A grieving mother from Liverpool has penned an agonising Christmas letter to her teenage son, who was shot dead while riding his bike earlier this year, as she faces a second festive season without him.
A Life Taken on the Loop Line
Nineteen-year-old Ellis Cox was gunned down on the evening of June 23, 2024. He had been cycling with four friends near the Liverpool Loop Line, locally known as The Ralla, on the Liver Industrial Estate. At approximately 10.50pm, the group was approached by what police describe as 'one to three males on two electric bikes'.
One of the individuals opened fire, discharging three shots towards Ellis and his friends. In a desperate attempt to escape, Ellis tried to pedal away but was fatally struck in the back. The secluded and dimly lit nature of the Loop Line, which is largely overgrown, presented significant challenges for the investigation. A lack of witnesses and CCTV footage of the suspects has compounded the difficulty for detectives.
A Wall of Silence and a Family's Fight for Justice
To date, six arrests have been made in connection with the murder, but no one has been charged. Merseyside Police and the Cox family state that a 'wall of silence' from the community has critically hampered the probe.
Led by Ellis's mother, Carolyn Cox, and his aunt, Julie O'Toole, the family has launched a relentless media campaign to ensure his killing is not forgotten and to press for answers. As Christmas approaches, a time traditionally for family, their grief has intensified.
In her emotional letter, Carolyn writes of a world that now 'feels pointless' without her son. She describes the daily trauma of waking up and momentarily forgetting, only to be hit by a 'tidal wave of pain, trauma, and grief'. The family, she says, simply craves to see his face or hear his voice one more time.
Unbearable Pain as a Driver for Justice
Carolyn reveals that the 'unbearable' anguish has become a motivator. 'Our pain has become our driver and getting justice for you is what gets us out of bed each day,' she writes to Ellis. She speaks of the life he was robbed of—the plans, the mark he was meant to leave on the world, and all the places he was destined to see.
The family vows to continue their fight, drawing strength from each other and from the feeling that Ellis walks beside them. This Christmas, they will light a candle for him and whisper their greetings to the sky, hoping he can hear them.
Merseyside Police continue to appeal for information. Anyone with details, dashcam, or CCTV footage is urged to visit the dedicated investigation webpage, contact the force via social media @MerPolCC, call 101, or anonymously contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, quoting reference 24000554719.
