Police have named the woman who was shot dead in a Merseyside pub on Christmas Eve as Elle Edwards.
The 26-year-old was celebrating the holidays with her sister and friends when she was shot in the head by a gunman who opened fire at the Lighthouse Inn in Wallasey Village.
The beautician was not the target of the attack, in which four men were also shot, police said. A 28-year-old man from nearby Beechwood remained in hospital in a critical condition, while the other men, aged 22, 24 and 33, suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Staff at Nova Hair and Beauty Studio, the Wirral beauty salon where Edwards worked, said they were “absolutely lost for words” after her death.
Writing on Instagram, they added: “Heaven won the most beautiful angel. We are all heartbroken, thinking of all your family right now Elle.
Her friend and colleague Britt Hughes posted a tribute on Facebook: “Christmas will never be the same. Our beautiful girl whose face made me so happy inside when she walked into the room, a girl in which I could not have been more like.
“I shared so many amazing memories this summer with you and talked to you endlessly, who I will laugh at in voice notes that terrify the world. You will be greatly missed, my beautiful best.”
Another friend, Tyreece Hon, posted: “You were always a big sister to me in my eyes and I can’t believe we were taken so soon. My heart goes out to your family who took me in like a son, I love you so much. Shine bright, crazy diamond.”
On Christmas Day, Edwards’ family laid flowers at the scene of his shooting, where forensic investigators continued to work.
Police were called to the scene at 11.50pm on December 24 shortly after a gunman fired shots at the pub’s front entrance and fled in a dark vehicle, believed to be a Mercedes.
Merseyside Police opened a murder investigation on Sunday, Christmas Day, and appealed for anyone with information about the shooting, which took place in “a busy place full of young people”, to come forward.
Detectives said they had received an “overwhelming response”, particularly from witnesses to the events, but would rely heavily on information provided by the public.
At a press conference the day after the murder, Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs, who is leading the investigation, said: “Tragically, the victim, a 26-year-old woman, had suffered a serious gunshot wound. head shot. She was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital but sadly died a short time later. Her family have been informed and today, which should be a day of celebration with friends, is coming to terms with this tragic loss.
“It is the early stages of the investigation but we do not believe the victim in this case was attacked. She was enjoying Christmas with her sister and friends in what should have been a quiet time. What is happening now his family is at a loss. At this stage of the investigation we are trying to establish the motive and circumstances surrounding this cruel shooting.”
The lighthouse said it was assisting police with inquiries and had handed them CCTV footage of the murder.
Bosses at the pub said the shooting was “a tragedy beyond words”, adding: “All our thoughts are with the friends and family of our customers, and in particular our hearts go out to family of our client who lost his life.”
The killing is the fourth shooting death in Merseyside this year and the third where the person killed was not the intended target.
On August 21, Ashley Dale, 28, was shot dead outside her home in Old Swan by an unknown gunman.
The day after Dale’s murder, nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead at her home in Dovecot, when a masked man broke into her home chasing someone unknown to her family.
Thomas Cashman, from West Derby, has been charged with her murder.