The impact of the atrocious murder of Elle Edwards has been felt throughout Wallasey and the wider Wirral area.
Schools in the community have been particularly keen to make sure that pupils feel supported and are not left in fear after the indiscriminate shooting. Elle died after a bullet struck her in the head as she stood by the front entrance of the Lighthouse Inn, Wallasey Village, shortly before midnight on Christmas Eve.
A gunman, understood to have been waiting outside the pub in a black Mercedes for around an hour before, fired in the region of 10 to 12 shots towards a crowded area before fleeing in the vehicle. Four other men, aged between 22 and 33, were also wounded although they are all expected to recover.
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Detectives believe Elle was not the intended target of the shooting, and was hit by a bullet intended for someone else.
Today a letter was posted online and circulated to all parents and carers of children at The Mosslands School, by head teacher Adrian Whitely. He wrote: "It saddens me that we have returned to school with our community rocked by the news of the fatal shooting at The Lighthouse Pub in Wallasey Village on Christmas Eve. There will be a further combined Local Authority statement in due course, but I feel that it is important to share the message with you now.
"Many of us were shocked over the Christmas break, by the sight of our community in the national news in such awful circumstances and we are acutely aware of the presence of national media on our streets. This has always been a safe community and we are all aware of the impact that this tragic event is causing. The ongoing police investigation and media interest means that the community remains uneasy.
"If your family has been affected and you feel that you or your child may need additional support please contact us and we will do what we can to help and to point you to additional support available in the community. Remember that school is a safe place and although trauma can make everybody feel uneasy, there is nothing to fear in school. If your son is worried, encourage them to talk and ask questions here, the pastoral and student services teams and I, are available throughout the school day."
The police’s appeal for information is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to Direct Message (DM) @MerPolCC or contact @CrimestoppersUK anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000948723.
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