Police were last night questioning a teenager in connection with the fatal shooting of Liverpool schoolboy Rhys Jones. Mary Fitzgeraldreports from Liverpool.
The arrest of the 16-year-old comes after two other teenagers, aged 14 and 18, were released on bail on Thursday night. They had been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Merseyside police said the youth was held on Broadway in the run-down Norris Green area of Liverpool. Norris Green is close to Croxteth Park, the estate where Rhys was gunned down on Wednesday evening.
A police spokesman also confirmed that an abandoned bicycle had been found in Liverpool, in an area with a different postcode from the shooting, which was being examined. Officers also confirmed descriptions of the killer's firearm, describing it as a black handgun with a long barrel.
Eyewitnesses said the gunman, his face obscured by a hoodie, fired three shots - one hitting Rhys in the neck as he returned home from football training. Rhys' mother Melanie cradled the dying boy in her arms as they waited for an ambulance.
Police have described the suspect as a slim white male aged between 13 and 15. He was riding a black BMX and wearing dark clothes and white trainers. Yesterday they appealed directly to the killer to give himself up.
Speaking to reporters at the scene of the shooting, Assistant Chief Constable Patricia Gallan said: "If you are responsible for this crime, come and tell us and hand yourself in." ACC Gallan said police were disappointed with the poor response from the public so far and she appealed for those who have information about the killing to come forward. "We need to get this killer off the street. Within this community people know who is responsible for this crime," she said.
"We need your help. Come forward now and help put the suffering of Rhys's mum and dad at an end." On Thursday night, the boy's parents made an emotional appeal for help in finding the killer. "Our son was only 11, our baby," said Melanie Jones. "This should not happen, this should not be going on. Please help us. I just want them caught." Merseyside police said they would protect any witnesses who came forward and would guarantee their anonymity. About 100 police officers have been assigned to the investigation, supported by 200 staff from Matrix, a special unit set up by Merseyside police to tackle gun crime.
Today Everton, the football club Rhys proudly supported, will hold a minute's silence before their home game with Blackburn. Players from both sides will also wear black armbands as a mark of respect.