A gunman has been on the run for 12 hours after shooting a nine-year-old girl dead in Liverpool on Monday night.
Merseyside police began a murder investigation after the schoolgirl was killed in a shooting at a home on Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot. Emergency services rushed to the scene, at around 10pm, on Monday, August 22.
Detectives claim that an "unknown man" entered the property and started to fire a gun, hitting three people, including the little girl. The nine-year-old was shot in the chest and died from her injuries.
LIVE UPDATES: Schoolgirl shot dead and two others injured
A man also suffered gunshot wounds to his body and a woman suffered a gunshot injury to her hand. They have both been taken to hospital for treatment for their injuries. Neighbours claim to have heard four gunshots.
Police remain on the hunt for the gunman, as detectives appeal for anyone with information to come forward. Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said: "This is a truly shocking incident in which tragically a young and innocent girl has been shot and sadly died.
"Our thoughts and condolences go to her family and friends at this very difficult time. No parent should ever have to suffer the loss of a child in these dreadful circumstances.
"This crime is abhorrent and our communities must come forward and tell us who is responsible. This cowardly individual does not deserve to be walking the streets and I would urge those who know anything to speak to us and tell us what they know so that we can put the person responsible behind bars where they belong.
"We are carrying out a number of lines of inquiry as a matter of urgency and would ask for dashcam, CCTV or mobile phone footage from anyone who lives, works or was visiting the area of Kingsheath Avenue last night."
Last night, two men were arrested after a woman, in her 50s, was stabbed to death on Cherryfield Drive, Kirkby. While in a separate incident, 28-year-old Knowsley Council worker Ashley Dale died after being shot in the Old Swan area of Liverpool in the early hours of Sunday.
Police are also still searching for two suspects after Sam Rimmer was shot dead in Dingle, on August 16. Mayor Joanne Anderson has urged anyone with information to come forward.
She said: "15 years to the day that Rhys Jones was murdered, another innocent child of our city becomes a victim to gun crime. Has nothing been learned? Enough is enough. This is an appalling act of evil. If you know something, you must come forward. Guns have no place in our communities."
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