The murder of "beautiful and happy" Elle Edwards stunned a tight knit community where children have been left asking questions about guns.
The 26-year-old beautician was struck in the head by a bullet when a gunman opened fire at the entrance to the Lighthouse Pub, Wallasey Village, shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve. Detectives say they believe Elle was not the intended target and was simply caught in the crossfire as the killer tried to shoot someone else.
Four other men were injured in the attack, aged between 22 and 33, including a 28-year-old man from the Beechwood estate who was initially described as being a critical condition. His condition has now improved, according to police.
READ MORE: Chilling warning days before Elle Edwards gunned down in Christmas atrocity
Yesterday a 30-year-old man from Tranmere was arrested on suspicion of murder and a 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry on suspicion of conspiracy to murder, and both remain in custody.
Local businesswoman Carlie Eaton, owner of the Shine hair salon close to the Lighthouse Pub, told the ECHO she used to live opposite Elle and her family in New Brighton and counted the victim and her mum as clients.
She said: "It is unbelievable. A lot of my clients' adult children were at the pub, they were just horrified. One of my clients, she is 63 and she was saying she was scared to be here, she said 'where are we safe?'.
"One of my client's kids, a nine-year-old, was asking 'where would you even get a gun?', it's got children asking about guns.
"I used to live opposite Elle and I cut her hair and her mum's hair. They were lovely.
"I remember one time Elle had bleached her hair and it all fell out, so she came to me to cut it. She was a lovely kid, always chatty, always nice. Her family were lovely; I went to school with her uncles. From what I hear she became a beautiful adult as well. It's broken my heart.
Asked what her opinion of Elle's killers was, she said: "I just don't know why anyone would do that. I would say to them imagine if that was your family. I always think in life everyone is someone's daughter, someone's mum or sister or auntie. Imagine it being done to yours.
"But I don't think these people care about that."
Over the road, Michelle Reid, owner of The Village Laundry Room, echoed Carlie's shock. She said: "That poor family. I can't get it out of my mind."
John Fletcher, 67, who lives close to the pub, said: "It's just so shocking and tragic. You don't think anything like this would happen round here. You just can't imagine what her family are going through."
His daughter, 34-year-old Steph Fletcher, described hearing a series of loud bangs followed by police sirens shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve.
She said: "I thought it was fireworks at first, but it did sound quite different."
On Boxing Day Elle's dad, Tim Edwards, bravely visited the scene to lay a bouquet of flowers and a card containing a moving message. It said: "To my beautiful Elle, you are the light of my life. You will never be gone, Mum and Dad xxxx."
Earlier this afternoon Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy released a statement condemning anyone involved in the killing, including those who supplied the gun, as "cowards".
She said: "The use of firearms, violence and intimidation has no place in our communities, and sadly we often see firearms being used to resolve petty and pathetic issues.
"These people are cowards, who think the only way to resolve an argument is through violence, they don’t have the strength or resolve to work things out and stop things from reaching such an ugly and devastating conclusion.
"Anyone involved in arranging this shooting, pulling the trigger and supplying the gun deserves to see every Christmas from behind bars."
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