'Coward' killers who shot beautician in the head 'should spend every Christmas behind bars'

A police chief has vowed to catch the “cowards” who shot and killed a beautician and suggested they should “spend every Christmas behind bars”.

Elle Edwards, 26, was shot in the head at the Lighthouse pub in Wallasey Village, a few miles from Liverpool, while out with friends on Christmas Eve. She died later in hospital.

On Monday, police confirmed a man, 30, from Tranmere, had been detained on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, while a 19-year-old woman, from Rock Ferry, was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to murder.

Merseyside Police said Ms Edwards was not believed to have been the target of the attack.

Watch: ‘Elle Edwards’s tragic murder has shaken Wallasey’

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy has vowed her team will be “relentless” in the hunt to bring the killer to justice following the shooting that also left one man in critical condition, and three others with non life-threatening injuries.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, she said officers had been working around the clock on the murder investigation and to tackle wider organised crime in the area.

She said: “Anyone involved in arranging this shooting, pulling the trigger and supplying the gun deserves to see every Christmas from behind bars.

“We will be relentless in our commitment to find justice for Elle and her family.”

Read more: Friends reveal horror moment Elle Edwards was shot dead in pub on Christmas Eve

Ms Edwards was remembered as a “special daughter” and someone who brought “laughs and happiness”.

At the scene of the shooting, a note with flowers signed “mum and dad”, read: “To my beautiful Elle, you are the light of my life, you will never be gone.”

Ms Edwards was understood to have worked at a local beauty salon – Nova Studio – which, in a tribute posted on Instagram, thanked her for “all of the laughs and happiness you brought into our lives, rest in paradise, angel”.

Read more: Elle Edwards was ‘singing and dancing’ moments before she was killed

People have been urged to “do the right thing and speak up” if they have information, with police and local councillors warning people should not “stay quiet” or “sit in silence” if they have useful knowledge about the murder.

Merseyside Police have appealed to anyone who was in the pub at the time or has mobile or CCTV footage of what happened to “contact us as a matter of urgency as they may have information which is vital to our investigation”.

They have also urged motorists and residents in the area with dash-cam or CCTV to contact police, adding that “every bit of evidence is crucial to the investigation”.

Chief Constable Kennedy added: “I urge anyone who has any information about those responsible for this horrific shooting at a crowded local public house to stop and think of the heartache and pain that has been caused, and if you know who did this, do the right thing and let us know.”