Detectives investigating the murder of 14-year-old Danielle Beccan last night stressed she was a completely innocent victim of a culture in which young people aspired to join gangs and carry guns.

The "popular and bright" schoolgirl's horrific murder as she walked back from Nottingham's annual goose fair on Saturday remained a mystery to police, despite numerous witnesses having come forward since the shooting.

Superintendent Dave Colbeck, of Nottinghamshire Police, said even the city's criminal fraternity was horrified that gunmen had targeted a group of children.

Danielle's mother remained too upset to talk but family and friends continued to gather at the spot where she was killed to pay tribute to the teenager.

Pupils at her school, the Elliot Durham Comprehensive, took part in a special assembly yesterday to celebrate her life.

Chief Constable Steve Green said the murder was a low point for the city, which has been labelled the gun capital of Britain.

But police denied the situation was out of control and said that, unlike two years ago, they were getting a great deal of help from members of the community desperate for a change in the inner-city suburb of St Ann's.

Officers said a number of witnesses had reported seeing several people in a gold-coloured car, from which the shots were believed to have been fired at the group of teenagers.

Assistant Chief Constable Sue Fish said police were anxious to identify the occupants of the car and issued a warning to anyone who was in the vehicle.

She said: "It may be that there were some people in the car who did not know what was going to happen.

"It may be events that night went further than they thought and I would appeal to anyone who was in that car to come forward and tell us what happened.

"I want you to look in the mirror, and if the person looking back at you is not prepared to come forward and speak, then you are as guilty as the person who pulled the trigger."

Supt Colbeck said yesterday: "Today, I have seen the anger and determination of the people in this community to change things for the better.

"If, out of these tragic tragic circumstances, some good comes and we clear the streets of Nottingham of these criminals, these guns then that is one good thing.

"The reality of this crime is we are getting information from some members of the criminal fraternity who are horrified by this.

"They do not see why people would want to shoot a group containing youngsters, containing children.

"We have to change the culture of young people where the only aspiration is to either win the lottery or become a gangster."