A 17-year-old youth was charged last night with the murder of Rhys Jones, the 11-year-old boy who was shot dead in a pub car park in Liverpool last August.

The youth was one of six people to be charged with offences in connection with the death of the schoolboy, who was shot through the neck and died in his mother’s arms.

They were among 13 people who were arrested after a series of dawn raids in the Croxteth area of the city on Tuesday almost eight months after the tragedy.

Merseyside Police called a press conference last night where Helen Morris, of Merseyside Crown Prosecution Service, announced that the 17-year-old youth had been charged with murder and two men, Melvyn Coy, 24, and Gary Kayes, 25, had been charged with assisting an offender.

Three youths, aged 15, 16 and 17, were also charged with assisting an offender. The 16-year-old has also been charged with possession of a firearm.

Meanwhile, three adults, aged 50, 49 and 54, and a 16-year-old youth have been released on bail for further consideration. In addition a 22-year-old male was bailed on Tuesday evening.

One male, aged 20, remains in custody and is being questioned by police. One woman, aged 21, has been released without charge.

Detective Superintendent Dave Kelly, who is in charge of the investigation, paid tribute to Rhys’s parents, Stephen Jones, 45, and his wife, Melanie, 42, who had been kept informed of developments throughout the inquiry.

He said: “We have brought significant charges today. It has been a complex inquiry reflected by the number of charges.

“I would personally like to thank Stephen and Melanie Jones for their support throughout this inquiry. They have shown courage, strength and dignity during what must have been a truly terrible time for them.”

The death of Rhys, an innocent who strayed into a gang turf war, sent shockwaves far beyond Merseyside and raised the issues of gun crime on Britain’s streets.

The schoolboy, an Everton fanatic, was shot in the neck as he walked home across the forecourt of the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth Park, in East Liverpool, after football practice during the early evening of Wednesday, August 22, last year.

The killer, a hooded gunman on a mountain bike, is believed to have emerged from the side of the pub and fired a number of shots at members of the Nogzy Dogs, who had strayed on to rival turf from nearby Norris Green. Rhys’s mother cradled her dying son, who was still wearing his shin pads and with his football kit slung over his shoulder, in her arms and repeatedly whispered “stay with me”.

Although detectives learnt the name of a youth who became known informally as the “prime suspect” early in the investigation, they always suggested that it was only the start of a long and difficult inquiry.

Assistant Chief Constable Patricia Gallan, of Merseyside Police, last night described the police operation as a “painstaking, determined investigation”. She said: “It has been a complex inquiry supported throughout by Rhys’s parents, Stephen and Melanie, and the wider community of Merseyside.

“I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the police work of Merseyside police officers and in particular the senior investigating officer and Merseyside Crown Prosecution Service.”

Ms Morris said that CPS lawyers had been assessing evidence as it was collated by detectives.

She said: “As this case developed we have been carefully assessing and examining the evidence in order to come to a charging decision at the earliest opportunity.

“Having carefully considered all the material supplied by Merseyside Police, I have made the decision that there was sufficient evidence and I have authorised that five people should be charged.”

All of those charged will be appearing at Liverpool Magistrates’ Court this morning.

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