A MAN with a tattoo that reads "life is precious" is today being hunted by police in connection with the murder of Kerry Reeves. 

Miss Reeves, 26, was shot in the head outside a block of flats in Thornhill Walk, Abingdon, on Tuesday night. She died at the John Radcliffe Hospital yesterday morning

Thames Valley Police today confirmed that officers were hunting a second suspect in connection with the shooting, having yesterday arrested and bailed a 20-year-old man from Ealing

Their appeal came as Miss Reeves' mother Nicola described her grief at losing her daughter. 

She said: "On Tuesday evening my beautiful, funny daughter was brutally taken from me, aged just 26.

"Holding her in my arms for the last time is something a mother should never have to go through. Trying to take in how she looked, kissing her, never wanting to let her go.

"Myself and Kerry’s family are completely devastated not only by the loss of our beautiful young girl but the horrific way Kerry was taken from us."

Miss Reeves' grandfather Patrick Reeves, 65, said: "As a family we are completely devastated, not only by the loss of our beautiful young girl but the horrific way Kerry was taken from us at the age of 26.

"We need to know what happened to Kerry that night. We need people to help us understand how she came to die in such a brutal way.

"We need people to help us ensure justice is done for this beautiful girl Kerry."

Mr Reeves urged the public to contact police with any information about her death or Johnson's whereabouts.

The second suspect was named as Billy Johnson and is described as white, 5ft, 8ins, with very short brown hair and blue eyes.

Chris Ward, head of major crime for Thames Valley Police, warned Johnson may be armed - possibly with a handgun - and should not be approached by the public.

But Det Supt Ward said Johnson's risk to the public was low.

Johnson was born in Corby, but was living in Abingdon and has links to other places in the south east, including London. 

A total of 60 officers, including armed police squads, are now hunting Johnson in Oxfordshire, west London and Northamptonshire.

Dep Supt Ward appealed for anyone with any information about Johnson to get in touch with police immediately by calling 999. 

Police also said Johnson has two tattoos - on his right arm of the words “Mum” and clouds and one on his right hand with the words “life is precious”.

Det Supt Ward added: “Thames Valley Police is releasing an image of Billy Johnson, a man wanted in connection with Kerry Reeves’ murder in Abingdon.

“Kerry was brutally shot at close range and her family is understandably devastated by her untimely death.

“If you see Billy please do not approach him, instead call 999 immediately.”

Officers are still looking for the murder weapon and said it was believed Miss Reeves died from a single shot to the head. 

Det Supt Ward stressed that the shooting was not connected to organised crime or drug dealing, but a feud between a small group of people.

He added: "There's nothing I have seen that makes any link to organised crime groups. There is no links I have seen to drugs.

"This is possibly a feud between some individuals but we cannot get away from the risk he is out there and has access to a firearm."

Det Supt Ward said that although the investigation was still in its early stages he believed Miss Reeves would not have seen her attacker before being shot in the head.

He added: "There is nothing I have seen that says it was mistaken identity. My belief is whoever is responsible has targeted her specifically.

"We have no motive at this stage.

"Kerry was brutally shot at close range. I don't think she would have seen her attacker, it was dark."

When pressed if Miss Reeves had been shot in back of the head in an "execution" style he said the gunman had intended to kill her.

He added: "If you discharge a firearm at that close range to someone's head there is a high chance it will result in serious injury or death.

"When you say execution style I think whoever was responsible for firing that weapon intended to kill her."

A 20-year-old from Ealing was arrested on Wednesday night on suspicion of attempted murder, then rearrested yesterday on suspicion of murder after Miss Reeves died. He has been released on bail until December 5.

A post mortem examination will be carried out on Miss Reeves' body on Monday.

Mr Ward said her family were "devastated" by the attack and the community had been left in shock.

He added: "Anything like this in a community like Abingdon is going to be shocking. Part of the reassurance is to say it was between a small number of people.

"Our priority is to find him as quickly as possible. We are determined to find these people as quickly as possible."

Mr Ward said: "People are very shocked and concerned - these things don't happen in Abingdon very often.

"Even people who don't know Kerry are quite distressed about what happened."

Police said Johnson was known to the force and had previous convictions. However, Det Supt Ward said it would be unfair to disclose them at this time.

He warned that if anyone was caught harbouring Johnson they would be committing a separate offence.

Det Supt Ward said the shooting may be linked to other incidents in the town, but stressed the investigation was still in its early stages.

He added: "We know there have been some incidents in Abingdon over the last few months, as part of our investigation that is being investigated."

Police officers have searched a number of addresses in the town, including a block of flats on Northcourt Road, less than a mile from where the shooting took place.

Dep Supt said that the type of weapon used to kill Miss Reeves would not be known until after the post mortem examination.

However, he added that it was believed she was killed with one shot to her head.

He said: "We are relatively satisfied that all of these people knew each other in one capacity or another.

"It's a number of different arguments between a small group of people."

But he admitted Johnson has not been spotted since the shooting.

He said: "We know he was in Abingdon on the evening of the murder, but we have not had any reported sightings of him since then.

"He has connections outside of Oxfordshire, in west London, and Corby."

He said Miss Reeves did not regain consciousness during her time in hospital, but had been kept alive until her death on Thursday morning.

You can read how the press conference unfolded here