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Liverpool shooting: Police given name in hunt for Olivia's killer

BBC Olivia Pratt-KorbelBBC
Olivia's head teacher said she had a "beautiful smile, a lovely sense of humour, and a bubbly personality"

Police hunting the gunman who shot dead a nine-year-old girl at her home in Liverpool have been given the name of a suspect by two different sources.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed by a masked attacker who had chased a man into her house in the Dovecot area of the city on Monday night.

News that detectives had been given a lead was welcomed by Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell.

"I'm really pleased to hear information is coming forward," she told the BBC.

"It was the plea that was put out yesterday - we know somebody out there will know what happened and who is involved."

Officers are also reviewing CCTV footage and conducting house-to-house inquiries.

Police said the gunman "fired indiscriminately", hitting Olivia in the chest as she stood behind her mother Cheryl Korbel, who was shot in the wrist.

The man being chased was also shot and remains in hospital in a serious, but not life-threatening, condition.

Detectives have not yet spoken to him and he has not been arrested.

Mrs Korbel is recovering at another hospital.

The family had no connection to either of the men, police said.

Watch: Liverpool police reveal how shooting of 9-year-old unfolded

At a press conference on Tuesday, Merseyside Police said:

  • A 35-year-old man ran into Olivia's home, followed by a man armed with a handgun, after Ms Korbel opened the door to see what the noise was outside
  • Olivia was fatally shot and Ms Korbel was shot in the wrist as she tried to shut the door
  • The gunman then twice fired through the gap in the door, hitting the 35-year-old in the upper body, before running away
  • The injured man was then driven away in a black Audi, while Olivia and Ms Korbel were left behind
  • The gunman was described as about 5ft 7in (170cm), of slim build, carrying a handgun and wearing a black padded jacket, a black balaclava and black gloves
Getty Images Scene of crime officersGetty Images
Merseyside's criminal fraternity are being asked to help in the hunt for the gunman

Merseyside Police Chief Constable Serena Kennedy described the attack, which happened in Kingsheath Avenue at about 22:00 BST, as "shocking and appalling".

She said: "I want to take this opportunity again to appeal to anybody who knows who is 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 out who supplied the weapon and who arranged this terrible incident."

She said Olivia's death was "an absolute tragedy and crosses every single boundary".

Ms Kennedy added: "If people are frightened to come forward, we can have those conversations in confidence."

Watch: Liverpool police say gunman had no connection to killed 9-year-old girl

Boris Johnson described the shooting as "horrific" and "senseless".

On Twitter, the prime minister promised Merseyside Police would get "whatever they need to catch those responsible and secure justice for Olivia".

Liverpool Mayor Joanne Anderson "someone out there knows who did this... abhorrent act of evil".

Local councillor Barbara Murray told BBC Breakfast: "Coming forward, you don't have to go to the police. Liverpool has got 90 councillors, I think any one of them would liaise with police on behalf of anybody who wants to give information.

"Really strongly, I would say people can use Crimestoppers. It's an anonymous phone call. You don't have to give information about yourself."

Assistant mayor Harry Doyle told the Radio 4 Today programme: "It was just, and still is, a complete and utter shock. As the news progressed yesterday it just became more horrific.

"Just speaking to people on their doorsteps, they're mortified. Lots of children in the area who have played with Olivia on the street, they're really upset.

"The confusion as well when these things happen, when it's in your street, it's very real. It's heartbreaking, it really is."

PA Media Floral tribute to Olivia Pratt-KorbelPA Media
Floral tributes to Olivia have been left close to the scene of the shooting

Mr Doyle said the police's understanding of crime in the city had changed since the murder of 11-year-old Rhys Jones in 2007, and he was "very confident we will get justice".

But the former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police has downplayed the likelihood of criminals turning in the killer.

Questioned on Sky News about whether criminal gangs would respond to an appeal from Merseyside Police, Sir Peter Fahy said: "It's very rare, really.

"This, at the end of the day, will be down to either a lucky piece of information from the public, really good analysis of mobile phone data.

"Often when criminal members suffer the most horrendous injuries they refuse to co-operate with the police or tell the police what's happened.

"Because they want to exact their own revenge or just out of fear."

Olivia's death comes after a spate of killings involving guns and knives on Merseyside in recent weeks.

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