Family double reward to help solve Ellis Cox murder

The family of a teenager who was shot in an industrial park on Merseyside have said they have pulled together £20,000 to double a reward on offer for information that leads to a conviction over his death.

Ellis Cox died in hospital after being shot on an industrial estate in Aintree on 23 June 2024.

Six men have been arrested on suspicion of murder but no-one has been charged. The family said more information was provided after the Crimestoppers reward of £20,000 was first offered and relatives have decided to match it.

"As a family we've pulled all of our resources and everything that we've got to be able to match that £20,000 to make it £40,000," Ellis's aunt Julie O'Toole said.

She said the Crimestoppers reward, which was first launched in October, had been extended and the family was still desperate for answers.

"We're thrilled that it's being extended, but what we talked about as a family was how can we do this even more now? and build on that offering from Crimestoppers.

"Sadly, money talks, doesn't it?"

"We're nearly two years on, and every day, it's just as hard as it was the day before," she said.

"How we're grieving for Ellis, and how much we miss him."

O'Toole said the reward was appealing to people with information "to stop protecting the people that took Ellis from us... who know who took him from us and who were involved."

"We're a big family, we're a close family, and we love and adore Ellis and nothing will stop us appealing until we get the justice for Ellis that he absolutely deserves."

She urged anyone with information "to do the right thing" and contact Crimestoppers, which is a charity independent of the police.

"It's anonymous," she said.

"You don't have to go to court, you don't have to give statements."

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