Rhys murder: heads bowed, Everton players pay tribute to slain schoolboy

The squad, led by their captain, Phil Neville, stood with their heads bowed and in silence at the makeshift shrine outside the Fir Tree pub in Croxteth, Liverpool.

England striker Andy Johnson, along with international stars James McFadden, Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta, laid a signed number 8 shirt and a pair of boots.

Today the remaining suspects in custody being questioned in connection with the murder of the schoolboy were released by police.

Four people were released without charge, while two more have been released on police bail, police have said. One boy aged 15 and a man aged 19, as well as a 15-year-old girl and an 18-year-old woman have been released without charge.

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Merseyside Police said a 16-year-old boy and a 19-year-old man had been released on bail pending further inquiries.

This means no one remains in police custody in connection with the death of the 11-year-old in Croxteth Park, Liverpool, on Wednesday.

The development emerged as a key witness who came face to face with the killer seconds after he fired the fatal shot approached the police.

The witness, a teenage boy, was walking along a footpath towards the Fir Tree pub, where 11-year-old Rhys was murdered as he made his way home from football training, when he heard three gun shots.

Moments later the killer, wearing a hooded top, sped past the youngster on his BMX bicycle and escaped into the culdesacs and closes which make up Liverpool's Croxteth Park estate.

It is believed the youngster has given a vivid description of the gunman to officers. Merseyside police refused to confirm that he had been offered their protection.

One of those arrested was a 19-year-old man hurt as he tried to escape from police through an upstairs window.

Although police are confident that the net is closing in on the killer, they are still desperate for more witnesses to come forward. A source said: "The inquiry is moving in a positive direction, but we are not counting our chickens just yet."

Police have traced another vital witness, a woman with a pram, who walked past the killer moments before the murder.

Wayne Rooney and his fiancee Coleen McLoughlin, who grew up in the Croxteth area, have sent a floral tribute in the shape of an Everton shirt to the murder scene.

The card read: "Good night - God bless Rhys. All our love Collette, Tony, Coleen, Wayne, Joe, Anthony and Rosie."

Tony and Collette are Coleen's parents, Joe and Anthony are her brothers and Rosie is her sister.

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Five of Rhys's classmates from Broad Square Primary School have set up a website called "Loving Memory Of Innocent Rhys", which contains scores of photographs and tributes.

The site is the work of Connor Irwin, James Rigby, Daniel O'Brien, Ross Greenwood and George Styern, all 11, who met on their first day at school.

One picture of the six boys in jeans and white T-shirts after performing in a school production of Grease, has the poignant caption "The Lads' Last Day with Rhys, 20 July, Never Forget That Day!"

The motive for the murder is still unclear, but one line of inquiry is that Rhys was accidentally caught in the crossfire in a fight between two teenagers over a girl. Another is that he was shot by mistake in a revenge attack between rival gangs.

Experts are examining CCTV footage from at least nine cameras on the walls of the pub. It is understood that Rhys's death was captured on film and that officers have a grainy image of the killer. Forensic teams are also examining two BMX bicycles recovered by officers.

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Former soldier Steve Murphy, 45, who was outside the pub at the time of the murder, went through some of the CCTV with the manager afterwards.

He said: "The poor lad is lying on the floor, he's got his silver and black shinpads on and his socks are rolled down. His sports bag is across his chest and there's blood everywhere.

"It is a horrific sight, one I wish I'd never seen."

As prayers were said across the city for Rhys, his brother Owen, 17, visited the scene of the murder for the first time yesterday.

He fought back tears as he laid a bouquet of flowers alongside the large number of tributes which have grown into a makeshift shrine.

Our Facebook for a friend... The website tributes

Rhys' friends in fancy dress: "The gang people have sites to show how bad they are. We wanted to show how GOOD Rhys was" Danny (right) and friends: "He was just a little boy, about 4ft 9, and he was tragically killed. He did not deserve this" Connor, pictured with Rhys: "Rhys, you always had a smile on your face. I can't believe that I'm never going to see you again" 'The Lads' (pictured with Rhys): "The last day we were together with Rhys. It was out Grease play. We miss you and love you"