Residents have been left 'devastated' after a nine-year-old girl was shot dead in her Liverpool home. Merseyside Police have launched a murder investigation following yesterday's shooting, which came 15 years to the day after Rhys Jones was killed in the city.
The girl suffered a gunshot injury to the chest and was taken to hospital where she died. A man also suffered gunshot wounds to his body and a woman suffered a gunshot injury to her hand during the incident inside the house.
People living in Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot, and the surround area are reeling from the incident, with one woman saying that the shooting has made her worry for her own children. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, she said: "It's devastating.
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"It can't carry on like this. I have four boys and for this to happen on our own doorstep is shocking. The streets here are always full of kids playing."
Mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson described the shooting as an 'appalling act of evil' and urged anyone with information to come forward. "15 years to the day that Rhys Jones was murdered, another innocent child of our city becomes a victim to gun crime," she said.
"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."
Liverpool Wavertree Labour MP Paula Barker added: "It is obviously devastating and it comes 15 years to the day after Rhys Jones was senselessly murdered on the streets of our city as well. It is completely unacceptable and this mindless violence simply has to stop.
"I think, as a city, we come together in adversity and I know people in Liverpool will be absolutely horrified this morning."
The shooting happened around 10pm last night (August 22) and a large police cordon still remains in place, Liverpool Echo Reports. Merseyside Police will be holding a press conference at at its headquarters in Rose Hill, Liverpool, at 11am this morning.
In a statement, Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims, of Merseyside Police, confirmed that the gunman is at large. She 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 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.”
Anyone with information is asked to message @MerPolCC on Twitter, quoting log 1083 of 22nd August. Alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
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