Distraught friends of Elle Edwards have told of the horrific moment she was gunned down at a packed pub.
The 26-year-old beautician was celebrating Christmas Eve with her sister and friends when she was shot dead when a gun was fired into the doorway of a pub in Wallasey Village, Merseyside.
Her devastated father Tim laid a floral tribute from him and her mum at the pub where she died. It read: “To my beautiful Elle, you are the light of my life, you will never be gone.”
Jess, a friend who was with Elle when she was shot, said they were grabbing a drink at the bar of The Lighthouse Inn when they heard loud bangs that sounded like fireworks.
She told Sky News: “We went to go get a drink and we were at the bar and we just heard bangs, like fireworks. We had been dancing and singing and now she’s on the floor.
“We were so happy. 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.”
One parent said her daughter performed CPR on Elle as she lay dying. Another reveller hailed the efforts of the "brave, selfless young lady".
Two people were arrested in connection with the shooting on Monday evening.
A 30-year-old man from Tranmere was held on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, and a 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
Four men, aged 22, 24, 28 and 33, suffered gunshot wounds in the shooting. The 28-year-old was fighting for his life on Monday night.
Elle’s friend Tyreece Hon paid tribute to the victim, who he described as a "big sister". He wrote: "My heart goes out to your family who took me in as a son. Shine bright you crazy diamond."
Another tribute read: "Far too beautiful for this cruel, cruel world."
Friend Taylor Southern wrote: "She was one of the most beautiful girls in Wallasey inside and out."
Pal Britt Hughes added: "Christmas will never be the same. Our gorgeous girl whose face made me so happy inside when she walked in the room."
Locals told of the shock within the community after a night filled with Christmas joy turned to tragedy. One said: "There is just nothing like that round here, I know it is not really a village, but it has that feel about it."
Ashville Football Club, based in the village, wrote: "This incident has sent shockwaves throughout our local community and we are saddened and appalled by it.
"Guns have no place on our streets."
CCTV, which covers the pub car park, has been handed to police.
The killing came just four months after Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, was shot dead at her home in Dovecot on August 22. It also follows a string of gun incidents in nearby Liverpool.
