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Manchester Evening News

National

Kieren Williams & Thomas George

Two arrested over murder of beautician shot dead in pub on Christmas Eve

Elle Edwards Murder Tim Edwards Police

A man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 26-year-old beautician was shot dead in a pub on Christmas Eve.

Elle Edwards was killed after being shot in the head when a gunman opened fire on the Lighthouse Inn, in Wallasey Village on Merseyside.

Ms Edwards was enjoying a night out with her sister and friends at the time. Four other men were injured in the horrific shooting with one man, aged 28, still in critical condition in hospital, the Mirror reports.

A 30-year-old man from Tranmere has now been arrested on suspicion of murder, Merseyside Police said this evening.

A 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry has also been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

A manhunt was launched to try and find those responsible for the killing as police appealed for information. They said Ms Edwards is not believed to have been the gunman's target.

This evening, detectives said two suspects had been taken into custody where they will be questioned by detectives.

Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs from Major Crime Investigations said: “We have made two arrests in connection with this cold-blooded shooting.

Elle, 26, had been out with her sister and friends when she was killed (PA)

“Elle’s family are still having to come to terms with her tragic loss, and our specially trained family liaison officers are supporting them.

“We will not rest until we bring those responsible to justice and I would appeal to anyone who has information to contact us.

“I would urge people who were in the Lighthouse Inn at the time of the incident, or anyone who has mobile or CCTV footage of what happened to contact us as a matter of urgency as they may have information which is vital to our investigation. We are also appealing to motorists and residents in the area, who may have captured anything on Dashcam or CCTV to contact us and every bit of evidence is crucial to the investigation.”

Ms Edwards' parents left a heartbreaking tribute to the beautician, calling her the “light of my life”.

She was described as someone who brought “laughs and happiness” into people’s lives and had been out with her sister and friends Meg and Jess at the time of the shooting.

Jess told Sky News: "We went to go get a drink and we were at the bar and we just heard bangs.

"The second I heard Elle, I was like, 'It's not, it's not, it's not.' I could see her on the floor, people around her trying to help her.

"You just feel hopeless, you can't help, you can't do anything."

Meg said the moment of Elle's death was a "blur" and came as she was happy and the friends were having "so much fun".

The pals had been dancing and singing before shots rang out and Elle suddenly fell to the floor.

Police at the cordoned off Lighthouse Inn, Wallasey Village (Liverpool Echo)

She said: "It happened so fast, I can't get it out of my head. I wish we could have done more, but there was nothing else we could have done."

Meg said she cannot stop watching videos of the group singing and dancing inside the pub since her friend's death.

It was reported Elle's sister, who lives in Dubai, had left the pub earlier and her friends said the thought that Elle should have gone home with her sister was playing on their minds.

Jess added that she felt guilt that she was with her family on Christmas day, but Elle was not, adding that it could have been anyone killed that fateful night - but it should not have been her friend, who she described as a "gorgeous soul".

Elle's disconsolate dad, Tim Edwards, led family and friends in adding to the sea of flowers at the scene of the shooting on Boxing Day.

A tribute left by her parents reads: "To my beautiful Elle, you are the light of my life, you will never be gone."

Another tribute, a heart-shaped plaque with a pink and green floral design, read: “Special Daughter, the happiness you brought in your own special way, will be remembered with love each and every day.”