A man and a woman have been arrested in connection with the murder of a 26-year-old was shot dead at a packed pub on Christmas Eve – as friends revealed she was about to go home.
Elle Edwards was celebrating Christmas in the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey, a village near Liverpool, with her sister and friends when she was shot in the head.
Party-goers desperately performed CPR on the beautician in a bid to save her life but Ms Edwards, who has been described by friends as a ‘crazy diamond’, died at the scene.
Four men who were inside the pub also suffered gunshot wounds, including a 28-year-old who remains in a critical condition in hospital.
Elle Edwards was celebrating Christmas in the Lighthouse Inn, in Wallasey, a village near Liverpool
Elle’s father Tim visits the scene of his daughter’s death in Wallasey Village today to lay flowers
Merseyside Police confirmed this evening that a 30-year-old man from Tranmere has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.
A 19-year-old woman from Rock Ferry has also been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.
Police say the two suspects have been taken into custody, where they will be questioned by detectives.
Yesterday, detectives said they believed Ms Edwards was not the target of the attack at the Lighthouse in Wallasey Village in Merseyside.
Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs from Major Crime Investigations said: ‘We have made two arrests in connection with this cold-blooded shooting.
‘Elle’s family are still having to come to terms with her tragic loss, and our specially trained family liaison officers are supporting them.
‘We will not rest until we bring those responsible to justice and I would appeal to anyone who has information to contact us.’
It comes after Ms Edwards’ father today visited the scene to lay flowers among the growing sea of tributes left outside the pub, as her family described her as ‘the light of our life’.
‘To my beautiful Elle, you are the light of my life, you will never be gone,’ her parents wrote.
Meanwhile, friends Jess and Meg, who were partying alongside the beautician shortly before the fatal shooting, described her as ‘a gorgeous soul’.
Jess told Sky News: ‘We went to go and get a drink, went to the bar and then just heard bangs. We thought it was fireworks. Automatically, veryone just stopped and we thought “something is not right”.
Elle Edwards’ father, Tim Edwards lays a floral tribute outside the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village
A police officer stands in front of floral and written tributes left in Ms Edwards’ memory near the scene of the shooting
The parents of Elle Edwards left a heartbreaking tribute to her after she was killed at a pub on Christmas Eve. They wrote: ‘To my beautiful Elle, you are the light of my life, you will never be gone’
‘We were so happy and then within a split second she was taken. Everything just happened so fast, I can’t get that out of my head.
‘It could have been anyone and we are very lucky, but it should not have been Elle either.’
Meg added: ‘She was going home to go to sleep and wake up on Christmas morning with her family.’
Asked what memories they had of their friend, they described her as ‘so funny’, adding: ‘There was never a time when we’ve been out where we’ve not had a ball.’
They joined other tributes both left at the scene posted online by her friends.
A heart-shaped plaque bearing a pink and green floral design, read: ‘Special Daughter, the happiness you brought in your own special way, will be remembered with love each and every day.’
The gunman is understood to have fled the scene in a dark vehicle, believed to be a Mercedes Benz, while onlookers desperately tried to save Ms Edwards’ life.
Local studio, Nova Beauty, where Ms Edwards worked, said staff were ‘heartbroken’.
It wrote: ‘Absolutely lost for words… Heaven gained the most beautiful angel. We are all heartbroken, thinking of all of your family right now Elle, thank you for all of the laughs and happiness you brought into our lives, rest in paradise angel, love from your team at Nova.’
Dozens of people responded to the post. One said: “Elle was such a beautiful girl inside and out, so sorry for your loss.”
Another said: “Rest in paradise our gorgeous angel. Always in our hearts forever and always.”
Meanwhile, her friend Tyreece Hon described her a ‘big sister’ in a moving tribute.
Heartbroken friends have paid tribute to Ms Edwards (pictured) describing her as ‘the most beautiful angel’
People have been leaving floral and written tributes to the 26-year-old after her tragic death
Heartbroken family and friends have paid tribute to Ms Edwards after the horrific shooting on Christmas Eve
He wrote: ‘So last night this angel gained her wings and headed22 to the stars. Ellie you was always a big sister to me in my eyes and I can’t believe you’ve been taken from us so soon.
‘My heart goes out to your family who took me in as a son love you loads. Shine bright you crazy diamond. Till we shall meet again.’
And friend Britt Hughes said ‘Christmas will never be the same again’ after her tragic passing and that she ‘made me so happy inside when she walked in the room’.
She added that Ms Edwards would leave her in ‘fits of laughter’ and she would be ‘so missed my beautiful bestie’.
She also made a desperate plea, saying: ‘When will people stop the shooting?’
The Liverpool Echo reports that people tried to give Ms Edwards CPR while emergency services rushed to the scene.
On social media, one parent said their daughter in the pub ‘was there giving CPR with another girl until help arrived’.
Others described the young woman as a ‘hero’ and a ‘brave, selfless young lady’ for her efforts.
Another parent said: ‘My daughter was there, she and her friends got home safe but is very distressed. She was stood right by the girl who was killed. So scary.’
Footage had earlier emerged of a woman asking ‘is that a gun?’ while she sat in the pub’s car park as the horrific incident took place.
Yesterday Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs said police believe the woman was not the intended target.
She added the gunman fired shots through the front of the pub before fleeing.
