Elle Edwards: Public urged to speak up or be ‘complicit’ in fatal shooting

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People have been told they will be complicit in the “horrendous and abhorrent” killing of Elle Edwards if they fail to share what they know about the deadly shooting on Christmas Eve.

Edwards, 26, was celebrating with friends at a pub in Wallasey village, Merseyside, when a gunman opened fire just before midnight on Saturday.

Police said Edwards was an innocent bystander in the attack, which also left a 28-year-old man fighting for his life and three others hurt.

Detectives are questioning a 30-year-old man from Tranmere who was arrested on Monday on suspicion of murder, and a 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry who is being held on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

As the investigation continued on Tuesday, Merseyside police and local councillors said people should not “stay quiet” or “sit in silence” if they have useful knowledge about the shooting.

Jeanette Williams, the leader of Wirral borough council, described the shooting as “horrendous and abhorrent”. She said it was a “one-off occurrence which is out of character for the area” and added: “Our hearts go out to the family of Elle at this tragic time as they deal with the loss of their loved one. If you have any information, then do the right thing and speak up, otherwise you are complicit to the murder of the young woman. And no one can sit in silence.”

Supt Matthew Moscrop, of Merseyside police, said: “We urge anyone with information, no matter how small, to contact us, supporting the investigation and helping to find justice for Elle, her family and others injured or otherwise affected.

“This is not the time for anyone who knows who is responsible for this shooting to stay quiet. Do the right thing and contact us with information.”

Lesley Rennie, a local councillor, said residents were “mortified by what had happened” and that the shooting appeared to be “a completely random act of violence where people were out enjoying Christmas Eve with family and friends”.

Police said officers had stepped up their presence in Birkenhead, Woodchurch, and Wallasey, in the past two days in “direct response to the fatal shooting”.

Detectives previously said they had received an “overwhelming response”, particularly from witnesses to the events. But they would be relying heavily on information provided by the public.

Police were called to the scene at the Lighthouse Inn, at 11.50pm on 24 December, shortly after a gunman fired shots into the front entrance of the pub and fled in a dark vehicle, believed to be an A-class Mercedes.

Tributes have flooded in for Edwards, who was described as “the most beautiful angel” by former colleagues at the Nova Hair and Beauty Studio on the Wirral, where she worked.

Edwards’ father, Tim, left a floral tribute at the scene of the shooting on Boxing Day. The card read: “To my beautiful Elle, you are the light of my life, you will never be gone, Mum and Dad.”