Tributes have been made to a young journalist who was killed last night in Londonderry as she reported on riots happening in the Creggan area.
Police in Northern Ireland have now released footage of Lyra McKee in the crowd, which also shows the masked gunman at a nearby building.
Sara Canning paid tribute to her 29-year-old partner today in front of hundreds of people attending a vigil in her memory and described her killing as a 'senseless murder'.
Ms McKee was hit by a stray bullet after a masked gunman opened fire towards a crowd of police officers and bystanders at around 11pm, as republican dissidents rioted in the city's Creggan estate.
Speaking at the vigil, Ms Canning said: 'It has left so many friends without their confidante. Victims and LGBTQI community are left without a tireless advocate and activist and it has left me without the love of my life, the woman I was planning to grow old with are all passed in the loss of Lyra.
Ms McKee, who had extensively covered the legacy of the Troubles, in a new picture released by her family today
Tributes were left on the scene for Lyra which one which read: 'Heartbroken you lost your life here in Derry. So very sorry RIP Lyra - Not In Our Name
Dissident republicans have been blamed by police for the murder of journalist Lyra McKee (pictured), who was shot dead while covering a riot in Londonderry last night
Dissident republicans have been blamed by police for the murder of journalist Lyra McKee (pictured right, with girlfriend Sara Canning), who was shot dead while covering a riot in Londonderry last night
A police officer was pictured paying her respects at a memorial which had been created to honour Lyra's life
People signing a book of condolence after a vigil at Belfast City Hall in memory of murdered journalist Lyra McKee
'Our hopes and dreams and all of her amazing potential was snuffed out by this single barbaric act.
'This cannot stand, Lyra's death must not be in vain because her life was a shining light in everyone else's life and her legacy will live on and the life that she has left behind.'
This evening the latest winner of the Man Booker prize paid a tearful tribute to a murdered Belfast journalist.
Milkman author Anna Burns was among hundreds who turned out at Belfast City Hall for a vigil to Lyra McKee and stood for a minute's silence, which was followed with applause.
People hold candles during a vigil at Belfast City Hall which was packed out for the vigil to honour the life of Lyra
A woman wears a rainbow flag while she looks towards a picture of Lyra which has been placed on the gates of the Belfast City Hall
John O'Doherty of the Rainbow Project reads a letter written by Lyra McKee when she was aged 24 entitled 'Letter to me 14-year-old self
The books of condolence for Ms McKee was brought to the front steps of the building after the doors were officially closed for the night to allow those waiting in a long queue to sign it.
A smiling photograph of the 29-year-old journalist gazed across the rainbow flag-draped table which held two condolence books for well wishers to sign as well as a small posy of forget-me-nots.
Those attending were asked to talk to each other in memory of Ms McKee who they were reminded, loved conversations.
John O'Doherty of the Rainbow Coalition read out Ms McKee's 'Letter To My 14-year-old Self', in which she had written evocatively about facing challenging times at school and the moment she came out as gay to her mother, and relief when her mother embraced her.
Next three friends of Ms McKee's, who had been due to meet her for dinner that evening, shared their memories of their friend.
People looked tearful as they held candles at a vigil which was being held this evening, many struggled to hold back the tears at the emotional event
Beautiful daffodils were left in bunches near the scene of the shooting along with a framed photo of Lyra (centre)
A memorial including flowers candles and trinkets was laid including a plaque which read: 'Rest in peace Lyra MC Kee Not In Our Name - The People Of Derry'
Ms McKee's devastated partner Sara Canning, centre, today paid tribute to her in front of hundreds of people at a vigil near the scene of the shooting, and said her partner's 'amazing potential was snuffed out by a single barbaric act'
Michele Devlin, Anna Burns and Alison Miller supported each other as they tearfully addressed the vigil.
Ms Burns described Ms McKee as a 'dear, dear friend' that she had met through their mutual publisher Faber and Faber.
'It's absolutely wonderful that you are all here for Lyra,' she told the crowd, many of whom held candles.
'She was just so helpful and generous, her wee heart was always open.'
Speaking about the shock of Ms McKee's death, close friend Matthew Hughes told MailOnline: 'The loss her friends feel is unquantifiable. Unfathomable. She is utterly irreplaceable.'
Paying tribute to his friend, he added: 'It was just after midnight, my wife got a call from Lyra's partner. It was probably the one of the worst phone calls I've ever overheard in my life.
'I heard the word 'shot', and that she was dead. Lyra was one of my best friends, she was a groomswoman at my wedding; she helped me tie my tie before the wedding. We'd traveled abroad together; we were very, very close.'
Mr Hughes said he had known Ms McKee for five years and added: 'Lyra was such a brilliant, kind, compassionate person, and so unbelievably good; as a journalist, as a storyteller, as a person.
'If she saw a homeless person on the street she would go and buy them a cup of tea and a sandwich. She was the kindest, brightest, most determined person.
'She was a great investigative reporter, and she was at this inflection point in her career - she was going to go to the next level, she was so bright and so accomplished.'
Lyra McKee, 29, (shown left,at the wedding of close friend Matthew Hughes) is believed to have been hit by a stray bullet after a gunman opened fire indiscriminately at around 11pm
Ms Canning, pictured left alongside Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster, right, added Lyra was a 'shining light'
In a heartbreaking Tweet, Ms McKee spoke of 'falling in love with Derry' and 'a woman who hails from it', before tragically adding: 'Here's to good times ahead and saying goodbye to bombs and bullets once and for all'
Moments before her death, Ms McKee had posted an image from the scene of the riots on Twitter showing smoke rising into the air above emergency service vehicles, along with the caption: 'Derry tonight. Absolute madness'
Ann Travers, whose sister Mary was murdered by the IRA in 1984, said Ms McKee was a 'kind, gentle, witty and stubborn soul'.
'I have just heard, that my lovely friend Lyra was murdered tonight in Derry. I just can't believe, that this witty, clever human being has been taken... Feel sick.'
Martin O'Hagan had been the only journalist killed on Northern Irish soil before the death of Lyra McKee.
He was assassinated by the Loyalist Volunteer Force as he walked home from the pub with his wife in 2001.
O'Hagan had been an investigative journalist for the Sunday World, and was well-known for his stories exposing the seedy activities of Ulster loyalists.
Before his time as a journalist, he was a member of the Official IRA, and ordered an attack of a police patrol in 1972 in which he gunned down and killed Constable George Chambers.
On September 28, 2001, Martin and his wife Marie were walking home from Fa' Joe's pub in his hometown of Lurgan in Northern Ireland when a car pulled up slowly alongside them.
As the occupants opened fire from a window, O'Hagan pushed his wife into a bush as he was struck several times by bullets.
As he lay wounded on the pavement, he asked his wife to call an ambulance, but by the time she returned from making the call he had died.
English journalist Ross McWhirter, co-founder of the Guinness World Book of Records, was murdered by IRA assassins outside his London home in 1975.
He came a target of paramilitary republicans after offering a £50,000 reward for information leading to convictions in high-profile bombings carried out by the IRA during the Troubles. He also advocated for restrictions on the freedom of Irish people during the unrest.
Harry Duggan and Hugh Doherty shot him in the head and chest outside his home with a Magnum revolver. They were convicted for the crime but then released under the Good Friday Agreement.
Fellow journalist Peter McGuire said Ms McKee was a 'gifted writer, a kind person and SO generous with her time and knowledge'.
'So young - horrific & heartbreaking news from Derry tonight,' he tweeted.
Seamus Dooley, Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists, wrote: 'Shocked by news that woman shot dead in Derry last night has been named locally as @NUJofficial Lyra McKee.
'We are shocked by killing of a journalist of courage, style and integrity. Sympathy to her partner, family and many friends.'
Lilly Dancyger, a New York-based editor at Narratively, said Ms McKee was 'dedicated to covering the lasting trauma & violence of the Troubles'.
'Devastating to hear she was killed tonight by that same violence,' she tweeted.
Ms Dancyger shared an article written by Ms McKee about the families of Troubles victims.
'I was Lyra's editor on this story, and it was an honour. Sharing her work now is all I can think to do,' she said.
Michelle Stanistreet, National Union of
