Police are searching for two men after a schoolgirl was shot dead in her own home.
Olivia Pratt-Korbel died after being shot in the chest as she stood behind her mum Cheryl at her home on Kingsheath Avenue in Dovecot. The gunman opened fire, with a bullet hitting Cheryl in the wrist and fatally wounding nine-year-old Olivia.
Police remain on the hunt for the gunman and another man, who was shot at on Kingsheath Avenue at around 10pm on Monday night. Chief Constable Serena Kennedy and Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen, Head of Investigations, gave more details about the two men during a press conference this lunchtime where Olivia's name was confirmed.
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Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said: "Following detectives working throughout last night, we now believe that at around 10pm two men were walking along Kingsheath Avenue from the direction of Finch Lane.
"At that time they were approached by a lone person, potentially a male, who was wearing a black padded jacket, a black balaclava with a peak, dark pants and black gloves. This individual was approximately 5ft 7 inch tall and of slim build, and they were carrying a handgun.
"From what we now know from the review of some CCTV that we have acquired so far, we know this person shot at the two men who were walking down Kingsheath Avenue. Both men responded by running away from that person with the firearm.
"Responding to the sound of those gunshots, Olivia's mum Cheryl appears to have opened the door to her property in order to see what was going on outside."
The 35-year-old man, who Cheryl and Olivia do not know, saw the front door opening and ran towards it. Despite Cheryl's best efforts to try and close the door, the man forced his way inside, followed by the gunman.
The gunman opened fire through a gap in the doorway, with one bullet hitting Cheryl in the wrist and Olivia in the chest. The gunman continued to try and force entry into the home and fired two more shots at the 35-year-old man, before fleeing the scene.
Moments later a black Audi arrived outside to take the injured man to hospital. Olivia was left for dead in the doorway along with her mum. Officers arrived 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.
Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said: "My appeal is to the person that is responsible for this horrendous attack on a nine-year-old girl to recognise the pain and anguish that this has caused her family. I want that individual to hand themselves in.
"I also want the second man that was in the street, that was with the 35-year-old man, to hand himself into us or make himself known to us."
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."
Anyone with information is asked to DM @MerPolCC or call @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111 quoting log 1083 of 22 nd August.
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