00:03:25
ITN
Shot boy's parents plea for help
Shot boy's parents plea for help
The parents of murdered boy Rhys Jones have appealed for help to catch the 11-year-old's killer.The youngster was shot in the car park of the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth after taking part in football training with the pub team.Rhys's football coach raced to the boy's home after the attack and took his mother Melanie, 41, to the scene but he was unconscious and could not be revived.Rhys's father Stephen, who was at work at the time of the shooting, said: "People are saying to me it is a case of 'wrong time, wrong place' but it just shouldn't happen."There is somebody out there that knows who has done it. Somebody knows who has got the gun or what they have done with it and they have got to come forward because it is beyond words."He probably did not even know what a gang is. He has never been in a gang where you need a knife to join. He hangs around with his mates and plays football. That is it."Rhys's mother admitted children gather in the town but the family had not seen any sign of serious violence.Mrs Jones said: "You do see groups of teenagers but Rhys was never allowed out at night. He was always in by 8.30pm."Meanwhile, two teenagers arrested in connection with Rhys's death have been released on police bail.Mrs Jones added: "I know people must be frightened but they have got to think that they can't leave this killer out there."It could be their son or brother next time because it will happen again unless he is caught."I wasn't aware of any guns on the estate."Rhys and his family are regulars at Everton matches and Stephen is planning to watch Saturday's match against Blackburn from his usual seat.Mr Jones said: "Rhys would have told me to go. Everything revolved around the game. You can't see the wallpaper in his room for the Everton posters and autographs."The curtains are Everton, the wallpaper is Everton and the duvet is Everton."But Mrs Jones will not be able to face watching the game without her son by her side.She said: "I can't go. I can't sit next to an empty seat."Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the murder is a "heinous crime that shocked the whole of the country", and extended his sympathy to the 11-year-old's family.He said: "The people responsible will be tracked down, arrested and punished."Asst Chief Con Byrne asked the public to help find Rhys's killer, saying: "Someone out there knows who put the gun in his hand and I want your help to get the community to turn that gunman in."This is quite an awful crime, quite senseless, and the community holds the clue to solving this crime quickly."You can only imagine the heartache of the family that's been ripped apart by quite a senseless crime."I do want the help of everybody out there, be it parents, community members, people who are on the streets, to give us information."Everton star Tim Cahill told the club's website: "It's unthinkable that a young kid playing football can end up being killed.""My heart, prayers and sympathy go out to the family. I've got young children of my own and I can't begin to imagine just how Rhys's family are feeling right now."I just hope that whoever carried out this act is brought to justice. It's unbelievable and such a tragic waste of a young life."© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.
ITN | August 23, 2007
