spokesperson for the Lighthouse Inn said: "As our community is in mourning following the tragic event on Christmas Eve, we have made the decision to remain closed for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, out of respect for Elle, her family and the other victims affected and in support of our team.
"We are contacting everyone who had a booking with us over these two days and are truly sorry for any disappointment this may cause, but hope you understand our decision. Take care everyone and please look after each other."
Customers have expressed their support for the pub for being "very respectful in a very difficult time."
Yvonne Newcombe commented on Facebook: "You also need to look out for yourselves! You have acted very respectful in a very difficult time. I can honestly say I'm proud of our local pub and their team in how you have to deal with something out of every decent persons control."
While a third Zoe Carmichael said: "Utterly shocking and devastating news. Hope you are all ok and supported, it’s a horrendous thing to have happened to your lovely community pub. My thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy."
Merseyside Police confirmed on Thursday that a 31-year-old man from Tranmere has now been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. Detectives have also been given additional time to question a 30-year-old man from Tranmere, arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, and a 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and they both remain in custody.
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000948723.
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