A nine-year-old girl shot dead in Liverpool has been named by Merseyside Police as Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Olivia's identity was confirmed by Merseyside Police, who also revealed that the girl's mum was also injured in the shooting.
Officers began a murder investigation after attending a house in Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecot, at 10pm on Monday following reports that an unknown male had fired a gun inside the property, Merseyside Police said.
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: "At 10pm last night, our officers were called to Olivia’s home on Kingsheath Avenue and when we arrived we found three people had been injured, including Olivia and her mum.
Chief Constable Serena Kennedy
Peter Byrne
"We believe one of the injured parties, a 35-year-old man was being chased by a man armed with a gun who was firing at him.
"The man being chased forced his way into Olivia’s house and the offender ran in after him firing a number of shots with complete disregard for Olivia and her family who have no connection with the gun man or the man who forced his way in."
"Sadly Olivia was fatally wounded when the gunman fired at the man who was trying to get into the house and her mum also suffered a gun shot to her wrist.
"The 35-year-old man who had been chased, suffered a number of gun shots to his upper body.
"Whilst Olivia lay dying, he was picked up by his friends who took him to hospital."
A nine-year-old girl shot dead in Liverpool has been named by Merseyside Police as Olivia Pratt-Korbel
Peter Byrne
Ms Kennedy added that Olivia was taken to Alder Hey Children's Hospital, but despite the best efforts of medical staff, she died.
She added: “I know that the murder of Olivia has rocked our communities, who are quite rightly upset and outraged that such an abhorrent crime has occurred here on the streets of Merseyside.
“The people of Liverpool and Merseyside are known for their compassion and pulling together in times of crisis, and I know that our communities, people are wanting to help the family in any way possible.
“This is not the time for anyone who knows who’s responsible for this shooting to remain tight-lipped.
“It is time for our communities to come together with us and make Merseyside a place where the use of guns on our streets is totally unacceptable, and those who use them are held to account.”
Merseyside Police have appealed to criminals in a bid to catch the killer of Olivia, saying the crime “crosses every single boundary”.
Ms Kennedy said: “I also want to take the opportunity to appeal to members of the criminal fraternity and ask them to examine their consciences as they will have vital information that can help us.
“The killing of a nine-year-old child is an absolute tragedy and crosses every single boundary, and I would urge them to do the right thing so we can put this person behind bars.”
