26-year-old Elle Edwards is not believed to have been the target of the shooting.
A woman who was shot dead at a pub on Merseyside in the UK on Christmas Eve has been identified as 26-year-old Elle Edwards.
Edwards was 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, Sky News reports.
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 are “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.”
Her family have been left “devastated” and “inconsolable” by her death.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CmoI6Exr3H-/
Merseyside Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims told a news conference on Christmas Day that the actions of the gunman were “totally and utterly reckless”.
Detective Superintendent Sue Coombs added the gunman fired shots through the front of the Lighthouse Inn before making off in a dark vehicle, possibly an A-Class Mercedes Benz. The pub called the shooting “a tragedy beyond words”.
A statement reads: “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.”
The MP for Wallasey, Dame Angela Eagle, described the news as “heartbreaking” and urged anyone with information to contact the police.
She tweeted: “My thoughts are with the family of the woman who has died and those who are injured.”
This is heartbreaking news – My thoughts are with the family of the woman who has died & those who are injured. Anyone with any information please tell the police: Shared from Sky News: Woman dead and others in hospital after Christmas Eve pub shooting https://t.co/imEw4ORDex
— Angela Eagle DBE (@angelaeagle) December 25, 2022
Detective Superintendent Dave McCaughrean, of Merseyside Police, earlier said: “This investigation is in the very early stages, and we understand that this is a truly shocking and devastating incident that has happened just before Christmas Day in a busy venue full of young people.
“We have a number of officers at Wallasey Village who are carrying out extensive inquiries to understand exactly what has taken place and take immediate action.”
He added that a woman had “tragically lost her life at Christmas whilst several people are being treated in hospital, and our thoughts and condolences are with the victim’s family”.
McCaughrean urged anyone who was in the Lighthouse in Wallasey Village on Saturday night who witnessed the incident 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”.
He said police believe the gunman left the pub car park in a dark-coloured vehicle – possibly a dark-coloured Mercedes, shortly after the shooting, “and we are keen to hear from anyone who saw this to contact us immediately”.
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