Tributes paid to 9-year-old shot dead in Liverpool as police reveal she didn't know her killer
Olivia Pratt-Korbel died after a man forced his way into her home
Tributes are being paid to nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel who was shot and killed last night in Knotty Ash in Liverpool. Merseyside Police say Olivia was fatally shot as she stood behind her mother who was trying to stop a gunman from entering the family home.
A murder investigation has been set up by police, who say a 35-year-old man, unknown to the family, ran into the terraced house in Kingsheath Avenue whilst being chased by a man with a gun.
The man who was being chased suffered several gunshot wounds to his upper body while Olivia's mum Cheryl Korbel was shot in the wrist.
Olivia was hit by the same bullet that hit her mum and despite police officers rushing her to hospital she died from her injuries.
"A beautiful smile" - Tributes paid to 9-year-old Olivia
The death of such a young child has led to an outpouring of tributes from the local community and beyond.
The headteacher of St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Junior School said Olivia Pratt-Korbel had “a beautiful smile, a lovely sense of humour and a bubbly personality”.
Rebecca Wilkinson said: “Our school community is devasted at the sad loss of Olivia. We are in shock and disbelief at such tragic news.
“Olivia was a much loved member of our school. She had a beautiful smile, a lovely sense of humour, and a bubbly personality.
“She was kind-hearted and would go out of her way to help others.
“She loved to perform and recently participated in the school production of The Wizard Of Oz.
“Olivia will be missed greatly by staff and children at our school.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends at this extremely sad time.”
Some people took flowers to the scene of the incident to express their sadness at Olivia's death.
Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne has said there is “lots of anger out there” following the shooting of nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has offered her “heartfelt condolences” to the family of the nine-year-old shot dead in Liverpool and promised Merseyside Police her “full support”.
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer also tweeted, saying his thoughts were with Olivia's family
How was 9-year-old Olivia killed by a stranger?
In a press conference this afternoon, Merseyside Police set out what they know about the incidents of last night.
Around 10pm on Monday evening (22nd August), nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel was shot and killed when a gunman forced his way into her home in Knotty Ash, Liverpool.
She is not believed to have been the intended target, with the attacker chasing a 35-year-old man to the house and firing with “complete disregard” for its inhabitants.
Here's the timeline of events:
- At about 10pm, a gunman in dark clothes and balaclava fires at two men walking in Kingsheath Avenue
- Olivia’s mother, Cheryl, opens her front door after hearing the shots. One of the men, 35, runs to her and pushes his way inside to escape
- He is chased by the gunman, who puts his hand through the doorway as Cheryl attempts to ram it shut
- The gunman fires into the house. A bullet passes through Cheryl’s wrist and hits Olivia, who is standing directly behind her, in the chest
- He fires twice more at the man before fleeing on foot through the front door
- The man, who has been repeatedly shot in his upper body, is collected by friends in a black Audi. They take him to hospital as the mother and daughter lie wounded
- Police officers arrive at the house and rush Olivia to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where she dies
- Cheryl is taken by paramedics to Aintree Hospital and treated for her gunshot wound
Despite being rushed to a children’s hospital by police, Olivia died of her injuries in what officers have branded a “shocking and appalling” crime.
“We need to find all who are responsible for this"
In the Police press conference earlier Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said: “This is a shocking and appalling attack which will reverberate around our communities, and I want to take this opportunity again to appeal to anybody who knows who was responsible for this attack to please come forward and give us those names.
“We need to find all who are responsible for this – not just the gunman, we need to find who supplied the weapon and who arranged this terrible incident.”
The force also appealed to the “criminal fraternity” in Liverpool for information, adding that the incident “crosses every single boundary”.
Home Secretary offers additional resources to catch Olivia's killer:
Home Secretary Priti Patel has offered her "heartfelt condolences" to the family of the nine-year-old shot dead in Liverpool and promised Merseyside Police her "full support".
She said: "This morning, I have spoken to the chief constable for Merseyside Police about the tragic shooting in Liverpool last night.
"My heartfelt condolences go out to the family of the nine-year-old girl who has died.
"It is important that anyone with information comes forward to assist the police with their investigations.
"The force has my full support and will receive any additional resources they need."