Gangsters’ ‘call for ceasefire’ after murder of Elle Edwards in Christmas Eve pub shooting

Gangsters have called for a ceasefire after 26-year-old Elle Edwards was shot dead in a pub on Christmas Eve.

The young woman was not the intended target of the gunfire that killed her in the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey, Merseyside just over a week ago.

Sources close to the Merseyside gangs have said gun violence was ‘getting out of hand’ and ‘it is time to say “enough is enough”‘.

Ms Edwards, who was a beautician, was shot in the head while in the beer garden of the pub, when it is believed she was harmed in a feud between gang members at 11.50pm.

Elle Edwards, 26, (pictured) was killed on December 24 at the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village near Liverpool

Following the death of the young beautician (pictured) sources close to the Merseyside gangs have said gun violence was ‘getting out of hand’ and ‘it is time to say ‘enough is enough”

The young woman is the fifth person to be innocently shot in Merseyside since August, following a surge in gun violence.

The victims included nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, 53-year-old grandmother Jackie Rutter, Ashley Dale, 28 and Sam Rimmer, 22.

Those with connections to the local crime groups have now spoken up and are urging for a ceasefire.

One told the Mirror: ‘What’s going on? A young girl has gone out for Christmas and will never go home.

Elle Edwards father, Tim Edwards, during a press conference at Merseyside Police Headquarters in Liverpool about the Christmas Eve shooting of his daughter

‘Why are these kids ­carrying guns and knives? Why?

‘It could have been any of our kids. It’s all getting out of hand.’

Another source said: ‘Someone needs to speak out and stop this.

‘It’s grim. It could be my family or your family facing this tragedy.

‘It’s time to say “enough is enough”.’

Three people have been arrested with connection to the beautician’s murder.

Merseyside’s police chief has pledged that her force will be ‘relentless’ in bringing those responsible for the killing of Ms Edwards to justice. Pictured: Floral tributes at the pub

On Saturday, Merseyside Police said it had released a 31-year-old man from Tranmere, Wirral, who was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder on bail.

A man, 30, was recalled to prison on license and a 19-year-old woman was bailed.

Today, Ms Edwards younger sister, Lucy Edwards, wrote a heartbreaking tribute to her older sister on Instagram, writing ‘I should not be waking up this morning on New Year’s Day without, we should be dancing and singing this morning whilst we got ready to go out’.

She continued: ‘I miss you so much sis. Elle May, you are and will always be my best friend, side kick, partner in crime, soul mate and big sister.

‘You are beautiful inside and out, you are the kindest person ever and you wanted nothing but the best for me.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, died on August 22 after being shot by a gunman who chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee into her home in Dovecot

The day before Olivia was killed, environmental health officer Ashley Dale, 28, was found with a gunshot wound in the back garden of her home in Old Swan

There were 211 firearms offences on Merseyside from April 2021 to March 2022 compared to 140 the year before – a rise of 51 per cent

‘I miss everything about you, especially our daily catch ups, our long drives.’

Earlier this week, the heartbroken father of the 26-year-old gave an emotional tribute to his ‘beautiful daughter’, saying his family had been shattered by her death.

In an extraordinary and moving statement Tim Edwards wrote: ‘She loved her life and had so many amazing plans for the future. There was no one as beautiful as our Elle May’.

Mr Edwards added: ‘We will love and miss her forever. Our Elle May, the most beautiful and bright star out there, forever and always.

‘My beautiful Elle Marlene is the love of my life and she is my world, my best friend. She will always shine and be beautiful and bright’.

Gun crime in and around Liverpool fell from 283 in 2021 to 241 in December 12, 2022.

But the gangs across Merseyside are said to have access to a great number of weapons, with some guns being avaliable to buy online for £500.

Sam Rimmer, 22, was killed on August 22 in Lavrock Bank, Dingle before two suspects fled on e-bikes. Jackie Rutter, 53, was shot dead in Moreton, Wirral, on October 30 by men believed to have targeted her family

The automatic weapons are smuggled from Northern Ireland and shotguns are stolen from licensed owners.

In October Merseyside police found a gun they believed was linked to a series of shootings.

A source close to the gangs told the Mirror: ‘There’s a network of criminal gangs in Liverpool, Manchester and Salford who can access military grade hardware – sub-machine guns, automatic weapons… even explosives.’

Since August 16, five fatal shootings have taken place, when 22-year-old Sam Rimmer was killed in Lavrock Bank, Dingle before two suspects fled on e-bikes.

The parents of Elle Edwards left a heartbreaking tribute to her after she was killed at the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village on Christmas Eve. Her parents wrote: ‘To my beautiful Elle, you are the light of my life, you will never be gone’

No-one has so far been charged over his death and police say it is unclear who the gunman was targeting.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel, nine, died on August 22 after being shot by a gunman who chased convicted burglar Joseph Nee into her home in Dovecot.

Her mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, was also injured in the shooting on August 22. Thomas Cashman, 34, has pleaded not guilty to Olivia’s murder.

The day before Olivia was killed, environmental health officer Ashley Dale, 28, was found with a gunshot wound in the back garden of her home in Old Swan. She is not believed to have been the intended target of the killing.

Mr Edward, pictured with his daughter while on holiday together. He described his daughter as ‘only just getting started’ in a moving tribute on Friday

Fifteen arrests have been made in connection with her murder, all of whom remain on conditional bail or under investigation.

On October 30, 53-year-old grandmother Jackie Rutter was shot dead in Moreton, Wirral, by men believed to have targeted her family.

That staggering spate of murders comes after a 13-month gap without any fatal shootings in Merseyside, and against a huge drop in the number of firearms discharges in the county – a figure which reached a 21 year low last year.

Olivia’s murder came 15 years to the day since 11-year-old Rhys Jones was shot dead in Liverpool while walking home from football.

There were 211 firearms offences on Merseyside from April 2021 to March 2022 compared to 140 the year before – a rise of 51 per cent.

However, the figures have been distorted by a drop in Covid, with the 227 firearms offences in 2019 to 2020 comparable to this year’s figure.