Fans's tribute to shot youngster
From the Lancashire Telegraph, first published Sunday 26th Aug 2007.
BLACKBURN Rovers' fans showed their solidarity with the family of murdered Rhys Jones yesterday - and called for more police to curb the rise in gun crime.
More than 1,000 Rovers fans made the trip to an emotionally charged Goodison Park on Saturday to watch their team grind out a 1-1 draw with Everton and before kick off they stood side-by-side with the Merseysiders paying tribute to Rhys.
Eleven-year-old Rhys was gunned down on Wednesday night as he returned home from football practice.
Wearing his Everton shirt, the season ticket holder died on a car park in the Croxteth area of Liverpool by what police believe was a teenager riding a BMX.
At Saturday's game his mum Mel, dad Stephen, and older brother Owen, stood near the dug-outs flanked by Mark Hughes and Everton boss David Moyes as the players and crowd stood in a minute's applause to mark his death.
His mum requested that there be a period of applause rather than silence, and many Rovers fans were visibly moved by the experience.
Earlier in the week Everton captain, Phil Neville, who lives in Crawshawbooth, led the club's response to the shooting by appealing for people to come forward with information in a video posted on the club website.
For many at the ground though, Rhys' shooting was another example of the perils youngsters face on the streets of 21st century Britain.
Father-of-two Andy Lamb, 36, from Hollins Grove, Darwen, said he was worried to let his children play out in front of the house because of the rise in violent crime. He has two sons aged two and four.
He said: "Last month there were three or four cases in which people were either shot or stabbed and that was just in Darwen.
"In my opinion it's getting out of hand and something needs to be done. The police do a good job but maybe patrols need to be stepped up and more police on the streets. I really think that would help.
"I feel so sorry for the parents of Rhys and my heart goes out to them. For them to be here today showed a lot of courage.
"For people of my age there isn't a problem but I'm worried if I let my kids play out, you don't know what could happen."
For David Ashworth, 31, of Accrington Road, Blackburn, there were similar concerns for his eight-year-old daughter.
He said: "You should be able to let your children play out but sometimes you don't know whether that is the right thing to do because violence does seem to be on the increase.
"I think things are getting worse and maybe more police would help but at the end of the day if someone wants to get hold of a gun they will do.
"It's scary though that those carrying out these crimes are so young."
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