Liverpool shooting: National appeal to 'criminal fraternity' to turn in little girl's killer as man, 35, arrested

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy says the “shocking” killing of Olivia Pratt-Korbel on Monday night “crosses every single boundary” and is asking the criminal underworld to “give us those names”.

It comes as a 35 year old man, believed to be the original target of the shooting, was arrested this morning (August 24).

The little girl died on August 22 when the at-large gunman chased another man into her home and opened fire. Her mother was also shot in the wrist in the process.

The man being chased, 35, was unknown to Olivia’s family, and only entered the home after the girl’s mother reportedly only opened her front door on Kingsheath Avenue, Dovecote, to see what the noise was outside.

It was then the man being pursued rushed in in an attempt to get away from the shooter, who then opened fire.

Olivia’s mother, Cheryl Korbel, 46, was shot in the wrist as she tried to close the door on the gunman while Olivia stood behind her.

Chf Con 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 – not just the gunman, we need to find who supplied the weapon and who arranged this terrible incident.”

The shooter is only described as wearing a black padded jacket, a black balaclava with a peak, dark trousers and black gloves. He reportedly fired shots at two men walking along Kingsheath Avenue, causing both of them to run away.

The man who entered Olivia’s home reportedly suffered gunshot wounds to his upper body.

As Olivia lay dying, he was picked up and taken to hospital by friends driving a dark-coloured Audi.

Ms Kennedy said: “We will not rest until those who are responsible are put behind bars. I can guarantee that no stone will be left unturned.”

Anyone with information can directly message @MerPolCC or anonymously call CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111, quoting incident 1083 of August 22.