Rhys Jones Football Coach: "At the time I felt responsible"
Steve Geoghagen was one of the first to help Rhys as he lay wounded
Last updated 2nd Oct 2017
Football coach Steve Geoghagen who rushed to help Rhys Jones as he lay mortally wounded has told us at the time he felt responsible.
Rhys was gunned down outside the Fir Tree Pub in Croxteth as he walked home from football practice. Steve had offered him a lift but Rhys declined.
"there was no reason to make him get in my car because he was quite safe walking home - and he should've been."
"I sort of felt half-responsible. I know I couldn't have been - and I couldn't have done anything to prevent it apart from making him get in my car. I couldn't have made him - there was no reason to make him get in my car because he was quite safe walking home - and he should've been.
"He walked past me. I got in the car and drove 20 yards. He just fell to the floor. I didn't hear any gunshots or anything."
"When you witness it and experience it first hand. It's the worst thing in the world. I'd like people to think a bit harder. It could have been anyone. The way things are going - it could be again."
Tuesday marked ten years since Rhys was killed by shots fired by gang member Sean Mercer.
Steve said a decade on - it could easily happen again:
"These kids see these gangsters in big flash cars and half of them aspire to be that. You've only got to look at the shootings in this city alone in recent months to see lessons aren't being learned at all."
You can hear Steve's interview with us below: