Ellis Cox's final words to mum minutes before he was shot

Teenage gun victim Ellis Cox called his mum to tell her he was coming home just moments before he was shot dead.

The 19-year-old was found with fatal gunshot injuries on the Liver Industrial Estate at around 11.10pm on Sunday, June 23. After originally being treated by North West Ambulance Service paramedics at the scene, he was taken to hospital where he died of his injuries.

In a press conference this afternoon, Wednesday, June 23, Merseyside Police said Mr Cox had been with friends in Southport and then Ormskirk on the night of his death. Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Baker told the press conference that the teenager, who had borrowed a bike from a friend, was cycling near the industrial estate as part of a group of four or five males when he was shot.

READ MORE: Man dies after being shot near Taskers as murder investigation launched

READ MORE: Daniel Gee arrested just 20 miles from Liverpool

DCS Baker added Mr Cox had spoken with his mum just moments before he was killed. The officer, who led enquiries into the death of schoolgirl Olivia Pratt-Korbel, said: "The family are devastated, and as you would expect, they need answers quickly and want justice...he was on his way home when he was shot. We know this because he called his mum and said 'I'm on my way home'."

Merseyside Police said details as to what happened in the minutes before and after the teenager's death are currently vague - and urged those who he was with on Sunday evening to come forward to help them build a picture of what happened. DCS Baker added: "Details are unknown at this moment in time - we are encouraging those with him to come forward.

"We know, given his age, this group might be fearful and that's why they haven't come to speak to us, but we are hoping people know who they are, their family and friends know who they are, and encourage them to come forward to us. It's crucial to the investigation."

Mr Cox lived in Grace Road, off Walton Vale, with his family. The teenager was described by one neighbour, who asked not to be named, as a "lovely lad, a really good kid". She later added: "He was dead polite and friendly - always said hello and smiled. And he was hardworking. You'd see him going out to work early every morning."

A second woman - a mum who knows Mr Cox's family personally - added: "I just couldn't believe when I heard. None of the family has ever been in trouble. They're not like that. Everybody round here is devastated by what happened...They're a lovely family with really well brought up kids. I knew his mum when we were growing up."

Police cordons remain at both the industrial estate and at the entrance to the Loop Line by Grace Road. Merseyside Police said high visibility officers will remain in the area until the weekend, while forensic teams continue to work at both scenes.

Don't miss the biggest and breaking stories by signing up to the Echo Daily newsletter here.