Family of Ellis Cox release tribute on what would have been his 20th birthday

The family of Ellis Cox has issued a fresh tribute on what would have been his 20^th birthday.

Ellis, aged 19, was fatally shot on Sunday 23 June last year at Liver Industrial Estate and an investigation is ongoing to find the people responsible.

A number of people have been arrested in connection to the murder, but no one has been charged yet.

Ellis’ family are today, Saturday 18 January, marking the first birthday since he was killed.

To help pay tribute to Ellis, Liverpool City Council will be lighting up the Cunard Building and Liverpool Town Hall in orange today.

Paying tribute to Ellis on his birthday, his family said: “Happy birthday Ellis, we hope you can see how much you mean to us. Our world is shattered and doesn’t make much sense without you.

“Our hearts are broken and we are struggling to find the words to write this because for 19 years this was a day you would celebrate and make a fuss of you and get you all of your favourite things, we never missed a chance to get together.  How can we now celebrate his life which had hardly begun and was taken in such a cruel unexplainable way?

“It’s so hard knowing all the things he was yet to experience in life, this was his time to start to experience so much in life. He was still a teenager. So many memories he was yet to make, so many moments he was going to have to cherish and so much time he had to achieve all what he had always dreamed of he was just 19.

“His innocence is our main message to you. We understand what a difficult situation you must be in if you have information not knowing if you can, you might be scared, worried about getting it wrong, is what you know even worth mentioning but please we are begging you please speak up for Ellis, for us. Nobody’s life should be taken by another, and we will never stop asking for help because he couldn’t be more deserving of it.

“We hope we touch the hearts of everybody that can help you today our beautiful Ellis because you deserve that and so much more.

“Happy birthday we will love you always and forever Ellis and we will never give up for you.”

Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, the Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Every day without Ellis is extremely difficult for his family, but today will be particularly poignant as they mark what would have been his 20^th birthday.

“My thoughts are with them today and our specialist family liaison officers continue to support them in every way they can.

“Our determination to get justice for Ellis’ family remains as strong as ever. We continue to make inquiries as part of this ongoing investigation and would appeal to anyone with information to come forward.”

If you have any information, you can visit our dedicated web page to submit information or footage which can help in the investigation of Ellis’s murder: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/05MP23M53-PO1

You can also contact us via social media @MerPolCC or call 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 24000554719.