Olivia’s family are ‘inconsolable’, police have said
The nine-year-old killed in a shooting in Liverpool on Monday night has been named as Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Merseyside police revealed the name at a press conference on Tuesday where Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said the schoolgirl’s family are “devastated” and “inconsolable”.
Kennedy said the murder “has rocked the community”.
A 35-year-old man also suffered gunshot wounds and Olivia’s mother, Cheryl, was shot in the wrist during the incident in Kingsheath Avenue in the Knotty Ash area of Liverpool around 10pm.
https://twitter.com/Urban_Satirist/status/1562058141415743490
Police say the 9-year-old girl shot dead in Liverpool was murdered by a gunman chasing a man he'd targeted. The intended victim ran into the child's house when he spotted the door was open. The girl then shot has been named as Olivia Pratt-Korbel by Merseyside's Chief Constable: pic.twitter.com/xjWZPl6Tql
— BBC North West (@BBCNWT) August 23, 2022
Police detailed how the incident unfolded, saying that the 35-year-old man was being chased by a gunman who then forced his way into the home.
Detective Chief Superintendant Mark Kameen said around 10pm, two men were walking along Kingsheath Avenue, when they were approached by a lone person, wearing a black padded jacket, balaclava and gloves.
Kameen said the person, who was around 5ft 7 tall and of slim build, was carrying a handgun and fired shots at the men who then ran away.
Olivia’s mother, Kameen said, then opened the door to see what was going on, when one of the men, the 35-year-old, forced his way inside.
“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 had no connection with the gunman or the man who forced his way in, ” he said.
“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 gunshot to her wrist.”
Olivia was shot in the chest. She was taken to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, but was later pronounced dead.
Kennedy said now is not the time to remain tight-lipped and urged the community to come together and help police capture the shooter, who remains at large.
She said no family should have to experience a loss like this and said no stone will be left unturned in the police investigation.
Kameen has made a direct appeal to the gunman to hand himself in.
He also wants the second man who was with the injured 35-year-old man to come forward.
The shooting 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.
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