A nine-year-old girl who was shot dead in Liverpool has been described as the 'best friend anyone could wish for'. Olivia Pratt-Korbel was stood behind her mum Cheryl when a gunman fired inside her home in Dovecot on Monday night (August 22).
The killer, who remains at large, had forced his way into the Kingsheath Avenue house while chasing another man. He opened fire, with the bullet hitting Cheryl in the wrist and fatally wounding Olivia.
Now, the youngster's best friend, Hattie, has shared a heartbreaking tribute to her 'big sister', the Liverpool Echo reports. She said: "Olivia you are the best friend anyone could wish for, like my big sister.
"I will miss you so much. Lots of love Hattie xx." Olivia's death has rocked the community, coming days after the killings of Ashley Dale and Sam Rimmer, with all three fatally shot.
Hattie's brother Logan, who was in Olivia's class at St Margaret Mary's Primary School, said 'school won't be the same' without her. Hattie and Logan's mum Steph Mctigue shared the tributes with the Echo, along with a series of pictures of the three friends together.
In the photos, Olivia, Hattie and Logan can be seen climbing trees with huge smiles on their faces. In a video seen by the Echo, Olivia and Hattie sing Count On Me by Bruno Mars on karaoke.
Police remain on the hunt for the gunman who took aim at two men while walking down Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot, with one of the men running into the home of Olivia. The man who was chased into Olivia's home and shot at is Joseph Nee.
He remains in hospital in a stable condition, where he is under arrest for breaking his licence conditions. It is believed that Nee will be recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Police confirmed the man arrested will be further questioned in connection with the murder. The Echo previously reported, in 2018, that Nee led police on a 125mph chase.
He was jailed for 45 months after admitting two counts of burglary, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving, driving without insurance and driving whilst disqualified. Police linked Nee with a string of burglaries across Cheshire.
Earlier today, Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said: “Our enquiries continue into the shocking murder of Olivia, and supporting her family as they try to come to terms with this tragedy. I would like to echo the words of our Chief Constable yesterday appeal to the community to keep helping this family in every way possible.
"We will do all we can to take all of these involved in gun crime off the streets, as this arrest demonstrates. This is not the time for anyone who knows who was responsible to stay silent.
"It is a time for us all to make Merseyside a place where the use of guns on our streets is totally unacceptable and those who use them are held to account. If you saw, heard, captured or know anything, tell us directly or anonymously and we will continue to act."
Anyone with information, footage or images is asked to contact Merseyside Police using the online Public Portal or @MerPolCC on social media, with reference 22000621566. Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
READ NEXT:
