BRITAIN:A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection with the murder of Rhys Jones (11), who was shot dead in Croxteth, Liverpool, on his way home from playing football.
The arrest is the 17th by Merseyside police in connection with the inquiry.
Rhys's funeral will take place tomorrow at Liverpool's Anglican cathedral. The hearse will pause outside Everton's Goodison Park football ground on its way to the cathedral.
Det Supt Dave Kelly said: "We have a very clear strategy for this investigation and we are determined to leave no stone unturned. We are confident about the swift progress we are making, and want to thank the public for their ongoing support."
Police say the killer escaped on a BMX bike shortly after the shooting in the car park of the Fir Tree pub, Croxteth, on August 22nd. He is described as 13 to 15 years old, about 5ft 8in tall and wearing dark clothes and white trainers.
Detectives are continuing to appeal for the driver of a red car to come forward and help them with their inquiries. The motorist would have been on Fir Tree Drive North at about 7.40pm on the night of the shooting and may have seen a cyclist riding towards Dam Wood.
Eleven people have been released on bail and a further five have been released without charge as they are being treated as witnesses. A police appeal last week for a man who called Crimestoppers on August 24th has been successful: the man has been back in touch with police.
Sources say a 19-year-old man was spotted sprinting across the pub car park after the first shot was fired, before taking cover behind a bus shelter metres away from where Rhys was shot. Witnesses say a black handgun with a long barrel was used, but the murder weapon has not been found.