NEW RHYS HORROR: KID SHOT AS TV DRAMA SCREENED
Lad attacked streets from murder scene
A TEENAGER was shot close to the spot where Rhys Jones was gunned down – as ITV screened the drama Little Boy Blue.
The “heartbreaking” programme about the schoolboy’s senseless murder left viewers in tears.
A TV drama about the shooting of schoolboy Rhys Jones has been hailed the most heartbreaking in history.
Viewers blitzed social networking sites confessing they were in tears as they watched the first episode of ITV’s Little Boy Blue on Monday.
It showed 11-year-old Everton fan Rhys, played by Sonny Beyga, shot dead as he walked home from foot- ball practice by teen gangster Sean Mercer – actor Paddy Rowan.
Rhys’s mum Melanie, played by Sinead Keenan, was seen dashing through a crowd of onlookers to cradle her dying son in her arms.
The programme was the first of four hour-long episodes.
It documents the youngster’s murder 10 years ago and police fight to bring his killer to justice.
Sean Mercer, a member of Merseyside street gang the Croxteth Crew, is serving at least 22 years in jail. He shot dead innocent Rhys as he fired at rival mobsters in a pub car park.
Viewer Joo wrote on Twitter: “Breaks my heart, I can’t imagine losing any of mine. Sending my 11yo off to his rugby training and him never coming home.”
Chloe Ranford said: “Little Boy Blue is breaking my heart for sure.”
Alice said: “Little Boy Blue is so heartbreaking, the poor family.”
Yesterday we revealed how Mercer fears the drama has left him a target at maximum security Frankland Prison, Co Durham.
Rhys’s parents decided to get involved with the show to honour their son.
They said: “It is very important to us, and our other son Owen, to keep his memory alive and for people to understand how important he was to us.”
The drama attracted 5.3million viewers.