Third person arrested over murder of Elle Edwards who was shot dead in pub on Christmas Eve is released on bail pending further inquiries
- Third of three people arrested over death of Elle Edwards, 26, released on bail
- Ms Edwards was killed in a shooting in the Lighthouse Inn on Christmas Eve
- It is believed that she was tragically caught in crossfire of feuding drug gangs
- Her family described her as ‘the most beautiful and bright star’ on December 30
The third of the three people arrested in connection with a fatal shooting in Merseyside on Christmas Eve has been released on bail.
Three people had been arrested following the death of Elle Edwards, 26, in a shooting in the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village, near Liverpool.
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.
26-year-old Elle Edwards died in a shooting at the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village, near Liverpool, on Christmas Eve
Elle Edwards father, Tim Edwards, during a press conference at Merseyside Police Headquarters in Liverpool about the Christmas Eve shooting of his daughter
The three arrested suspects have now all been released from custody, Sky News have reported.
It comes after Ms Edwards’ family described her as ‘the most beautiful and bright star’ during a press conference on Friday.
Her father, Tim Edwards said the family had been shattered by her death on Christmas Eve.
Elle was killed by a gunman after getting caught up in what is believed to be a feud among drugs gangs in Merseyside. Police have said Elle was not the intended target of the shooting, which left four others injured.
In an extraordinary and moving statement her father 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’.
Police officers at the Lighthouse Inn after the shooting. Witnesses said the atmosphere had turned sour when gang members arrived
One drinker told The Daily Mirror: ‘The lads involved are not from this area. That’s why a lot of the locals left about 8pm because they could feel the tension’.
Another witness said one young man was shot in the midriff.
She said: ‘The manager ran to the lad and was pushing his stomach down. All the staff were helping. It was absolutely horrible. Everyone is devastated.’
Ian Critchley, Deputy Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, revealed officers had yet to find the weapon – believed to be a semi-automatic pistol – which was used to fire up to 12 shots in quick succession.
DCC Critchley said the investigation into the ‘most callous and appalling murder’ of Miss Edwards was ‘relentless’ and said anyone involved – not just the shooter – would be brought to justice.
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’
Mr Edwards, pictured right, was embraced by a member of the public on the street just yards from where his daughter was killed
Tim Edward, pictured with his daughter Elle, while on holiday together. He described his daughter as ‘only just getting started’ in a moving tribute on Friday
The force confirmed on December 29 that it had been given extra time to question suspects by prosecutors.
A spokesman for the force said: ‘We have arrested a third person in connection with the murder of 26 year-old Elle Edwards at the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey on 24th December.
‘A 31-year-old man from Tranmere has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder. He is currently in custody where he will be questioned by detectives.
‘We have been given additional time to question a 30-year-old man from Tranmere, arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, and a 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder and they both remain in custody.’
Friends of Miss Edwards have told of the horrors of the shooting at the packed pub on Christmas Eve, describing how she had been singing and dancing before hearing bangs ‘like fireworks’ before they saw her lying on the floor.
Jess, a friend who was with her when she was shot, 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.’
Tim Edwards visits the scene of his daughter’s death at the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village on Boxing Day to lay floral tributes
The Lighthouse pub in Wallasey, where the shooting that killed Ms Edwards happened on Christmas Eve
‘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.’
Miss Edwards’s sister Lucy lives in Dubai but had flown home to celebrate Christmas with her family. She left the pub before her sister was shot dead.
In an emotional post on Instagram, she said: ‘My beautiful sister, my bestest friend, my second mummy and my rock. I love and miss you so, so much already. My Elle May.’
Friend Jess said: ‘People were around her trying to help her — but you can’t do anything. I just felt grateful that I am still here but felt guilty because I was with my family on Christmas and she wasn’t.’