Ellis Cox family hope increased £100k reward will give 'closure'

The family of a teenager who was shot dead two years ago has said they hope an increased £100,000 reward will encourage someone to come forward with the information needed to catch the killer.

Ellis Cox, 19, died after he was shot in the back on the Liver Industrial Estate in Aintree, Merseyside, in June 2024.

An initial £20,000 reward from Crimestoppers was matched by his family in April and now an anonymous donor has given a further £60,000.

Cox's aunt Julie O'Toole said the family hoped the higher reward would "give us closure" and "get justice for Ellis and for us and for his mum". Ten people have been arrested in connection with Ellis's death but no-one has been charged.

She said the thought of getting justice for him was "literally keeping us going each day".

"Every day when we wake up, it's the first thing we think of and we are doing absolutely everything to make sure we get the justice that he deserves and that means us never giving up," she added.

O'Toole said any information given would be done anonymously via Crimestoppers, which is a charity independent of the police.

She said anyone contacting the charity would not have to give statements or go to court.

O'Toole said Merseyside Police officers were "working so hard - they want justice as much as us".

She also praised the support from the community, saying "we are a very close family and there's a lot of love".

Ellis's mum Carolyn Cox had previously spoken about the "hell" she has been through, as her son's death remains unsolved.

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