A "heartbroken" community came together to pay tribute to Wallasey shooting victim Elle Edwards, as floral tributes grew at the scene.
A significant police cordon remained outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village today (December 26) after the fatal shooting on Christmas Eve. Elle Edwards, 26, who worked at a Wirral beauty salon, was taken to Arrowe Park hospital with a serious gunshot injury to the head, but later died.
Officers continued their investigations, as forensic officers focussed on the front entrance to the pub, which is where the gunman is believed to have opened fire.
READ MORE: Pub goers desperately tried to give CPR to Wallasey shooting victim
Elle was not believed to be the victim of a targeted attack. Four men were hospitalised with gunshot wounds, one of whom police said yesterday was in a critical condition.
Inside the cordon, unfinished drinks and beer bottles remained on the tables of the pub's beer garden. Tributes built outside the cordon, as people - many moved to tears - placed flowers to pay their respects to Elle.
Residents told the ECHO of their heartbreak and shock.
Few people made their way through Wallasey Village as the road remained closed and the extensive cordon covered the width of the pub. One woman, who wished to remain anonymous, told the ECHO: "I live down the main road, I didn't hear the shooting but I heard all the sirens afterwards.
"There must have been nine or 10 sirens, so I knew something bad had happened. It's awful, really shocking. We only moved back to the area a few weeks ago and the Lighthouse is a pub I take my mum to. It's the last place I'd expect that to happen.
Opposite the pub, at Gloss Hair & Beauty Clinic, staff member Jess Wilson, 26, said the feeling of sadness was "really fresh" in the village. She said the business took the decision not to open as it "didn't feel right".
Jess added: "The Lighthouse is the pub that everyone around here goes to. You just wouldn’t expect anything like this to happen in the village.”
Several local councillors joined police officers at the scene, as they went door-to-door to speak to local residents about the incident. At the scene, Wirral Council leader Janette Williamson told the ECHO she was "still in shock".
Cllr Williamson said: "I can’t believe a young woman was gunned down on Christmas Eve on Wirral.
"There are no words really - there is a family somewhere on Wirral who have presents under the tree for their daughter and they’re not opened. I can’t even imagine the heartbreak they’re going through. It's just utter disbelief."
Wallasey Councillor Ian Lewis added: " Initially, like everyone else in the community, my reaction was shock. As the days have gone on, that shock has turned into outrage that this could happen in Wallasey Village - that the person responsible thought it would be a good idea, on Christmas Eve, to come to a crowded pub, with families celebrating Christmas, and bring a loaded weapon and carry out this outrageous attack.
“People in Wallasey will come together after this incident, not only to support the family but also the people who have been affected. Whether it’s the staff and the other customers in the pub or those who were injured in the attack, but also anybody in this community who wants to keep this community safe and to keep this community as a pleasant place to live.
"(Anyone) who has evidence, I believe they will come forward with that evidence, whether directly to police or anonymously via Crimestoppers, that doesn’t matter. But somebody in this community or somebody in the wider Merseyside area will know or suspect the person or people who have carried out this attack and they must come forward.
"We’ve got to get those people and their weapons off the street - and not have another incident like this in Wallasey."
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000948723.
READ MORE:
Anfield redevelopment moves forward as club confirm new approach
UK's most wanted list after Liverpool fugitive arrested in Marbella
Experts urge people not to put Amazon Echo in bedrooms
Pub goers desperately tried to give CPR to Wallasey shooting victim
