A nine-year-old girl fatally shot in Liverpool has been named by police - as her “callous” killer remains at large.
At a press briefing in Liverpool at 12.30pm on Tuesday, police named the victim of the shooting in Knotty Ash as Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Detectives revealed how Olivia and her mum, Cheryl, were both shot when a stranger ran into their Kingsheath Avenue home late on Monday night, while trying to escape a gunman.
Olivia was shot in the chest and Cheryl in the wrist, as the mum tried to block the shooter from entering their home.
Police say CCTV shows two men walking in Kingsheath Avenue on Monday night, when they were approached by a person wearing a balaclava and dark clothes, who shot at them.
Olivia’s mum opened her front door to investigate the commotion when one of the men, aged 35, forced his way inside in an apparent bid to escape the gunfire.
Chief constable Serena Kennedy, of Merseyside Police, said on Tuesday afternoon: “The man being chased forced his way into Olivia’s house and the offender ran in after him, firing a number of shots with complete disregard for Olivia and her family.”
Olivia’s family had “no connection” with the gunman or the man who forced his way in.
It is believed both the mother and daughter were hit by the same bullet, as Cheryl desperately tried to stop the gunman from entering, and Olivia stood behind her.
The gunman is said to have continued firing, hitting the 35-year-old man twice before fleeing on foot.
As Olivia lay dying, the 35-year-old man’s friends picked him up in a dark Audi - now seized by police - and took him to hospital.
“Sadly, Olivia was fatally wounded when the gunman fired at the man who was trying to get into the house,” said the chief constable. “Her mum also suffered a gunshot to her wrist.
“The 35-year-old man who had been chased suffered a number of gunshots to his upper body. Whilst Olivia lay dying, he was picked up by his friends who took him to hospital.”
Police arrived at about 10pm to find Olivia in a critical condition. They rushed her to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where she tragically died. Her mum and the 35-year-old man remain in hospital.
Ch Con Kennedy told how Olivia’s family have been “torn apart” by the senseless tragedy.
“Her family are absolutely devastated, inconsolable and heartbroken,” she said.
“I know that the murder of Olivia has rocked our communities who are quite rightly upset and outraged that such an abhorrent crime has coccured here on the streets of Merseyside.”
A major murder investigation is underway.
Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen described the shooter as wearing a black padded jacket, black balaclava with a peak, dark trousers and black gloves. They are about 5ft 7in tall and of slim build.
At Tuesday’s press briefing, Chief Con Serena Kennedy implored anyone with information to come forward.
“This is not the time for anyone to remain tight-lipped,” she said.
“It is time for our communities to come together with us and make Merseyside a place where the use of guns on our streets is totally unacceptable and those who use them are held to account.
“No mum, no dad, no sister or brother should ever have to experience loss in this way.”
She added: “We need to find all who were responsible for this – not just the gunman. We need to find who supplied the weapon and who arranged this terrible incident.”
She appealed directly to the “criminal fraternity”, urging them to “examine their consciences”.
Olivia’s death came on the 15th anniversary of the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones – who was shot while walking home from football practice in Liverpool.
Referencing this poignant parallel, Chief Con Kennedy added: “His murder should have been a watershed moment in the battle against gun crime.
“But shockingly, there are still callous criminals who are prepard to use weapons on our streets and have utter disregard for the heartache they have caused for Olivia’s family.”
Police say house-to-house, CCTV and forensic enquiries are in the process of being carried out, while a cordon is also in place.
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.
SHOOTING | We have launched an investigation following the tragic fatal shooting of a nine year-old girl in #KnottyAsh last night (Mon). ACC Jenny Sims:
— Merseyside Police (@MerseyPolice) August 23, 2022
“This crime is abhorrent and our communities must come forward and tell us who is responsible." https://t.co/xwCpnSIfQr pic.twitter.com/bkJDRNbgN2
“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 enquiry 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.”
Police are ramping up their presence in Merseyside in coming days, after Olivia became the third person to be fatally shot in the area in the past week.
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or call @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting log 1083 of 22nd August.
