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| Four bailed over murder of Rhys | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Four people arrested earlier and questioned over the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones have been released on police bail. | |
| Rhys was shot by a teenager on a BMX bike as he walked home from football practice near the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool, on 22 August. | Rhys was shot by a teenager on a BMX bike as he walked home from football practice near the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool, on 22 August. |
| The two men, aged 20 and 24, and two boys, aged 17 and 16, were arrested on Friday and all from the Liverpool area. | |
| There have been a total of 16 arrests in connection with the murder. | There have been a total of 16 arrests in connection with the murder. |
| The chief investigating officer Det Supt Dave Kelly said: "At this stage the strongest line of inquiry is that Rhys was the accidental victim of a targeted attack against others. | The chief investigating officer Det Supt Dave Kelly said: "At this stage the strongest line of inquiry is that Rhys was the accidental victim of a targeted attack against others. |
| "We also can't rule out that this situation involved local opposing factions." | "We also can't rule out that this situation involved local opposing factions." |
| The poem Twelve teenagers have previously been questioned about Rhys's shooting. | The poem Twelve teenagers have previously been questioned about Rhys's shooting. |
| Seven have been released on bail and five have been released without charge. | Seven have been released on bail and five have been released without charge. |
| Patricia Gallan, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable, said: "Arrests made so far are based on consistent information from callers and round-the-clock inquiries by detectives. | Patricia Gallan, Merseyside Police Assistant Chief Constable, said: "Arrests made so far are based on consistent information from callers and round-the-clock inquiries by detectives. |
| "Whilst this inquiry progresses swiftly, it is very much part of a focused, clear and confident investigation strategy. All individuals arrested so far are absolutely critical to the inquiry. | "Whilst this inquiry progresses swiftly, it is very much part of a focused, clear and confident investigation strategy. All individuals arrested so far are absolutely critical to the inquiry. |
| "People are aware that we have described one individual firing a gun but, as with any offence, there are various stages and elements to it, such as where the gun came from and what occurred afterwards. | "People are aware that we have described one individual firing a gun but, as with any offence, there are various stages and elements to it, such as where the gun came from and what occurred afterwards. |
| "When we have grounds to suspect people involved in any stage, they will be arrested in connection with this offence." | "When we have grounds to suspect people involved in any stage, they will be arrested in connection with this offence." |
| Colourful funeral | Colourful funeral |
| Rhys's funeral will be held on Thursday at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. | Rhys's funeral will be held on Thursday at Liverpool Anglican Cathedral. |
| His family have asked well-wishers to attend and have asked people to celebrate his life by wearing bright colours and football kits. | His family have asked well-wishers to attend and have asked people to celebrate his life by wearing bright colours and football kits. |
| The service will begin at 1400 BST with a private burial taking place afterwards. | The service will begin at 1400 BST with a private burial taking place afterwards. |
| Everton fan Rhys was shot in the neck in the attack. He was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital but died soon afterwards. | Everton fan Rhys was shot in the neck in the attack. He was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital but died soon afterwards. |
| Rhys's parents said they had drawn strength from the support people had given them since he was killed. | Rhys's parents said they had drawn strength from the support people had given them since he was killed. |
| Football-mad | Football-mad |
| His father, Stephen Jones, a Tesco store manager, wrote a poem about his football-mad son about how he imagines him playing football in heaven with George Best, Dixie Dean and Bobby Moore. | His father, Stephen Jones, a Tesco store manager, wrote a poem about his football-mad son about how he imagines him playing football in heaven with George Best, Dixie Dean and Bobby Moore. |
| Appeals for information have been made at Everton Football Club's Goodison Park ground and Liverpool FC's Anfield Stadium, where Rhys's family have been applauded by fans united in their grief. | Appeals for information have been made at Everton Football Club's Goodison Park ground and Liverpool FC's Anfield Stadium, where Rhys's family have been applauded by fans united in their grief. |
| In a death notice in the Liverpool Echo on Friday, his parents said: "Rhys, we lost you so suddenly, we keep asking 'why?, you have gone up to heaven to play football in the sky, our hearts are breaking, the pain we can't describe, till we meet again, to stand side-by-side. | In a death notice in the Liverpool Echo on Friday, his parents said: "Rhys, we lost you so suddenly, we keep asking 'why?, you have gone up to heaven to play football in the sky, our hearts are breaking, the pain we can't describe, till we meet again, to stand side-by-side. |
| "Goodnight and God bless Son. xxxxxxxxxxx" | "Goodnight and God bless Son. xxxxxxxxxxx" |
| Rhys's brother Owen, 17, quoted the Everton FC motto - nothing but the best is good enough - in his tribute, saying: "Rhys, you will never be forgotten, always in my heart. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum." | Rhys's brother Owen, 17, quoted the Everton FC motto - nothing but the best is good enough - in his tribute, saying: "Rhys, you will never be forgotten, always in my heart. Nil Satis Nisi Optimum." |