Olivia Pratt-Korbel: Innocent girl, 9, SHOT DEAD and mom injured at home after gang war erupts

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Seeing the door opening, one of the fleeing men, 35, hurled himself at it to seek refuge. The man forced his way into their home and despite Korbel's desperate attempt at slamming the door shut, the gunman managed to get a hand through the door. Olivia was standing directly behind her mother at the foot of the stairs. "A shot has been fired, which we believe has hit Cheryl, injuring her, and then fatally wounding Olivia," Detective Chief Superintendent Mark Kameen said.

"Despite that horrific circumstance, the attacker has continued the assault and continued to try to gain entry to the property, and in doing so has fired two further shots at the 35-year-old man who at this point is inside Cheryl and Olivia’s home address. The attacker has then left the front door and has made off on foot," the detective said. The shooter has not been identified or apprehended.

Two bullets had also pierced the man who had entered the house to escape the gunman. His friends arrived to help me but paid no attention to Olivia and her mother. Olivia lay crumpled on the floor at the foot of the stairs with a gunshot wound to her chest. The man was rushed to the hospital by his friends but Olivia and Korbel were left behind. At the time of the tragedy, Olivia’s two elder siblings were in the house, as were two neighbors who were visiting. 

"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," Merseyside Chief Constable Serena Kennedy said. "When Olivia lay dying, he was picked up by his friends and taken to hospital. On arrival, our officers could see just how poorly Olivia was and they rushed her to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, where, despite the best efforts of medical staff, she sadly died."

Korbel was taken to Aintree Hospital by the North West Ambulance Service where she was treated for the wounds on her hand. Police have seized an Audi and will be questioning the 35-year-old man. He reportedly underwent surgery. No motive for the attack has been identified, but detectives are examining the possibilities of a clash between rival drugs and firearms gangs, or a retaliation link to recent murders.

Meanwhile, Olivia's headteacher paid a tribute to the little girl. Rebecca Wilkinson, of St Margaret Mary’s Catholic Junior School in Huyton, said, "Our school community is devastated 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 humor, 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."