A cold blooded killer may not have known he had shot the wrong man until after the victim's identity came to light.
Victim Craig Eaton was gunned down on February 24, 2004, on the way to a friend's house.
Police believe the murder was a case of mistaken identity.
Earlier in the evening Craig had been at the pub with a friend and was walking along Molyneux Road, Kensington, near to the junction with Mallow Road, when he was fatally shot.
The 22-year-old, who was a children’s carer at Alder Hey Hospital, had been out mourning the loss of one of his patients on the night he was killed.
Two days before his tragic death, two-year-old Michael Tierney, who had been in Craig’s care, had died.
The youngster was left blind, with cerebral palsy and epilepsy after being starved of oxygen during his birth and a catalogue of errors by medical staff left him needing round the clock care.
Craig was only too happy to care for Michael and he was often seen curled up in the youngster's hospital bed, making him laugh and playing games with him.
Therefore, when the toddler died, Craig was heartbroken and had been at the pub with his friend on the night of his murder, to commiserate the little boy's death.
However, on his walk home, just after 11.15pm, Craig was mercilessly shot twice and left in a pool of blood by his killer.
Despite the best efforts of passersby he was pronounced dead on his arrival at Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Bus passengers could hold key information
On the night of the murder it is believed that Craig, who was wearing a black cardigan over a light blue shirt, black trousers, and black shoes, got on the number 26 Arriva bus on Belmont Road.
He travelled to Sheil Road, Kensington and was sat near to the front of the bus. It is believed that Craig got off at the bus stop on Sheil Road, just before the junction with Molyneux Road, between 11.05pm and 11.15pm.
Detectives believe there were other passengers who stayed on the bus when Craig got off. A number of the passengers have been identified, but detectives would like to speak to the other passengers who were on the bus as they may have information which could be vital.
A Ford Mondeo seen near the murder scene
Detectives are also trying to trace the movements of two cars which were in the Molyneux Road area on the night of Craig's murder
The first car, a dark green Ford Mondeo, registration number Y723 RJA, with a brake light in the middle of the rear window, is believed to have been parked on Molyneux Road at the junction with Gilroy Street around the time of the murder.
After the murder it is alleged the Mondeo was seen driving along Molyneux Road past the scene of the shooting, and turned left in to Mallow Road.
The car was then seen turning left onto Malvern Road and left again onto Malden Road before back in to Molyneux Road.
The Ford Mondeo was recovered by police on Wednesday, 3 March 2004, at the junction of Apollo Way and Barker Way, Anfield.
It had been stolen from outside Lancashire Motor Radiator Company Limited, Great Homer Street, Kirkdale, between 2pm and 2.30pm on Monday, 23 February 2004.
Detectives are appealing to anyone who may have any information about the Mondeo, particularly its whereabouts from the time it was stolen on Monday, 23 February, 2004, and when it was found on Wednesday, 3 March, 2004.
Movements of a Silver/ light blue Volvo 740 GL saloon
Detectives are also appealing for more information about a silver / light blue Volvo 740 GL saloon car (registration G690 NFR) believed to have been in the Molyneux Road area around the time of the murder.
This car also had a brake light in the middle of the rear window and had a blowing exhaust, which made a distinctive noise. It is believed the car had been sold on the day of the murder.
Again, detectives are trying to establish the movements of this car on Tuesday, 24 February 2004, until it was seized by police on Friday, 27 February 2004.
They would also like to speak to the previous owner of the car as he/she may have valuable information.
Case of mistaken identity
The murder of Craig baffled Merseyside Police as there was no clear motive.
Inquiries ruled out the kind carer having had any enemies and he was not involved in any criminal enterprises.
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One line of enquiry was that Craig had been murdered in a case of mistaken identity and had not in fact been the killer's intended target.
Detectives believed Craig's mystery killer had followed him from the pub and struck when they were both alone in the street.
Only when the gunman saw his victim slump to the floor and he got close, if he ever did, would he have realised it was the wrong man.
Officers at the time, and still, believe he was followed by his killer and was almost certainly the innocent victim of a gangland hit gone wrong.
In the relatively early stages, detectives spoke to two people who came forward believing they were the intended target, including one man who matches Craig’s description, and one man who was later ruled out of inquiries.
In July, 2004, Liverpool coroner Andre Rebello ruled the victim had been unlawfully killed and appealed for help to catch those responsible.
In 2009 Craig's brother Lee described him as "funny, kind and the perfect brother and son".
He told the ECHO: “He just loved being with his mates and working at Alder Hey. He never troubled anybody.
“I think it’s hard for the family to know that somewhere in Liverpool, somebody knows who killed our Craig.
“Somebody is hiding that person and it just doesn’t make any sense to us.
Sadly Craig's heartbroken mum Denise died, within a year of her son's murder, never seeing justice for her child.
Kevin Clague, Head of Merseyside Police's Serious Crime Review Unit, said: "Craig’s death remains an absolute tragedy and it is now 17 years that his family and friends have had to live without him and without justice.
"Craig was an incredibly caring individual who loved his job looking after ill children at Alder Hey Hospital, and on the day he died he was coming to terms with the loss of one of the children who he had been caring for.
"He was so affected by the loss of the child that he went out with a friend and was walking to another friend's home when he was shot.
" As a result of our investigations we believe the person who murdered Craig is involved in serious and organised crime, and 17 years on, we know there are still people out there with information on this despicable murder.
"Allegiances change over time and I hope that anyone with information seriously reconsiders withholding this, and finds it within themselves to come forward.
"Craig’s family deserve to see justice done and the cowardly individuals involved put before the courts.
“Time should never be a barrier to obtaining justice and I would like to encourage anyone with information that could assist our enquiries, to imagine themselves in the heart-breaking position that Craig’s family have been in for all this time, and contact us.”
Anyone who may have information which could assist our enquiries is asked to contact @MerPolCC, 101 or @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111.
