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Family pen letter to shot teen who 'left big hole'

Family handout A young man with long brown hair smiles at the camera at a restaurant, sitting next to an elderly ladyFamily handout
Ellis Cox was killed on an industrial estate on Merseyside in June this year

The family of man who was shot dead in an industrial estate have written him a letter six months after his death recalling their "immeasurable pain".

Ellis Cox was found injured with gun shot wounds at the Liver Industrial Estate in Aintree on Merseyside, on 23 June and died later in hospital.

The 19-year-old's killer has not been found despite numerous appeals.

Mr Cox's relatives told him in the letter how much he was adored and how his empty presence had "left a big hole".

BBC/Ryan Dobney Carolyn Cox stands on a path next to a grassed area. She is holding flyers appealing for help in finding her son's killer. She has long blonde hair and is wearing a black sweatshirt which includes the words 'who murdered Ellis Cox?' and a photo of her son.BBC/Ryan Dobney
Carolyn Cox and her family have been handing out flyers as they seek to get justice for Ellis

"We miss every ounce of you," the letter read.

"Nothing will be the same again without you. Our lives are changed forever".

It said the family had endured "184 days, 4,391 hours and 263,460 minutes" without their "beautiful Ellis".

'Nothing is the same'

The letter described how Ellis' mother, Carolyn Cox, was being "so strong" despite being heartbroken.

The family was "still trying to catch our breath, but it's so hard without you", it added.

Ellis' "banter" and "one liners" and even him "cracking" his knuckles were described as some of the things the family missed the most.

"Nothing is the same without you," the letter added.

Family handout A young teen with short brown hair, wearing a black hoodie, smiles at the cameraFamily handout
Ellis has been described as a "gentle giant" by family and friends

Merseyside Police believe Mr Cox was shot with a self-loading pistol as he made his way home through the industrial estate after going to Southport with friends.

His mum said he had called her shortly before and told her he would be "home in five minutes".

Mr Cox's family have been walking along the cycle loopline in Aintree, near to where he was killed.

They have been handing out flyers to appeal for information during the walk, which began at 13:00 GMT at the Grace Road entrance.

"Every single day, the only thing that gets me out of bed is all the appeals we are doing, just to try to find something - anything - to go on to help us get justice for Ellis," Ms Cox told the BBC as she was handing out the flyers.

"You have to have hope. I have hope in all of our detectives and our liaison team - they are all amazing so I have faith that they will find who did this," she added.

Family handout A young teen with long brown hair holds a small babyFamily handout
His mother said he was a "very good" and "amazing" son

Three men and a boy, 17, have previously been arrested in connection with Mr Cox's death but no-one has been charged.

The force is continuing to appeal for information.

Det Ch Insp Steve McGrath said: "I completely understand that speaking up could be daunting, but when people are willing to support the police we will ensure every possible avenue is progressed to protect them".

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