A nine-year-old who was shot in her own home in Dovecot last night was left to die by a group of men.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot dead when she was standing behind her mum as a gunman opened fire through a gap in the doorway at the front of her home on Monday night. Merseyside Police confirmed at a press conference that a gunman wearing a balaclava approached two men on Kingsheath Avenue, at the Finch Road end of the road, and opened fire at them just before 10pm.
Olivia's mum Cheryl opened the front door to see what was happening before one man forced his way into her home, followed by the gunman. A number of shots were fired before one bullet hit Cheryl in the wrist and Olivia in the chest.
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The gunman then shot the 35-year-old man, who Cheryl and Olivia do not know, and fled the scene. Moments later a black Audi appeared at the scene to take the injured man to hospital. Olivia was left in the doorway with her mum to die.
Officers then arrived and the scene and rushed Olivia to Alder Hey before North West Ambulance Service took her mum to Aintree Hospital.
The Audi has since been seized and police are looking to identify the gunman who was wearing a black padded jacket, gloves and a balaclava as well as the other man who ran down Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot. Police remain at the scene with a cordon currently 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. 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."
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