Ralla Shooting: Masked Men Spotted Before Fatal Attack, Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• As per the report by Liverpool Echo, some masked men were noticed going to the park about 90 minutes before the murder of 19-year-old Ellis Cox, who died near the park.
• Cox was murdered in June 2024 at the Liver Industrial Estate, Aintree as he was cycling with his friends back to his home.
• Ten suspects have been arrested in connection with the murder, but no charges have been filed against any of them.
• A reward of £100,000 is up for grabs for anyone providing credible information.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) October 12, 2026 — The Liverpool Echo reported that a group of masked men were seen heading into a park around 90 minutes before Ellis Cox, 19, was shot dead nearby. The report connects the sighting to the ongoing investigation into Cox’s murder on the Liverpool Loop Line, known locally as the Ralla. Ten people have been arrested in connection with the case, but no one has been charged.

What was reported about the park sighting?

The Liverpool Echo reported that the men were seen entering a park roughly an hour and a half before the fatal shooting. The available report does not identify the park, state how many men were seen, or explain whether police believe the group was directly connected to the shooting.

The sighting is one of the reported developments in a case that has remained unresolved for more than two years. The report links the observation to the timeline before Cox was killed, but does not establish that the men were involved in the murder. An observation made before a crime may be relevant to an investigation; on its own, it does not prove a connection.

Where and when was Ellis Cox killed?

Cox was 19 when he was shot on the Liver Industrial Estate in Aintree in June 2024. The Liverpool Echo reported that he was cycling with four other people when they encountered people travelling on two electric bikes at about 10.50pm. One of the riders fired three shots, and Cox was struck in the back as he tried to get away on his pedal bike.

The shooting took place close to the Liverpool Loop Line, known locally as the Ralla. Cox was taken to hospital but died from his injuries. The BBC also reported that he had been shot in the back on the industrial estate.

The Liverpool Echo reported that Cox had no links to crime, while police said some people he knew had links to street-level drug dealing in the area. The reporting does not say Cox was involved in criminal activity.

What is the latest arrest position?

The investigation has resulted in ten arrests, according to reporting by the Liverpool Echo and BBC. The tenth arrest, reported in July 2026, was of a 25-year-old man from Liverpool on suspicion of conspiracy to commit murder. Merseyside Police said he was being held for questioning.

An arrest is not a charge or a finding of guilt. As of the reports cited in this article, no one had been charged in connection with Cox’s death. The status of individual suspects may change as the investigation proceeds, but the reported total remains ten arrests, with the case still open.

Detective Chief Inspector Steve McGrath, who is leading the investigation, said after the tenth arrest that police remained determined to identify those responsible and secure justice for Cox’s family. He also urged anyone with relevant information to contact investigators.

Why is there a £100,000 reward?

A £100,000 reward has been offered for information leading to the conviction of those responsible for Cox’s murder. The BBC reported that Crimestoppers initially offered £20,000, which the family matched; an anonymous donor later contributed another £60,000.

Cox’s aunt, Julie O’Toole, told the BBC that the family hoped the increased reward would encourage someone to come forward and bring them closure. She said the family wanted justice for Ellis and his mother, Carolyn Cox, and described the search for answers as a daily concern. O’Toole also said that information submitted through Crimestoppers could be given anonymously.

The Liverpool Echo has also reported the family’s appeal for people with information to speak up. Cox’s mother, Carolyn, has urged witnesses to consider the consequences of remaining silent, while the family has continued to publicise his case.

What have detectives said about the case?

Earlier reporting by the Liverpool Echo and BBC outlined police theories about possible links between the killing and disputes among groups involved in street-level drug dealing in parts of north Liverpool. DCI McGrath has described a history of tensions and sporadic violence, but these remain lines of police inquiry rather than findings established in court.

The Liverpool Echo has also reported that the firearm believed to have been used in the killing had been involved in two earlier shooting incidents and had not been recovered at the time of that report. Police have described the weapon as a self-loading pistol.

The investigation involves more than identifying the person who fired the gun. Police have said they are looking at the wider circumstances, including the actions of people who may have assisted before or after the shooting. No account should be treated as proof of an individual’s involvement unless that is established through the criminal justice process.

How can people provide information?

Merseyside Police have asked anyone with information about the murder to come forward. People can also provide information anonymously through Crimestoppers.

Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111. People contacting police can use the investigation reference 24000554719, as stated in previous reporting. Anyone with relevant information—including something they saw, heard or recorded should provide it directly to the authorities rather than speculate publicly about suspects.

Background to the investigation

Ellis Cox was shot on the Liver Industrial Estate in Aintree in June 2024 while returning home after spending the day with friends. The Liverpool Loop Line, or Ralla, is close to the location and became part of the public description of the case. Police have investigated the shooting as a murder and have made ten arrests, but the case remained without a charge in the reports available for this article.

The family’s reward appeal has risen to £100,000, while detectives have continued to ask the public for evidence. The reported sighting of masked men in a park before the killing adds a detail to the timeline, but the information available does not establish whether those individuals were connected to Cox’s death.

What could this mean for the community?

For people who use the Ralla, nearby parks and routes around Aintree, the report may prompt renewed interest in whether anyone remembers seeing unusual activity around the time of the shooting. Its significance will depend on whether the sighting can be verified and whether witnesses can provide information investigators can use. The report does not establish an ongoing threat to park users.

For Cox’s family and the wider community, the arrests and reward have not yet led to a charge. Evidence that helps police clarify the sequence of events and establish responsibility through the courts could be an important development. Until then, the investigation remains unresolved, and anyone with direct information can contact Merseyside Police or Crimestoppers.