Britain:Detectives investigating the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones said yesterday a man had rung in with information that could lead them to the boy's killer.
Acting Det Supt Dave Kelly, who is leading the inquiry, said the man had made his short call a few days ago. He asked that he make contact again.
Speaking outside the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth Park, Liverpool, in the northwest of England, where Rhys was shot dead a week ago, Mr Kelly also appealed directly to the killer to admit what he had done. "Do the honest thing and give yourself up," he said. "It's only a matter of time before we get you."
He added the killer was on the scene for barely three minutes and had, in the space of 30 seconds, appeared around the corner of the pub, fired three shots and ridden away on his BMX bike. "We do not know who the intended victim was."
He said he was grateful to the mystery caller. Asked if the man had named the killer, Mr Kelly replied: "I cannot say that." Nor would he confirm whether the man's call had led specialist teams to search the undergrowth and ponds of Dam Wood.
Mr Kelly urged other witnesses to contact detectives and revealed that he wants to trace at least 30 people shown by CCTV footage to have been in the area.
Detectives yesterday arrested a 15-year-old local boy, the 11th person to be detained since the inquiry began. The other 10 have all been released - some on bail.
Mr Kelly also gave details of how the killer moved in and out of the range of CCTV cameras around the pub. He was first seen riding his bike at the rear of the Fir Tree pub, three minutes before Rhys was killed at 7.30pm. No gun could be seen on him.
The boy, described by witnesses as between 13 and 15, paused and went out of range of a camera, possibly up another path. He returned and was filmed heading towards the car park before again disappearing from view just before the shots.
"He's away for 30 seconds," said Mr Kelly. "That's how quick it was. He does not hesitate. He goes in there intent on discharging the bullets and is then quickly away down the path he came from."
The firing of the gun was not captured by the cameras.
As the killer was approaching the pub from one side, Rhys was walking towards it from the other, having finished an informal soccer practice.
When he reached a point in the car park about 50m (165ft) from where the gunman was standing, he was shot in the neck and fell to the ground, where he later lay dying in the arms of his mother Melanie.
Yesterday, Liverpool coroner Andre Rebello opened and adjourned an inquest into Rhys's death and released his body to his family.
- (Guardian service)