Rhys Jones' mum Mel was spending an evening at home when she had the knock on the door that no parent should ever hear. Moments later, she was cradling her 11-year-old son, moments after he was shot in the street as he walked home from football practise.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics and doctors, an hour later Rhys, who was the "star" of his under-12s team, lay dead in hospital.
Recalling the aftermath of the shooting, mum Mel told the Mirror: “I just ran over to him and put my arms under his head. I was talking to him and talking to him, and saying ‘stay with me, stay with me Rhys’. “But there was no response from him at all.
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