The teenager’s fatal shooting marks the second gun death in Merseyside in 2024

The death of a teenager who was found on an industrial estate is the second fatal shooting of 2024, after Merseyside went more than a year without one.

Merseyside Police launched a murder investigation yesterday afternoon after confirming officers were called to the Liver Industrial Estate just after 11.10pm the night before on Sunday 23 June. Officers attended the scene, close to Taskers, following a report from North West Ambulance Service paramedics. who were treating a 19-year-old man.

When officers arrived, they found the man, who has since been identified as Ellis Cox, had been shot. He was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later. An investigating officer told the ECHO that the past 12 months had seen the lowest number of firearms discharged in more than two decades – however the shooting marks the second fatal incident this year after Peter Hale was shot in January.

READ MORE: A man dies after being shot near Taskers as a murder investigation is launched

READ MORE: Police have cordoned off “Ralla” after a man was shot

Mr Hale, 50, died after being shot at a flat in Haslingden Close, in Old Swan. Merseyside Police were first called to the scene on January 29 after receiving reports that a man had entered an address and shot another man. Armed police attended the incident and Mr Hale was rushed to hospital by air ambulance in a critical condition after suffering a serious gunshot wound to the face, but died on the afternoon of February 4 .

Mr Hale was described by his family as a “loving son, brother and uncle”. Shay Walker, of Whitehouse Road in Stoneycroft, has been charged with the 50-year-old’s murder. Walker has pleaded not guilty to charges of murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of ammunition without a certificate. He will be tried in July.

Mr Hale’s death marked the first fatal shooting in over a year, the last before that being the killing of Elle Edwards on Christmas Eve in 2022. Ms Edwards was shot by Connor Chapman, who opened fire outside the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village , as part. of a gang fight. He was sentenced to at least 48 years in prison, while a second trial is due later this year for a number of suspects accused of assisting an offender.

Ms Edwards’ killing was the latest of five fatal shootings in Merseyside in 2022. In a devastating six-day period in August, Sam Rimmer, Ashley Dale and nine-year-old schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel were killed in Dingle, Old Swan and Dovecot respectively. Nan Jacqui Rutter was also shot in her Morton home in October.

However, by the end of 2023 the numbers told a different story on Merseyside. The latest statistics released by Merseyside Police for the period of the year saw 22 shootings, down from 49 in 2022 – a figure which was around 50% lower than in 2012. This was the lowest number of firearm incidents since records began – a sign of the continued work Merseyside Police’s dedicated teams have been doing for several years.

But Mr Cox’s shooting has seen a second family torn apart this year by the threat of gun crime on Merseyside. A police cordon has been erected in two places – Liver Industrial Park and on Grace Road, which police have confirmed is linked – and officers remain in the Aintree area while crime scene investigators carry out forensic examinations.

Extensive CCTV inquiries are underway in the area and house-to-house inquiries are continuing. A Merseyside Police spokesman confirmed specialist family liaison officers were supporting the young victim’s family. Mark Baker, who is leading the inquest, said: “This was a horrific and tragic incident in which a young man lost his life and our thoughts are first and foremost with his family as they try to come to terms with their loss. .”

The investigating officer appealed to local residents and motorists to come forward with any information that would assist the investigation. He said: “Whilst this happened in an industrial area, there are residential homes nearby and I would urge anyone who may have seen anyone acting suspiciously in the area or heard anything to come forward so we can give his family answers and bring his killer or killers to justice.

“I would appeal to any drivers who may have captured footage on their dash cam to come forward, even if it appears to be harmless. It could prove vital to our efforts to bring justice to this young man and his family. It is essential that people with information, however small, please contact us as it could be vital to the investigation.”

The officer added: “Every day our officers carry out warrants, field searches and stop and frisks to get guns and other weapons off our streets. We want all available resources in the right areas to eliminate weapons and those who use and work with them. every day with our partners and in communities affected by gun crime.

“Incidents like this are a tragic reminder of why we need to continue this work – gun crime can tear families apart and ruin far more lives than just the victim.”

If you have any information about this incident please call 101, DM @MerPolCC or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 1121 of June 23. Always call 999 if a crime is in progress.

Don’t miss the biggest and breaking stories by subscribing to the Echo Daily newsletter here.