Woman shot dead in pub on Christmas Eve is named

A woman who was shot dead at a pub on Christmas Eve has been named as 26-year-old Elle Edwards.

Ms Edwards was out enjoying Christmas with her sister and friends when she was shot in the head at the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village on the Wirral, in Merseyside, shortly after 11.50pm.

She is not believed to have been the target of the shooting, which also left four others injured – one of them critically.

Staff at her workplace, beauty salon Nova Studio, said they were “absolutely lost for words” following her death.

Writing on Instagram, they added: “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.”

Family and friends laid flowers at the scene today led by her father, Tim Edwards.

Ms Edwards’ family has been left “devastated” and “inconsolable” by her death, police said in their appeal to the public for information.

Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs told a news conference on Christmas Day: “Her family have been informed, and on today, which should be a day with friends celebrating, they are coming to terms with this tragic loss.”

A 28-year-old man also injured in the incident remains in a critical condition in hospital.

A 22-year-old man received leg injuries, a 24-year-old man sustained a hand injury, and a 33-year-old man suffered an injury to his wrist. None of these injuries are thought to be life-threatening.

‘A very settled, good community’

The MP for Wallasey, Angela Eagle, told Sky News she was “heartbroken” at the “senseless” act.

She described the area as a “very settled, good community”.

She said: “The police have emphasised the place that this happened, is not to do with the place and I hope that will reassure frightened constituents who found themselves in the middle of this appalling tragedy on Christmas Day.”

“It’s very important the police were helped as much as possible,” she said, urging the public to contact the force with any information “no matter how small”.

“Merseyside [police] are extremely good, and very experienced, unfortunately, at dealing with these kinds of incidents,” she added, referencing a trail of violence that left heartbreak and bloodshed in its wake across the region in recent months.

People fled through neighbouring gardens

Neighbour Jenny Hough, 77, said she heard the shots being fired, but believed they were fireworks instead.

“I just thought it was people celebrating midnight on Christmas Day.

“I couldn’t believe it when I looked outside, I thought ‘oh crikey’. It’s a complete shock.

“My sister’s garden had been broken into. We suspect it was people trying to get out of the pub and trying to climb over the wall and into her garden to get out.”

The Lighthouse pub has called the shooting “a tragedy beyond words” in a statement, adding: “All our thoughts are with the friends and family of our customers and in particular our hearts go out to the family of our customer who has lost her life.

It remained closed on Christmas Day.

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