The first image of a little girl shot in her home by a stranger in a balaclava while playing with her mum and siblings has been released. Olivia Pratt-Korbel was tragically shot in Liverpool last night (August 23) as her mum tried to keep the lethal violence unfolding outside from spilling into her house.
Merseyside Police have today said that little Olivia was left to die by a group of men who brought unwanted terror to their home as the country has been left in shock. The Liverpool ECHO has now released a picture of the 9-year-old smiling in the sun, an image that will bring sadness to many with young children and relatives.
Olivia was fatally wounded as she stood behind her mum when a gunman opened fire through a gap in the doorway at the front of her home yesterday night. Police said at a press conference that a gunman wearing a balaclava approached two men on Kingsheath Avenue, in the Dovecot area of the city, and opened fire at them just before 10pm.
READ MORE: Man charged with murder of Tyson Fury's cousin Rico Burton
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.
Soon after this a black Audi took an injured man, who the family did not know, to hospital, leaving little Olivia in her doorway dying with her mum. Officers then arrived and the scene and rushed Olivia to Alder Hey before North West Ambulance Service took her mum to Aintree Hospital. A police scene remains in place while police hunt for the gunman and others involved in this shocking incident.
This is the latest in a shocking series of violence to blight Liverpool and Manchester in recent weeks. Last night Karen Dempsey was stabbed to death apparently trying to break up a fight outside a local pub in the Kirkby area of Liverpool, in the early hours of Sunday morning council worker Ashley Dale was shot dead in her home, and last Tuesday (August 16) Sam Rimmer from Bootle was shot and killed as he stood with a group in the street.
Manchester has also been marred with violence in recent weeks. In the early hours of August 15, Javell Morgan, 20, was fatally stabbed as crowds marked the end of the Caribbean Festival in Moss Side and Rico Burton, the cousin of world champion boxer Tyson Fury, was knifed to death in Altrincham last weekend.
The country has ben left in a state of shock at fatal incidents over recent months, with the killing of 9-year-old Olivia sending shivers down the spine of all. While investigations into this tragic incident continue 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."
For more of today's top stories click here.
READ NEXT:
Child leaves heartbreaking note at the scene of shooting where nine-year-old schoolgirl was killed
Everything Merseyside Police said as girl, 9, shot dead in Liverpool named as Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Man jailed after he's arrested at home in police and council operation
Uniformed officers asked not to participate in Manchester Pride parade by organisers
Mum with two babies trapped in Tesco car park for 90 minutes during heatwave slapped with £70 fine
