Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Boy, 11, Shot Dead, and UK Press Reels

Youth's murder provokes shock, anger across British media

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 24, 2007 8:37 AM CDT

(Newser) – An 11-year-old boy was shot dead in Liverpool yesterday, leading to soul-searching and recriminations across the British press. Rhys Jones died in his mother's arms, apparently an innocent victim in a showdown between two local gangs. Rhys's photograph is on the cover of almost every newspaper today alongside claims of "anarchy in the UK."

Gordon Brown expressed his "shock," and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith nearly broke down in tears during a television interview. The Sun devotes 10 pages to the boy's murder by "hoodies with handguns," and the Daily Mail called the murder a symptom of "breakdown Britain." The Guardian led with YouTube videos of the gang under suspicion.

Friends from school lay flowers at the scene outside the Fir Tree Bar and Restaurant in Croxteth, Liverpool, England, Thursday Aug. 23, 2007, where 11-year-old Rhys Jones was shot whilst walking across the car park, Wednesday, he was rushed to hospital but later declared dead. Two teenagers from Croxteth, aged...
Friends from school lay flowers at the scene outside the Fir Tree Bar and Restaurant in Croxteth, Liverpool, England, Thursday Aug. 23, 2007, where 11-year-old Rhys Jones was shot whilst walking across...   (Associated Press)
Melanie Jones, the mother of  11-year-old Rhys Jones, wipes her tears during a press conference at Merseyside Police headquarters, Thursday Aug.  23, 2007. after Rhys was shot dead Wednesday night in a pub car park. _ It is a tragedy that is becoming increasingly familiar in Britain, where gun crime...
Melanie Jones, the mother of 11-year-old Rhys Jones, wipes her tears during a press conference at Merseyside Police headquarters, Thursday Aug. 23, 2007. after Rhys was shot dead Wednesday night in...   (Associated Press)
 Jones, a cherubic-faced boy who friends said liked playing tag and video games, was in a Liverpool parking lot kicking a soccer ball around with his friends Wednesday when two youths rode by, allegedly firing shots at the boy. (AP Photo/Merseyside Police)
Jones, a cherubic-faced boy who friends said liked playing tag and video games, was in a Liverpool parking lot kicking a soccer ball around with his friends Wednesday when two youths rode by, allegedly...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
Noggzy Vid Part 2   (bingoefc (YouTube))
Murder of Rhys Jones shot in car park Croxteth, Liverpool   (ItsSoVeryWrong (YouTube))

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.
 

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Timelines   |   POPSUGAR Tech   |   Business Insider   |   HuffPost Entertainment   |   NewsOne