Detectives vowed to 'not rest' until they find Olivia Pratt-Korbel's killer at a press conference today.
An update into the murder investigation was given at a briefing held in Liverpool, after a string of violent killings in the city region, the Liverpool ECHO reports. Police said the nine-year-old's killer had failed to hand himself in.
Merseyside Police Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said the investigation has a 'number of very positive lines of enquiry' as he vowed to find the gunman. “Our officers continue to carry out extensive inquiries and I can confirm there are a number of lines of inquiry we are pursuing," he said.
In a message to the killer - who burst into Olivia's home in Dovecot on Monday night and opened fire, hitting her in the chest and her mum Cheryl in the wrist - Det Chief Sup Kameen said 'we will not rest until we find you and we will find you'. He said 'a number of names' had been provided to detectives.
The briefing was also told how the 35-year-old man who was the target of the attack - reported as being convicted burglar Joseph Nee - remained in hospital for treatment. He said: "Merseyside Police, working with its partners, have caused that male’s licence to be revoked.
"He’ll be returned to prison once his treatment has been finalised." He added that the second man targeted by gunman had been identified.
Police also issued an update on the murder investigation into the death of 28-year-old council worker Ashley Dale. A gunman burst through the front door of her Merseyside home in the early hours of Sunday, August 21.
Police believe she was not the intended target. Aman and woman have now been arrested in connection with the incident.
Det Chief Sup Kameen told the press conference: "In relation to this murder investigation, I can also confirm that a man and woman has been arrested. The man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and the woman has been arrested for assisting an offender. Inquiries are continuing around those two individuals."
He added: "In my first appeal, I asked for people to come forward who were on foot in the streets in Leinster Road, and that appeal still stands."
More information about the murder of Sam Rimmer - who was shot dead on August 16 in the Dingle area of Merseyside - was also released. Three men arrested on suspicion of his murder have been released on bail pending further inquiries.
"I would urge anybody with any information in respect of this investigation was brutal murder, to come forward and engage with us," Det Chief Sup Kameen said. "In my first appeal, I spoke about the fact that there were four offenders and we believe that they arrived on two electric bikes.
"I’m still interested in hearing any information around the identity of those four individuals. I am still interested in finding out where the gun is that was used in that offence.
"And I’m still interested in any information in respect of the two electric bikes that we believe were used to convey those four men to the scene."
He added: "The level of support from our communities across each of these investigations has been phenomenal. But please let’s keep that pace with the information coming in to the inquiry."
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