Two years after 19-year-old Ellis Cox was shot dead in Liverpool, police have revealed that the gun used in his murder was fired in two separate shootings before the fatal attack. The weapon remains missing, and his family continues to seek justice.
Details of the Murder
Ellis Cox was killed on June 23, 2024, in Aintree after spending the day with friends. He was approached by a group on electric bikes, attempted to flee, and was shot in the back. The shooting occurred amid a street-level drug dealing conflict between rival factions in north Liverpool. While Ellis had no involvement in crime, his associates were part of one gang targeted by another.
Weapon Used in Prior Shootings
Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, leading the investigation, told the Liverpool Echo that the self-loading pistol had been used to fire at a car in Garston, damaging a window, and three months before Ellis's murder, a flat in Walton was sprayed with bullets from the same gun. The firearm has not been used since Ellis's murder and has not been recovered.
Reward and Family Appeal
A Crimestoppers reward of £20,000 has been extended until July 6, with Ellis's family adding another £20,000, doubling the total to £40,000. Ellis's mother, Carolyn Cox, said: "We want to make sure people don’t forget and they know that we need them to search their conscience and help us get justice. Why would you not want these people off the street? Because they will do it again." She added: "We always say if it can happen to Ellis, then it can happen to anybody, because they will still go and run around thinking they’re in the movies with a gun. They’re not professionals. These are just scum with guns."
Ellis's aunt Julie O'Toole said: "They get to carry on, don't they, with their lives. They get to have their holidays and their days out and spend time with their family and friends, planning their futures. We could go down into a very dark place thinking about these people and their lack of morals, but we can't let ourselves go there. Because we have got to keep going for Ellis."
Police Statement
In a police statement released on the anniversary, the family said: "And still, after two years, we are left with unanswered questions. Someone knows what happened. Someone knows the truth. We cannot understand how anyone can carry that knowledge and stay silent while our family continues to live with this heartbreak every single day. If you know something, however small you think it may be, please find the courage to come forward. Silence protects those responsible. Speaking up could help bring the answers and justice that Ellis deserves."
Investigation Progress
Detective Chief Inspector McGrath revealed that the shooting stemmed from a dispute between groups involved in street-level drug dealing in Walton, Aintree, and Fazakerley. He said: "Around 18 months before Ellis' death there were a number of incidents which indicate one of those factional disputes taking place. We are talking about incidents such as fights in the street, what we would call an aggravated burglary where a number of males force entry into an address and appear to be looking for items." He added that Ellis had recently changed his friendship group and associated with individuals involved in criminality, but he was not involved himself.
The investigation has made nine arrests, including three in recent weeks, but all suspects remain under investigation. McGrath said: "We potentially have three or four people directly involved at the scene, but when you have got factional disputes and criminality involved in the background there are other people who are potentially involved in the arranging of these murders or in the build-up to what happened." He expressed confidence that the force is close to arresting the trigger puller, stating: "I do feel we're very close in all honestly. This is a tight group of individuals who are responsible for this."
The family continues to urge anyone with information to come forward, emphasizing that silence protects the killers.
