Girl, nine, shot dead after gunman bursts into Liverpool home and guns her down

A man also suffered gunshot wounds to his body and a woman was shot in the hand

A nine-year-old girl was shot dead in her own home by a "cowardly" gunman who is now on the run. The schoolgirl died after being shot in the chest around 10pm on Monday in a house in Kingsheath Avenue in the Knotty Ash area of Liverpool, where a man and woman were also injured. Merseyside police said an unknown man burst into the house and shot the girl, who has not yet been named. She was rushed to hospital in a critical condition but was later pronounced dead. Police said a man also suffered gunshot wounds to his body and a woman was shot in the hand in the "abhorrent" incident. It happened on the 15th anniversary of the death of Rhys Jones, an 11-year-old boy who was shot as he walked home from football practice in the city and is the third fatal shooting of a young person in Liverpool in less than a week. Ashley Dale, 28, was shot dead just two miles away in the early hours of Sunday morning, seven years after her brother was also fatally shot. And Sam Rimmer, 22, was shot dead on Wednesday in Toxteth before the two gunmen fled on electric bikes. Merseyside Police blasted the "shocking" shooting that claimed the life of the "innocent" nine-year-old girl. Officers were on Tuesday carrying out house-to-house inquiries while forensic officers comb the area for clues. A cordon is in place in the street. 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. “ Sims said the crime was "abhorrent" and implored people to come forward and tell police 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." Sims urgently asked for dashcam, CCTV, or mobile phone footage from anyone who lives, works or was visiting the area of Kingsheath Avenue on Monday night.

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